|
Outdoor Winter Safety
Winter Outdoor Snow Removal
Winter in Pennsylvania usually means inclement weather. Snowfall and its removal require a careful approach in order to minimize the injury hazards it presents. Many safety hazards of snow shoveling can be minimized or eliminated by following these recommendations:
- Allow yourself enough time to do the work and take breaks every 10 to 15 minutes to avoid becoming exhausted. Don’t try to shovel too much too quickly;
- Avoid eating a large meal before you shovel snow and when you stop and rest, drink water;
- To avoid back injuries, use a long-handled shovel and always keep your back straight, knees bent, and throw the snow forward;
- Wear shoes with rubber soles to prevent falls;
- Avoid throwing snow over your shoulder. In fact, avoid lifting it whenever possible. Try pushing the shovel to move snow off the sidewalks or driveway; and
- Remove snow as soon as it stops falling or tackle heavy snow in two stages. First, skim the snow off the top, then remove the bottom layer. Avoid overloading the shovel.
Outdoor Play
Every year people are treated in the hospital emergency department for injuries associated with sleds, toboggans and snow disks.
The most common hazards are collision with a moving car or stationary object like a stone, pole, building or tree.
Common tips—never ride head-first on a sled, toboggan or lie down on a snow disk.
Parents should get involved in their children’s outdoor play -- supervise children at all times and make sure the play area and slopes are free of hazards.
Extreme Cold
Adverse health effects from cold weather are not exclusive to cold northern climates and cold, harsh weather can affect you whether you are inside or outside of your home. Keep in mind the following health and safety tips for cold weather.
Dress Warmly and Stay Dry
Adults and children should wear:
- a hat
- a scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth
- sleeves that are snug at the wrist
- mittens (they are warmer than gloves)
- water-resistant coat and shoes
- several layers of loose-fitting clothing
Be sure the outer layer of your clothing is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heat loss caused by wind. Wool, silk or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than cotton. Stay dry -- wet clothing chills the body rapidly. Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm. Also, avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin while de-icing and fueling your car or using a snow blower. These materials in contact with the skin greatly increase heat loss from the body. Do not ignore shivering. It's an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.
Avoid Exertion
Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold. Otherwise, if you have to do heavy outdoor chores, dress warmly and work slowly. Remember, your body is already working hard just to stay warm, so don't overdo it.
Understand Wind Chill
As the speed of the wind increases, it can carry heat away from your body much more quickly. When there are high winds, serious weather-related health problems are more likely, even when temperatures are only cool.
See http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/windchill for a Wind Chill Chart (it shows the difference between air temperature and perceived temperature and amount of time until frostbite occurs), Wind Chill Calculator and information on the updated Wind Chill Temperature Index.
Avoid Ice
Walking on ice is extremely dangerous. Many cold-weather injuries result from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways and porches. Keep your steps and walkways as free of ice as possible using rock salt or another chemical de-icing compound. Sand may also be used on walkways to reduce the risk of slipping.
Be Safe During Recreation
If you are hiking, camping or skiing during cold weather, avoid becoming overtired. Be prepared to take emergency shelter and carry waterproof matches and paraffin fire starters with you. Carefully watch for signs of cold-weather health problems.
Make sure children wear helmets while sledding, skiing, skating or snowboarding. It’s a good idea for adults too. Always have an adult supervise these activities, especially for young children. |
