Canada is known for its bitter-cold winters, heavy snowfall and high winds. When the temperature drops below zero, and you find a bunch of fluffy white stuff on the ground, you know winter has arrived, and so has Canada’s least favourite chore: shovelling snow. Besides being a rather monotonous task, snow shovelling can also be dangerous. When you head out to clear your driveway, you risk pulling a muscle, slipping and falling and even overexerting yourself.
Sometimes, the consequences of what seems like a superficial injury are more serious than they seem. A study from the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests a link between heart attacks and shovelling snow. Is this a permanent excuse for your kids to stop shovelling snow? The answer is not necessarily. Keep reading to learn a few tips and tricks to keep you safe while shovelling this year.
Why do people die shovelling snow?
Many people won’t have a problem shovelling snow. However, some are at risk of a heart attack. Sudden exertion, such as moving hundreds of pounds of snow after being sedentary for several months, can strain the heart. Additionally, cold weather can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. In turn, your blood can clot more easily and constrict arteries, which lowers your blood supply.
Shovelling snow is a strenuous activity, and you have to be careful. However, when winter rolls around, you don’t have much choice. That’s why it’s best for those with certain health conditions to ask for help as necessary to prevent injury. This means maintaining a good grip and keeping your shovel close to your body. Before you head, you need to prepare, and we will let you know how you can do this in the next section.
Preparing to shovel snow
You can take a few steps to avoid back and joint pain when shovelling snow. Taking these precautions can help prevent injury and make throwing snow off your driveway or walkway a breeze. Along with preparing to shovel, you can get your home ready for the snow with our winter home checklist. Here’s what you need to know:
- Stretch before shoveling snow to prevent injury.
- Dress in several layers to stay warm.
- Wear boots with good traction to avoid slipping on ice that’s formed beneath the snow.
- Remember to breathe.
- Take frequent breaks! If you don’t take breaks, you risk overexerting yourself and getting injured or, even worse, having a heart attack. This is especially true if you are sedentary.
- Try spraying your shovel with cooking spray. This will allow your shovel to cut right through the snow and help you get the job done faster.
Before you pick up the shovel, do some warm-ups, and remember to take frequent breaks once you’re out there. Otherwise, you put yourself at a higher risk for injury. If you push your body to its limits, you’ll feel the pain later, which is why you should take your time while clearing snow away. Hard ice can hurt if you fall on it, and those with heart disease can easily overexert themselves. Next, we will show you how to select the right shovel.
Choosing the right snow shovel
When it’s time to clear your driveway or walkway, you should come prepared with the right equipment. Multiple types of shovels are available, and knowing which one to choose is essential to pushing the snow out of the way. For example, a smaller shovel won’t work well for lifting wet snow, while a larger shovel won’t be efficient when clearing a skinny sidewalk. Here’s what you need to know about the different types of snow shovels available:
Standard snow shovel
When you walk into any store, the standard snow shovel will be the first one you see. They have straight shafts made out of wood, metal, or plastic and blades consisting of metal or metal-edge plastic. Using one is fairly straightforward. All you need to do is use the rectangular, curved blade to scoop up without having to bend over and hurt your back.
Ergonomic snow shovel
If you live in an area with heavy snowfall, you might want to consider an ergonomic snow shovel. They come in many shapes and sizes, but they often have a curve up to the middle to eliminate the need to reach super low. Sometimes, there’s a second shaft behind the blade that allows the user to grab it with their lifting hand. This shovel can benefit those with back, neck, or arm mobility problems. However, anyone can use it to get the job done faster.
Pusher or wider shovel
Pusher or wider shovels can be as wide as 24 inches to push the snow out of the way with ease. Instead of lifting, you simply slide the snow out of your path. However, because of their blade size, they are usually too big for lifting and throwing the majority of snow. If you choose this option, you should invest in a standard snow shovel. You will need one to remove snow from smaller areas.
As your broker does for your insurance policy, shop around for shovels. You should weigh your options like you do with coverage because sometimes, two is better than one. Similar to how you can save money by bundling your home and auto insurance policies, having multiple shovels can help you be more efficient when shovelling snow. Regardless of the shovel you choose, you need to understand the proper technique to shovel safely. Next, we will discuss the proper shovelling technique that will help you clear snow away safely.
Proper shovelling technique
Before you pick up a snow shovel, you should get the technique down. It will help prevent issues such as an increased heart rate or high blood pressure. When you shovel, remember the following:
- Bend your knees and lift your legs.
- When you lift the snow, keep the shovel blade close to reduce back strain.
