Why you should think twice before shoveling

8 TIPS TO SHOVEL SNOW SAFELY If you’re determined to clear your driveway, experts and the National Safety Council recommend taking the following steps to lower your risk. 1. USE A

SNOWBLOWER Franklin’s research team found that healthy young men shoveling snow had an average heart rate of 170 beats a minute, compared with 120 beats per minute when they used a

snowblower. “There’s no question that snowblowers reduce demands on the heart,” he says. 2. DO NOT SHOVEL IMMEDIATELY AFTER EATING  Digestion requires additional blood flow, which competes

with the added blood flow needed for the physical demands of shoveling, Franklin explains. Also, avoid alcohol, anything with a lot of caffeine, smoking and marijuana before shoveling, as

those substances are known to increase heart rate and blood pressure.  3. PUSH, DON’T LIFT  Use your shovel to push snow to the side of the driveway or walkway, instead of trying to lift

it. 4. LIFT SMALLER LOADS Use a small shovel, or only partially fill a larger one. The average weight of a shovelful of wet snow is about 16 pounds, Franklin says. 5. PROTECT YOUR BACK

Bend at your knees and lift with your legs, not your back. A shovel with an angled, ergonomic handle will require you to exert less energy, Powers says. 6. DRESS APPROPRIATELY Wear a hat,

gloves and something over your mouth and nose, to warm the air before you breathe it in, Franklin suggests. Chilly air can trigger shortness of breath. 7. TAKE IT SLOW Start

gradually. Do not work to the point of exhaustion. Take frequent breaks.   8. CALL 911 IF YOU EXPERIENCE SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK. Call 911 immediately if you experience any of

the following heart attack symptoms while shoveling snow: chest discomfort or pressure; shortness of breath; lightheadedness or nausea; breaking out in a cold sweat; discomfort in one or

both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.   Franklin says he recommends — only somewhat jokingly — that people cut out and attach this label to their shovels: WARNING: Use of this

instrument for snow removal may be hazardous to your health! _Editor's Note: This story, originally published Jan. 26, 2022, has been updated._