The most popular way to die in a snow storm claims 1,600+ in a 16 year span

[GreatGazoo]

In the wake of 9/11, every Mayor and Governor seems ready to jump at the chance to be the next Rudy "911" Giuliani. When the snow flies, they want to be in front of TV cameras, shutting things down, looking concerned and most of all, looking in charge. They tell people to stay home, which assumes that everyone has that choice or perhaps assumes that everyone IS already home but I have yet to hear one of them mention, let alone warn about, the number one way to die during a snow storm.

A study looking at data from 1990 to 2006 by researchers at the US Nationwide Children's Hospital recorded 1,647 fatalities from cardiac-related injuries associated with shovelling snow. In Canada, these deaths make the news every winter.

Cardiologist Barry Franklin, an expert in the hazardous effects of snow removal, believes the number of deaths could be double that. "I believe we lose hundreds of people each year because of this activity," says Franklin, director of preventative cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation at William Beaumont Hospital, Michigan.
...
Many people hold their breath during the hard work, which also puts a strain on the body. In addition, the prime time for snow clearance is between 6am and 10am which is when circadian fluctuations make us more vulnerable to heart attacks.
...
"People at greatest risk are those who are habitually sedentary with known or suspected coronary disease, who go out once a year to clear snow," he says, adding that smoking and being overweight drastically increase the risk. If you must do it, push rather than lift the snow, dress in layers, take regular breaks indoors and don't eat or smoke before shovelling, he advises.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-30119410

Buffalo alone has lost 4 people to shoveling so far this winter.

We need more awareness of this danger, and we need for city officials to stop telling us to shovel and on their timetable (eg "sidewalks must be cleared within 8 hours or fines issued&quot . It is just snow. It ain't going anywhere. Take your time.

- A friendly reminder from Gazoo

[Stuart G]

1. I will say it now......don't shovel snow, if you are sedentary, or suspect some heart issues.!!!!!!!

K and R...important warning..good post..

[GreatGazoo]

6. more strenuous than people generally think it is

I grew up near Buffalo and remember as a kid seeing the news about guys who fell off of roofs they were shoveling (bc concerned about the weight of the snow).

As mentioned in an earlier thread by Tab -- [bthere is one place you definitely want to shovel: the tail pipe of your car before starting it.]

[RadiationTherapy]

2. "Many people hold their breath during the hard work" - Physical. Education.

There is more to know about one's body than reproduction. Gym and sports - I was privileged to have access! - taught me how to work out. Learning to breathe through strain is one of the concepts drilled into us by our weightlifting coach.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. This is also the sort of thing one picks up while learning how to dance while singing like a mad man

It's about physical activity, which does not need to be sports. Thank God.

[BrotherIvan]

28. Awesome

[NutmegYankee]

5. One of the best things I ever learned.

Taught to think of the body like an engine - when more power is needed, open the throttle and suck the air in.

[HereSince1628]

11. Isn't the issue remembering to EXHALE when under load?

As I learned it, using pneumatic pressure, by holding the breath to assist the back in its resistance to the load of whatever the arms are lifting, is what is dangerous because it compresses the mediastinum and thereby the heart.

Consequently, at least as I remember it, exhaling should accompany the effort of lifting rather than holding the breath.

[NutmegYankee]

13. I was trying to say that remembering to breathe rather than hold breath was key.

[RadiationTherapy]

18. For weightlifting, yes. Exhale on the exertion.

[HereSince1628]

20. Thanks, that's how I remembered it

I suspect snow shoveling is similar to weight lifting but what do I know?

[Recursion]

25. Depends on the mechanics of what you're executing

In lifting, you exhale when you're closing your body and inhale when you're opening it. In boxing you exhale sharply on contact.

[Glassunion]

12. There is that, and the pressure has to go somewhere. You could blow an O-Ring

and need to change your shorts.

[FLPanhandle]

16. Same with running

Breathing properly is the key to a good time and not crashing during a long run.

[Liberal_in_LA]

26. good tip

[bvar22]

4. Thank You.

I will remember this advice here in Arkansas.

[Skittles]

7. exercise regularly, people

yes indeed

[NaturalHigh]

8. You're preaching to the choir here.

We fat guys are well aware of this. We don't get too many huge snowstorms in this part of Oklahoma, but I've shoveled enough snow to know how much physical exertion goes into it.

[jpak]

9. Get one of these

[magical thyme]

10. that's because they don't particularly care whether or not you die

they just don't want you in the way of snow removal. Also, photo-op.

[polly7]

14. A very, very good reminder.

We picked up a lot of people up here d/t shoveling heavy snow, every year. You just don't realize how much work it's placing on the heart, and I know that myself, I do it for too long, forget to breathe properly, to take breaks, and make each shovel-full as heavy as possible just to get done.

[former9thward]

15. It is reported when someone slumps over their desk and dies?

Or when they go to sleep and they don't wake up? Are we to conclude that we should not go to sleep or go to an office? Someone who dies shoveling some snow is going to die soon anyway.

[msongs]

17. yes but to die shoveling snow is popular! nt

[bvf]

19. I just scanned this whole thread to find a remark

about the choice of "popular" in the headline.

It's like asking, "What's your favorite head injury?"

Not to diminish the serious import of the OP, btw. Hope people take note, sincerely.

[Ned Flanders]

22. What about during an airsoft match?

I had my M.I. about a month ago, right around 9-10am, in weather cold enough for the puddles to be iced over. Playing airsoft at the time, and yes, I am a binge and purge kind of athlete. Sedentary for a couple weeks, then extreme exertion. Regular exercise is a good thing. I'm not 20-something anymore.

[Thor_MN]

21. A snowblower is a lot cheaper than a heart attack....

just saying....

[Spitfire of ATJ]

23. Solution?

[GreatGazoo]

24. 2 out of 8 deaths in Buffalo were snow blowers

Eight deaths in the region — including one man whose car was buried under more than a foot of snow — are blamed on the extreme storm, authorities said.

Erie County officials said one of the deaths was from a car accident and four other people died due to cardiac issues that resulted from shoveling snow.

The most recently reported death involved a man in his 60s who had a “cardiac event” after trying to move a snow plow or a snow blower, Erie County deputy executive Richard Tobe said Thursday.

In Alden, New York, a 46-year-old man was found dead inside a car buried in 12 to 15 feet of snow, authorities said.

In Genesee County, Jack Boyce, a 56-year-old county employee, died after collapsing Tuesday morning while operating a snow blower outside the county sheriff’s office, according to county manager Jay Gsell.

http://wgntv.com/2014/11/20/at-least-8-killed-after-in-massive-snowstorm-buffalo-braces-for-up-to-3-feet-more/

[Spitfire of ATJ]

27. Picturing a county bought snow blower....

Thing probably weighed 200 pounds.