Heavy snowfall across neighborhoods is creating more challenging conditions for residents who need to clear their driveways and sidewalks. A medical expert is sharing important safety tips to help people avoid injury while shoveling this winter.
- 10 minutes of shoveling = lifting a ton of weight – puts serious strain on the heart.
- Stop if you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or arm/jaw discomfort – these are heart attack warning signs.
- Shovel heavy, wet snow in small portions – take frequent breaks to stay safe.
Matt Johnson finds himself shoveling repeatedly as part of his job with the city of Mason, where he’s responsible for clearing massive amounts of parks and sidewalks.
Snow shoveling safety: Doctor’s warning could save your life
“With two guys it’ll take a day and a half to two days to clear the sidewalks,” Johnson said.
But Johnson doesn’t just shovel for the city – he also used to shovel at home until he experienced an injury.
“I mean before I had a snowblower at my house, I had hurt my back,” Johnson said…