- When shovelling, switch between right-handed and left-handed to work different muscles.
- Change your grip periodically on whichever hand of yours is holding the car (palm under vs. palm over).
- When the snowfall is heavy (at least a foot deep), avoid trying to clean right down to the ground with a single scoop. Try skimming six inches off and then scooping up the bottom six inches. Not doing so increases your injury.
Once you have the proper shovelling technique down, you’ll feel like you can take on the world (or at least your driveway or walkway)! The only things you have left to do is grab some warm clothing, a hat and some gloves and get shovelling. Once you do this, you can safely shovel snow out of the way without a worry in the world. However, not everyone can shovel forever, which is why we will discuss when someone is too old to shovel shortly.
When is someone too old to shovel?
Pushing snow around is a lot of work, even if you shovel early in the day. Everyone is different, and the answer to this question comes down to your overall health. In other words, you can keep shovelling and lifting snow for years if you exercise frequently and maintain a healthy diet. If you’re worried about over-exerting yourself while shovelling, consult your doctor before snow hits the ground. It doesn’t matter how old you are. There are always ways to make shovelling easier, including the following tips:
- Share the job with the whole family! Many hands make for less work, and you might even have a little fun! When all is said and done, you can reward yourselves with a piping cup of hot cocoa.
- Start shovelling right away. You shouldn’t wait for it to stop snowing before you break out your shovel. Yes, you might spend more time shovelling snow. Despite this, the snow will be much lighter, and the chances of over-exerting yourself will go down.
- Stay hydrated. Even during cold weather, you should drink plenty of water.
- Get professional help. There’s nothing wrong with hanging up the shovel. If you’re worried about your health or don’t want to step outside into the freezing cold, get some help. A neighbour or local business might offer snow removal services.
There’s no shame in asking for help. While there isn’t a set age to stop shovelling, you have to know your limits for the sake of your health. Whether you don’t feel comfortable shovelling anymore or a doctor advises you to stop, your best bet is to go with your gut feeling or listen to the advice of a medical professional. Snow is heavy and can do some damage to your body if you aren’t careful. However, be aware that if you hire someone to shovel for you, you’ll need home insurance to prevent lawsuits in case of injury, which we’ll teach you more about next.
Home insurance for snow shovelling
If you’re shovelling snow and get injured, you’ll need an insurance policy to cover the damages. This is the same case if someone gets injured while shovelling your driveway. If you don’t have insurance, you will have to pay for damages, such as legal fees, if someone files a lawsuit out of pocket.
What part of your home insurance policy does this fall under? Well, it’s your liability coverage that will help compensate someone if they get injured on your property. It’s important to note that your insurance will not cover you if you get injured on your property. You can prevent incidents like these ones from occurring by reviewing our home protection tips.
The majority of people have some type of home insurance already. Whether you purchased a policy on your own or you were required to get it for mortgage approval, it’s important to have one. The damages associated with shovelling injuries can add up, especially when someone slips on hard ice and hits their head. That’s why you should protect yourself at all costs. If you don’t, you will have to pay for all the damages out of pocket.
Contact BrokerLink for all your insurance needs
The more snow there is, the longer it will take to shovel. It’s a fact of life if you live in Canada, but you can’t just leave your snow to sit there. When snow or ice melts, it can cause serious damage to your home. It’s not uncommon for a power outage to occur in the midst of a winter storm. That’s where having a great home insurance policy can help. It will reimburse you for the costs of damage caused by inclement weather events such as snow storms.
Not everyone lives in the same type of building. That’s why insurance coverage is available for people who live in a variety of dwellings. Common types of home insurance coverage include the following:
Shovelling snow can put a big strain on your physical health. Despite this, it can be good exercise if you are able to do it safely. However, if you’re going to shovel, you’ll want a decent home insurance policy. But how do you find one? Reach out to BrokerLink by calling, using our online quote tool, or visiting one of our community branches across Canada.
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Snow shoveling safety tips FAQs
At what age should you stop shovelling snow?
Again, the answer to this question depends on your personal health. If you are unsure if you can pick up the shovel this year, contact your doctor before winter arrives.
Should I shovel while it’s still snowing?
Yes! Spending a little bit of time shovelling makes a difference because you won’t have to deal with heavy amounts of snow all at once, especially if there’s wet snow. Break out the shovel while the snow is still falling.
Should you salt before it snows?
Many people put salt down after shovelling. However, rock salt is supposed to be put down before snow falls to prevent snow from sticking, simplifying shovelling!
If you have any questions, contact one of our local branches.
