Every year, thousands of people end up in an emergency department due to things happening when they’re shoveling snow
ROCKFORD - It’s that time of the year when winter can really show its teeth. For adults, snow – especially the heavy stuff – also means lots of shoveling, which can lead to an assortment of health-related problems if you’re not careful and properly prepared for the winter season.
Photo: Serkan Gönültaş/PEXELS
“Every year, thousands of people end up in an emergency department due to things happening when they’re shoveling snow," says Amy Henderson, a family practice physician assistant for OSF HealthCare. "These include falls, sometimes people experience heart attacks from extraneous activities, back injuries amongst other things. So it’s really important to take some caution when you are going to be shoveling snow, and the snow is coming.”
Among the people at the greatest risk of experiencing potential issues while shoveling are the elderly, people with a history of back problems as well as people who have suffered a heart attack or other serious illness. Henderson says to check with your doctor first if you have any concerns about your health.
“If a person develops any chest pain, sharp, radiating arm pain, jaw pain, those are all signs and symptoms of a possible heart attack," says Henderson. "If those symptoms do not improve with rest after a short amount of time, it’s concerning. My advice would be to seek immediate medical attention if you’re concerned at all about a cardiac event or a heart attack; in this case it’s always good to play it safe than sorry.”
Safety is key when it comes to snow and ice. Henderson offers a few basic tips before getting started with shoveling your sidewalk or driveway.
“One of the most important things to do is wear the appropriate clothing to stay warm and avoid frostbite," says Henderson. "Also, stretching prior to going out and doing this activity is important so I recommend stretching 5 to 10 minutes before you go out in the cold. I also recommend staying hydrated because you’re doing physical activity.”
Other important tips include:
Lift with your legs, not your back
Push (don’t) lift the snow
Stay low to the ground
Shovel more frequently
Take breaks if you feel winded
Be aware of ice
Go inside to warm up in order to avoid frostbite
The same suggestions apply when using a snow blower. Many people are injured every year by pushing their snow blower, twisting their body or reaching into the snow blower.
The bottom line when it comes to snow shoveling, Henderson says, is play it safe, take your time and be sure to let your loved ones and friends know what you’re up to in the event something does happen. And don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Key Takeaways:
Every year, thousands of people visit the emergency department due to snow-related injuries or events.
People at the greatest risk are the elderly, those with back issues or a history of heart problems.
Wear appropriate clothing to stay warm and avoid frostbite.
Other tips include lifting with your legs, push (don't) lift the snow, take breaks, and be aware of ice.
If you experience a medical emergency, call 911.
“If you really should not be shoveling snow, or you’re at higher risk, I recommend trying to find someone else who can do it for you, whether that’s a neighbor or a family member. I highly recommend that," adds Henderson. "It’s not worth the broken hip or the hospital follow up. Another thing for people who are at higher risk is to bring a cellphone. If you do fall, you’re able to call somebody.”
Before you bundle up and head outside to shovel your driveway, make sure you follow proper safety measures to avoid injury. If you or a loved one experiences severe injury, heart attack, or other medical emergencies while shoveling snow, call 911.
DALLAS - The American Heart Association and National Football League are asking classrooms, afterschool programs and other student groups to join the NFL PLAY 60 Fitness Tracking Competition from Jan. 22 to Feb. 9. The classroom with the most activity minutes in each of the 32 NFL club markets will receive a $1,000 grant with an additional $1,000 PLAY 60 grant awarded to the top classroom overall. The competition and the goal of NFL PLAY 60 is to increase physical activity in kids which impacts overall mental and physical wellness which is essential to help children reach their full potential.
The NFL PLAY 60 Fitness Tracking Competition takes place in the free NFL PLAY 60 app, (available for iOS and Android devices). The app invites users to select their NFL team and control personalized avatars onscreen with their own physical movement. Users can create custom workouts, earn special PLAY points and unlock cool NFL gear for on-screen PLAY 60 avatars. Using the Group Quickplay feature in the app's Teacher Dashboard, students will get active together adding to their classroom's total activity minutes. Educators can commit to participating now at heart.org/NFLPLAY60 and will officially register their student group via the app on Jan. 22.
"Working together with the National Football League on NFL PLAY 60, we're excited for continued ways to support getting youth across the country moving towards a healthier and more active lifestyle," said American Heart Association Chief Executive Officer Nancy Brown. "It's our 100th birthday and we're committed to making our future all about improving yours. Prevention skills as well as lifesaving skills, such as CPR, are critical to change health outcomes across generations."
The American Heart Association and the NFL offer students, teachers and families different ways to add movement minutes to achieve their daily goal of 60 minutes of play. In addition to the NFL PLAY 60 app, the NFL PLAY 60 Exercise Library features two-to-three minute on-demand exercise videos from each of the 32 NFL teams featuring players, NFL Legends, cheerleaders and mascots.
Lastly, the NFL PLAY 60 Fitness Break broadcasts are a series of three 15-minute synchronous broadcasts that get students moving with sneak peeks into the NFL season, including tentpole events like the Kickoff, Super Bowl and Draft. The last Fitness Break broadcast of this school year, the NFL Draft broadcast, will air on April 25 at 1 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. CT/ 10 a.m. PT. Advanced registration is required.
Rooted in American Heart Association science, the NFL PLAY 60 initiative helps children develop healthy habits for a better chance of a healthy adulthood. The program encourages kids to get a minimum of 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity each day to meet the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans[1]. Reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity are keys to immediate and long-term health for children.
"As proud partners of the American Heart Association, the NFL is excited to once again kick off the NFL PLAY 60 Fitness Tracking Competition to encourage students to achieve the daily goal of 60 minutes of play," said NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility Anna Isaacson. "Through our NFL PLAY 60 app, we are providing youth across the country with an interactive and engaging platform to get moving with their favorite NFL teams."
The NFL and the American Heart Association have been teaming up since 2006 to inspire kids through fun and engaging ways to get physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. Information on NFL PLAY 60 resources and additional grant opportunities can be found online at heart.org/NFLPLAY60.
by Paul Arco
