Snow Shoveling Safety: Why It’s More Dangerous Than You Think
Snow Shoveling Safety: Why It’s More Dangerous Than You Think When the first snow hits the Chicago suburbs, a lot of homeowners grab a shovel and get to work. But every winter, thousands of people end up in the ER for injuries related to snow shoveling — and a large number of those are from heart attacks, falls, and overexertion . At Fresh Cut Pros , we handle snow removal across Shorewood, Joliet, Plainfield, Minooka, and Channahon , and every year we see how dangerous it can be for people trying to do it themselves. Why Snow Shoveling Is So Risky Shoveling might not seem like heavy exercise, but your body treats it like one. When you’re lifting wet, heavy snow in cold temperatures, your heart rate spikes, your blood vessels constrict, and your muscles tighten. For people with high blood pressure or heart disease, that combination can be deadly. The National Safety Council reports that over 11,000 people are injured annually from snow shoveling, and more than 100 die each year f...