Snow Removal Essay

520 Words2 Pages

The Hidden Dangers of Snow Removal Winter is upon us, and this means individuals will soon be required to shovel snow. While new snow is breathtakingly beautiful, it can be hazardous to one’s health. Removing the snow is hard on a person’s body in more ways than one. What do people need to be aware of when they go to remove snow from their property and how can they avoid these hazards? Heart Attacks According to the American Heart Association, physical exertion combined with cold temperatures put a person more at risk of having a heart attack. Furthermore, certain individuals are at a high risk of having a heart attack while engaging in this activity. One reason for this may be individuals tend to shovel early in the day, which is when most …show more content…

Brad Coffiner of Cornell University’s ergonomic department reports the L5/S1 disc remains the area most at risk of an injury during this activity. In fact, most injuries that are reported after shoveling snow are those that affect the back. Low back pain remains a problem for tens of millions of Americans, yet the problems they experience aren’t a result of a fracture or underlying disease or disorder. When muscles aren’t adequately warmed up before shoveling snow or when they are under-conditioned, a person is more at risk of this type of injury when they shovel snow. Avoiding Injury Before shoveling snow, be sure to warm up properly. Do this for a minimum of ten minutes to ensure the body is ready to tackle the heavy snow. Light aerobic activity is perfect for warming up, and the core muscles in the abdomen need to be part of the process. They help to keep a person stable when shoveling the snow. Of course, the easiest way to avoid an injury while shoveling snow is to pay someone to do this job for you. A professional snow removal service becomes of great help at this time, as the employees are trained to reduce the risk of injury as they complete the task. Contact a company offering this service to learn more about how they can be of help during the winter months. The money spent is well worth it when one considers the dangers to their health and the benefits of avoiding

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