life and health
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11
SEASONAL SAFETY
Winter weather can put a real strain on
your ticker.
Your body has to work extra hard to
stay warm. If those cold temperatures
rob the body of heat, hypothermia can
set in. When body temperature drops
too low, a person may die—usually
from a heart rhythm disturbance.
Winter conditions often require
physical exertion, such as shoveling
snow or wading through wet, heavy
drifts. A high level of activity can be risky
if you’re not in good physical shape.
So if you have heart disease, it pays
to be extra careful when venturing out
SNOW
can be beautiful as it falls
silently from the sky, covering the
ground in gorgeous whiteness.
en you have to shovel the stu .
Shoveling is hard work—which
isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re
careful and in good physical
shape. However, every year thou-
sands of people end up in hospitals
and healthcare providers’ o ces
because of problems related to snow
removal—problems ranging from
cut ngers to heart attacks.
If you have any doubts about
your abilities, ask someone else to
clear the snow from your driveway
and sidewalks. At the very least,
check with your provider before
you begin.
Also heed these safety tips from
the American Academy of Orthopae-
dic Surgeons and Rich Bennek, MD,
Medical Director, Emergency Medi-
cine at Sharon Hospital.
When using a shovel:
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Warm up with 10 minutes of
light exercise before you start
shoveling.
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Begin clearing snow early, and do
it o en—before the snow gets heavy.
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Push the snow instead of li ing it.
If you must li it, do so with your
legs. Don’t bend at the waist. Scoop
only small amounts. Walk to where
Cold weather and your heart
in frigid weather. Get your healthcare pro-
vider’s advice about what kinds of activities
you can do out in the cold. Keep these tips
in mind:
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Wear layers of clothing, including a hat
or scarf and warm gloves and footwear.
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Don’t drink alcohol before heading
outside—it causes you to lose body heat
more quickly.
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Work slowly and avoid sudden exertion.
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Watch out for symptoms of hypother-
mia, such as confusion, slowed reaction
time, loss of coordination, sleepiness and
shivering.
Sources: American Heart Association; Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
you want to dump the snow; don’t
toss it over your shoulder.
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Go slow. Take frequent breaks
to rest and drink uids.
When using a
snowblower:
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Keep your eyes on
your work. Watch
out for patches of
ice and uneven
surfaces.
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If it’s electric,
know where the
power cord is at all
times.
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Never stick your
hand in a snowblower.
If the machine becomes
clogged, stop the engine. Wait
for about 10 seconds before using
a tool to clear the chute.
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Don’t leave a running snowblower
unattended. Turn it o .
Finally, whether you’re using a
shovel or a snowblower, take a break
if you run out of breath or get too
hot or too cold.
Call your provider if you feel pain
or tightness in your chest.
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award-winning
emergency care.
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24/7.
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