SNOW CAN BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR BACK
Shoveling the residue of a winter snowstorm can be a pain in the neck, it can also be a pain in the back, shoulder and wrist, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. To help reduce the injury risk, the Academy has issued some guidelines: shovel early and often since newly fallen snow is lighter than heavily packed or partially melted snow; push, don't lift, the snow, keeping the shovel close to your body to increase your leverage; if you must lift, lift properly, squatting with your legs apart, knees bent and back straight and lifting with your legs; do not throw the snow over your shoulder or to the side or make any other twisting motion that stresses your back; take precautions not to fall; use a shovel suited to your height and strength; pace yourself; check with your doctor if you have a medical condition or do not exercise regularly.

For those folks with gravel driveways (like me):

If your driveway set up will allow it, consider shoveling only half of the driveway! My driveway is set up that 4 cars can be in it -- 2 side by side and 2 deep. Not only will shoveling only half of the driveway save your back, but you can keep the gravel in the driveway and out of the grass by shoveling the snow onto the unused portion of the drive..

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Thank you for the great tip, Splatt!

A big help in shoveling that white **** is to buy the proper shovel. I bought one from Sears several years ago that is "S" shaped and easy on my back. It has a plastic blade/scoop that doesn't wear out easily. Wish I had a digital camera, I would show you a picture.

By the way, what is someone like JoJo2 doing with a snow shovel in San Diego?

[This message has been edited by fjohn (edited 01-19-2001).]

LOL! fjohn, I don't own a snow shovel now, but I did when I lived in New York and New Jersey. Thanks for the great tip.

fjohn-those "bent" shovels do look great. I noticed them just AFTER I bought a new shovel two weeks ago I would also imagine that they make it easier to stand in the correct position, and lift the shovel using your leg muscles.

The shovel I did buy was a much lighter weight than my old one. The wooden handle was lighter and the shovel scoop is plastic rather than metal. I found that the lighter shovel made the job much easier. I didn't have the weight of the shovel added to the weight of the snow.

If I can, I try to go outside every hour or so, while it is snowing, and I use a large pushbroom to sweep the snow off my front walk and sidewalk. This does help in preventing a large accumulation in those areas--and it only takes two or three minutes to push the snow aside each time I go out.

When they predict snow,I usually park the cars at the end of the driveway, close to the sidewalk. Then I just shovel what's in front of the cars, so we can get them out--I don't bother with what's behind them in the rest of the driveway (except to shovel a small path to the garage so I can put the garbage cans out).

Don't you just love it when you've shovelled out the driveway and the sidewalk, and the snowplow comes back down the block and dumps it all back?

Several of my neighbors own snowblowers--but they don't use them. Either they don't work well, or they're not that easy to use.

I just bought some ice melter that is guaranteed not to harm pet's feet---or concrete or lawns. It cost much more than the regular stuff, but I worry about my dog walking on that kind --even though I do wipe her paws after we come in. And the regular ice melter does damage lawns. I hope the new one I bought works well--I haven't had a chance to try it yet. Has anyone else tried this "safe kind of ice melter?