Snow Day

Tips on dealing with winter's little surprises

'Tis the season for bad weather and snow to shovel.  This task alone sends more than 11,000 adults to the hospital every year.  The most common issues are back strain and sprains, followed by broken bones, head injury and more severely, heart attack.  Shoveling snow is slippery business and you need to take certain steps to make sure that you are not adding to the statistics. 

Here are some helpful hints to keep you healthy this shoveling season :

Preventing Back Sprain & Strain : Use good body mechanics

• Keep your back straight ----- Don't bend over the pick up the snow.
• Bend your knees to lift ------- The large muscle groups in your thighs (the quadriceps) and buttocks (the gluteal muscles) should be doing the majority of the work during shoveling.
• Keep a wide base of support ----- It is important to stay balanced while lifting.  The surface will already be wet and slippery, reduce your risk of slipping with the weight of the snow in your arms by keeping your feet in a wider than normal stance.
• Tighten your abdominal muscles prior to lifting the load ----- this will create a natural brace for your back and support the spine.
• Test the load ------- All snow is not created equal, snow weight can vary depending on its liquid content, and so one shovel full of wet snow can be much heavier than a shovel full of dry snow.  Also, if the snow is deep, remove it in levels; test the weight of the snow to see what you can manage.

Preventing slip and falls leading to broken bones and head injuries

• Wear appropriate clothing and footwear ------ It is important to not only stay warm while out shoveling snow, it is important to wear boots with treads to reduce the risk of falls.
• Use rock salt as you go ------ Make sure that once an area is cleared of snow that you follow with rock salt to prevent the wet surface from freezing under you.  it can also give you some traction to stand and shovel on.
• Seek immediate medical attention when falling and striking your head ------ Many head injuries are minimized because people do not always lose consciousness.  It is important to seek medical attention if you have sustained a significant blow to the head, regardless of loss of consciousness.