Tips To Shoveling Snow - PowerPoint Presentation

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Tips To Shoveling Snow

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Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely- Preparing

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Consider any health risks.If you are out of shape, have back problems, or heart conditions, it may actually be harmful for you to shovel snow. After a snowfall, hospitals are inundated with heart attack victims and patients with backs injuries.

Hire a local teen or borrow a snow blower from a neighbor instead. Slide3

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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2 Dress Appropriately

You need to dress warmly, but not so warmly that you are sweating heavily after several minutes of work. Dress in light layers that are easy to remove and do not restrict your movement. Be sure to remove clothing as you heat up while shoveling, as sweat can turn clammy on your skin and actually make you colder. Your skin should remain warm (not hot) and dry.Wear gloves that will prevent blisters and keep your hands warm and dry.You lose a large amount of body heat through your head. Wear a hat to retain that body heat and keep yourself warm.If it is very cold you may consider breathing through a scarf but be careful that it does not obstruct your viewSlide4

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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3 Wear proper boots.

You will need boots that keep your feet warm and dry and provide good traction. Appropriate soles will help you maintain balance and reduce the risk of injury.Slide5

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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Use an ergonomically correct snow shovel.Ergonomic shovels have a bend in the handle and help you to keep your back straighter while shoveling snow, reducing the risk of back injury.A good shovel also has a long handle to allow you to work with minimal bending.You may wish to choose a plastic shovel as opposed to a heavier metal one.There are two basic types of shovel: digging and pushing. It is far easier to push snow than it is to lift it, so if the snow is not too heavy try to push the snow rather than lift it.Consider a shovel with a smaller blade to lighten the load and reduce the risk of spinal injury. The blade is the part that actually shovels the snow.Slide6

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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5 Use a shovel with a non-stick surface.

This will help to make shoveling less tiring by causing the snow to slide off easily. Spray a silicon lubricant on the shovel before using to prevent snow from sticking to the surface.A non-stick surface can be produced at home. Simply coat the blade of the snow shovel with shortening or vegetable oil. Slide7

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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6 Stretch.

Warm muscles will be more efficient and less likely to get injured. Gentle arm swings, leg swings, shoulder rotations, and indoor jogging on the spot are good ones to start with.Slide8

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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7 Spread sand or salt on slippery ground.

Some areas can be uneven and cause you to trip, slip or fall, causing injury. Before shoveling snow, spread sand or salt on any particularly slippery locations where you might have to stand while shoveling snow. This will create foot traction and reduce the risk of injury. Slide9

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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1 Start early in the day. Keep up with the storm

Fresh snow weighs less than older snow so you should clear snow as soon as it has fallen. As snow sits on the ground it compacts and becomes wet, making it heavier. It can also then turn into ice and become very difficult to remove. Wait until the snowplow has come by before finishing the driveway. A snowplow will usually "plow in" the driveway at least a bit, pushing more snow onto the edge of your driveway. It can be easier to deal with just clearing the driveway once.One shovelful of snow can weigh 20 pounds (9kg) or more! So take smaller shovel loads to reduce the strain on your back.Slide10

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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2 Have a plan.

You will need to consider what is the most efficient snow removal plan. You will also have to avoid piling snow where you'll have to just remove it again so do not block access to snow that still needs to be cleared. If you are clearing a rectangle it is better to work from the center out. First clear a strip of snow around the perimeter of the rectangle. Then starting in the center push snow towards the cleared area. From there lift the snow out of the area.Slide11

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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3 Clear cars first.

Use a brush to get snow off cars before clearing around the car to prevent extra work. Slide12

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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4 Avoid lifting snow by pushing it instead

Pushing snow is much easier than lifting and can reduce the risk of injury. If you begin early and if the snow is not too deep, then it is better to simply push it off driveways and sidewalks. Slide13

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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5 Place your hands in the correct positions on the shovel.

Spread your hands far apart on the handle, with one hand close to the blade. This will provide more leverage while lifting snow. Slide14

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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6 Begin shoveling.

If you need to dig (to get to your car, for instance), dig using a steady, easy motion. If you are "pushing" (such as clearing a driveway) Hold your shovel at a slight angle and begin making passes back and forth width-wise along your driveway. You should rarely need to move your shovel above waist height. Slide15

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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7 Maintain good posture.

Remind yourself to keep good posture and maintain the natural curve of your spine. Keep your back straight as you change between the squatting and upright positions.Slide16

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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8 Lift correctly.

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart for balance and bend at the knees rather than at the waist or back. Keep the shovel close to your body rather than extending your arms all the way. Tighten your stomach muscles and then lift with your legs as if you are doing a squat. Use your shoulder muscles as much as possible.Scoop small amounts of snow at a time so that it will not be too heavy.Slide17

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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9 Find the right place to put the snow.

You do not want to twist your body when lifting snow as this can injure your back. Make sure you have a place in front of you to dump your shovel loads. If you have to dump the load on the side, then move your feet rather than twisting your body. Choose a close location to dump loads so that you do not have to carry the snow far.If clearing a certain area then dump the first loads farthest away from you so that the last shovel loads will have to travel the shortest distance to be dumped.Do not throw snow over your shoulder! If you must lift snow then move forward it rather than throwing it backwards.Slide18

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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10 Complete areas with deep snow in parts.

Never try to remove deep snow all at once. Rather remove one or two inches (2.5-5cm) at a time, resting in between. This will reduce the weight of the loads and reduce the risk of injury.Slide19

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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11 Take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water.

Shoveling is extremely hard physical work and you need to pace yourself to avoid ill effects. In the cold, you're not as likely to feel thirsty, but dehydration can set in quickly while completing so much physical work. Take your time. Stretch while taking breaks to keep your muscles loose. Especially focus on your extremities (arms and legs) and backSlide20

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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If you feel any pain of any kind, stop. If you develop back pain that doesn’t settle with rest, book in with your Chiropractor!Shoveling snow has been linked to heart attacks, so be aware of the signs. Call 911 if you fit the description below:The classic symptoms of heart attack include a feeling of extreme pressure on the chest and chest pain, including a squeezing or full sensation. This can be accompanied by pain in one or both arms, jaw, back, stomach, or neck. Other symptoms of heart attack include shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness

, and a feeling of breaking out in a cold sweat. Slide21

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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Don't forget your mail carrierMake sure you clear around your mailbox every time it snows. If your mail carrier cannot easily reach your mailbox then they cannot deliver your mail! Slide22

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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Salt and sand as needed.Be careful with salt, as it can hurt your lawn, landscaping, and your watershed. Use salt only if the temperature is warm enough (above 0 degrees F/-17 degrees C). Sand provides traction but if more snow falls on top, it will become useless.Salting the ground before or during a storm can actually increase the amount of snow on your sidewalks and driveways because dry snow sticks to a salted paved area but does not stick to an unsalted paved area.Slide23

Tips to Shoveling Snow Safely

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Have a cup of hot chocolate.Although optional, it's traditional in most snowy locations, and helps replenish your fluids. If you do not like hot cocoa, help yourself to some tea, broth, or even just water. Slide24

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Stretch againStretch when you are finished to prevent your muscles from tightening up and causing you pain.If you have any pain or achiness that lasts overnight book an appointment with your chiropractor!