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TRACIE EVERSON | SAFETY BENEFITS, INC.
Winter Safety Tips Reprinted courtesy Mayo Clinic News Network
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SAFETY TIPS WHEN SHOVELING SNOW
By Dana Sparks, Mayo Clinic; January 28, 2019
Shoveling snow can mean taking on more than your body can handle. And ignoring signs that you need to take a break from shoveling may prove to be harmful. Healthcare providers at Mayo Clinic Health System want to ensure your safety as you clear driveways and sidewalks, so here are some tips for safe snow shoveling:
• Be heart conscious.
If you have a history of heart problems and are currently inactive, it’s best to speak with your health care provider before shoveling. Additionally, don’t shovel while smoking, eating, or after consuming caffeine; this may place extra stress on your heart. • Dress warm.
Wear several layers of clothing. You can always remove a layer if needed. • Drink plenty of water.
Remaining hydrated during cold-weather months is just as important as during warm-weather months. • Warm up your arms and legs.
Stretch your arms and legs before beginning to shovel. You are less likely to injure muscles when they are warm. • Take it slow.
Pace yourself and take breaks if you need to.
Safety is more important than speed. • Protect your back.
Bend at the knees, not the back. Lift with your legs bent, stand with your feet hip-width apart for balance, and keep the shovel close to your body.
Also, don’t pick up too much snow at once; use a small shovel or fi ll up a large shovel no more than halfway. • Shovel while snow is fresh.
Freshly fallen snow is lighter than snow that has started melting. • Listen to your body.
This is the most important snow shoveling tip. If something feels abnormal, or if you’re tired, it’s time to stop. • If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911 immediately.
WHY THE RISK OF FROSTBITE IS GREATER THAN YOU THINK
By Ian Roth, Mayo Clinic; January 21, 2019
Dr. Sani Kakar, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic hand and wrist surgeon, says frostbite is more common and often more serious than many people think. The good news is it's fairly easy to avoid. As winter drags on and temperatures drop way down, your risk of cold-related injury such as frostbite can go way up.
"Literally think of it as freezing of the tissues," Dr. Kakar says. He says frostbite is more common than many
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people think – and not just in Siberia or on the slopes ofMountEverest.
"We tend to see frostbite, for example, when the temperature is 5 degrees Fahrenheit with minimal windchill,"Dr.Kakarexplains.
If the windchill drops below negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit,whichisnotunheardofinthenorthernhalf oftheU.S.,frostbitecansetinwithinhalfanhour.The areasmostvulnerabletofrostbiteareyournose,ears, fingers,andtoes.
Intheworstcases,thetissuecandie,andyoumayneed surgerytoremoveit.Sowho'smostatrisk? "[Thosemostatriskare]certainpatientswithdiabetes, patientswhohaveprevioushistoryoffrostbiteareprone to it, the elderly or your very young children, and also, forexample,ifyou'redehydrated,"hesays. So, when Old Man Winter shows his ugly side, make suretokeepallareasofskinproperlycoveredandstay hydrated.
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u SIOUX FALLS uHRGREEN.COM TIPS TO PREVENT INJURIES ON ICY, SNOWY SIDEWALKS
ByMicahDorfner,MayoClinic;January12,2017
Ice is building up on many sidewalksacrosstheMidwest. Clinicsandemergencydepartments are beginning to see patients present because of slipsontheiceandsnow.
Dr. Drew Moss at Mayo Clinic Health System says, if you need to go outside, bend slightly, and walk flat-footed with your center of gravity directly over your feet as muchaspossible.
Mossalsosuggeststhesetips: • Keepyourhandsoutofyourpockets.Doing solowersyourcenterofgravityandincreases balance.Havingyourhandsfreecanhelpbreak yourfallifyoustarttoslip. • Extendyourarmsouttoyoursidestomaintain balance.Bewareifyou’recarryingaheavybackpackorotherload.Yoursenseofbalancewillbe off. • Incoldtemperatures,presumeallwet,darkareas onpavementsareslipperyandicy.Approach themwithcaution. • Ifyoumustcarryaload,trynottocarrytoomuch.
Asmuchaspossible,leaveyourhandsandarms freetobalanceyourself. • Whenwalkingonsteps,alwaysusethehandrailings,andplantyourfeetfirmlyoneachstep. • Usespecialcarewhenenteringandexitingvehicles.Usethevehicleforsupport. • Takeshortstepsorshuffleforstability.Stopping occasionallyhelpstobreakmomentum. • Lastbutnotleast,Mosssaystowatchwhere youarestepping,andgoslowly.Thiswillhelp yourreactiontimeifyouencounterchangesin traction.■
