READING, Pa. – The temperatures were dropping as the snow hardened on the ground, pushing people to spend Monday cleaning up the streets and sidewalks.
“It’s very difficult because it’s so icy, especially when the sun goes down,” said Regina Colon-Haney, of West Reading.
“As you can see, there’s still a block of ice going on, so I’m just doing the best I can to get it up and make sure that we can still have people come to the [avenue],” Colon-Haney said.
Experts say you need to be careful shoveling snow.
“Across the United States, there’s over 100,000 shoveling related injuries every year, and even up to about 100 deaths every year,” said Dr. Blake Bailey with Tower Health.
Experts say older people have a higher risk, along with those with pre-existing heart conditions.
“Studies have really interestingly shown that within two minutes, patients can have their heart rate up to a much higher level, about 85% of its maximum heart rate, which is about the same as running on a treadmill,” Bailey said.
It can be difficult on the body.
“Some back-related injuries from overdoing it or improper technique when shoveling,” Bailey said. “And then also many other general orthopedic injuries with overuse, strains of the knees and the hips or the wrists or the elbows.”
There are ways to prepare for the next snow.
“You need to drop salt, or it’ll be harder later on, and you’ll need something like this,” a man shoveling in Reading said of his makeshift tool.
Once the snow hardens, people sometimes need to get creative.
“The shovel won’t go under, so with this rod, I can break it up,” the man said. “It’s one of those things you come up with.”
The doctor also says to prepare yourself ahead of the task.
“Dressing appropriately, having good shoes, good gloves, planning appropriately with enough time and then remembering that this is really a physical activity,” Bailey said. “So, allowing yourself to get stretched, get loosened up before you go out.”