For many people the start of the colder winter months brings with it the unpleasant task of snow shoveling. It is a task no one looks forward to but it is one that we must do if we want to get anywhere. For most people snow shoveling isn't very much of a problem but there are still some safety points to keep in mind before you go outside and begin to remove snow away from your driveway and walkways around your home.
The first thing you should be aware of is the need to dress appropriately before going outside to shovel snow. You should make sure that your clothing is comfortable to move around in but at the same time keep you warm. Wearing boots that have a good grip on them is a wise choice in footwear. It doesn't make sense to go inside in running shoes because you are just going to increase your chances of slipping or falling down and injuring yourself. It is also the good idea to wear gloves to protect your fingers from the cold. These simple steps will ensure that you're ready to begin removing the snow that has accumulated outside your residence.
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Light Snow
Light snow is by far the easiest snow to remove from your driveway or walk way around your home. You can use a regular snow shovel or better yet a snow blower if the accumulations on the ground are significant. Before you use a snow blower you should read the directions carefully to ensure your safety been using the equipment. If you're going to let young people such as your teenager use the snow blower you should supervise the first few times that your teenager uses the equipment. Taking these types of simple safety precautions are in your best interest. When it comes to heavier snow you must take some extra steps for your own safety.
Heavy Wet Snow
Wet snow is of course much heavier than the lighter snow that is easier to remove. Wet snow can tire you out in a shorter period of time. You should take your time when shoveling heavy snow and take frequent breaks during your snow shoveling session. People in your family that have health problems such as difficulty breathing should never shovel snow. It is also not a good idea for elderly people to be shoveling snow. If you are shoveling snow and you find yourself out of breath or your heart is beating rapidly from the work you are doing you should stop working to rest. Determine if you want to continue shoveling the snow because you don't want to put your health at risk doing activity you may not be used to doing. Shovel snow in small amounts and take many rest breaks. If you're using a snow blower you can of course do more work because you won't get as tired using that equipment.
Other Safety Tips
Some other things you need to be aware of is that there may be ice under the snow that you have just removed from around your residence. You should use some snow sold that you can buy from a hardware store or place such as Wal-mart. This will ensure that no one slips or falls on the ice and injures themselves. If the temperature has gone up to zero you can pour some boiling water on the ice to remove it. Do not use this method when it is very cold because the water will just freeze and create more ice. Another thing you need to watch out for when shoveling snow is the presence of icicles that may be hanging above the area you are working. Icicles that are melting could fall off at any given time and cause serious injury. If it is possible you should stand back and use a broom or a stick before you shovel the snow away from that area. If this is not possible you should wait until the icicles melt to ensure your safety.
Shovel With Common Sense
You just need to use some common sense before you go outside to shovel snow away from your residence. Don't take this activity lightly because you can suffer a serious injury if you're not careful outside. Make sure other family members who many be shoveling snow understand these important common sense safety tips.
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