Snow shoveling safety
Print |
Before you rush out in the middle of the next snowstorm to shovel your sidewalk, consider some safety issues.
Robert Sidman, MD, Chief of Emergency Services at Backus Hospital, said snowstorms mean more emergency room visits. Often, those visits are because some precautions were not taken before tackling the shoveling duties.
There are four major categories of injuries during snowstorms, Dr. Sidman said. The Emergency Department will treat people for cardiac problems, orthopedic injuries, finger and hand injuries from snow blowers and motor vehicle accidents. Most of the injuries occur when people are simply trying to clean the snow off their walks, driveways and cars.
Shoveling snow is serious exercise and can be too much for some, Dr. Sidman says. Everyone should approach shoveling like a workout by stretching before and after. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is also important. “Each year there’s always a new group of people who the year before could shovel the snow and one year later it has just become too much,” Dr. Sidman says. “There comes a time in all of our lives where we should stop shoveling heavy snow.”
The American Heart Association cautions anyone with heart disease from any kind of exertion in cold weather, including shoveling and walking in heavy snow. Eating and smoking while shoveling are also very dangerous, the association reports.
Dr. Sidman says for those who do not have heart disease, taking some time to think about the activity you are going to undertake and be aware of how you are feeling, could help prevent serious injury.
Shoveling can also lead to serious back injury.
“Common sense tells you that if you have bad technique you can get hurt,” Dr. Sidman says. Always use your legs and knees to move the snow, not your back, he added.
The National Safety Council suggests shoveling snow as it falls. Freshly fallen snow is often more powdery and the less accumulation, the lighter the snow. Pushing snow rather than scooping it is also beneficial.
For those who have abandoned the shovel for the snow blower, there are other hazards, Sidman says. Backus has seen a number of accidents with older snow blowers that have resulted in mutilated hands and fingers. Never use a hand to clean a clogged snow blower, the doctor says. Broken and sprained ankles and wrists are also common after a snowfall. Often the accidents can happen while shoveling, but they are also common in the hours and days after a storm, when snow can melt and refreeze with the temperature swings. Taking time to look around and walk slowly can save significant pain, he says. “Thinking about and being aware of how you can get into trouble can prevent injuries,” Sidman says.