Cold Weather Precautions

Avoiding the Dangers of Snow Shoveling

• Warm up with gentle stretches before starting.
• Out of shape or overweight? Tackle snow shoveling at a slow pace to avoid the risk of heart attack.
• Push snow out of your way instead of lifting it, whenever possible.
• Take small loads of snow on your shovel.
• Bend your knees, keep your back straight and lift with your legs.
• Keep your arms close to your body when lifting a load.
• Take frequent breaks:
  • Stand up and walk around to reduce strain on lower back.
  • Extend/stretch your back muscles. Place your hands on the back of hips and slightly and gently bend backwards--do not bounce.

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