I spent a good part of the day shoveling snow with my daughters. It was really a good time, and we had not done anything together for a while due to schedules and school activities. It was good to have the help too!

With a huge driveway and the barn areas to shovel, there is no way I could have done it all alone, but their youthful energy took the load quite well. While the windchill was bone –chilling, we all had a good time, and luckily, we all were okay when we were done. That is NOT always the case when it comes to snow shoveling.  Just this morning, one of our team responded to an ambulance call where a 19 year old boy had collapsed while shoveling.

If you shovel for 30 minutes, did you know you'll clear away 200 calories along with the snow? I should look great! I shoveled for over 4 hours today!

All that to say, snow shoveling is very demanding on the body.

Typical winter conditions (a little more than an inch of snowfall and temperatures that dip below 20 degrees) cause death rates from heart attacks to triple among men 35 to 49 years old. Shoveling snow can be very dangerous if the right precautions aren't taken.

What makes shoveling more dangerous than other average tasks around the house is the temperature. Your heart rate and blood pressure increase during strenuous activity. That, coupled with the body's natural reflex to constrict arteries and blood vessels when exposed to the cold, is a recipe for a heart attack.

Snow shoveling can certainly be good exercise. But there are certain higher risk groups who should think twice before picking up that shovel. I am in a few of these categories.

If you've ever had a heart attack, if you have heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you probably don't want to do the shoveling yourself. At the very least, you should consult your doctor before attempting it. My daughters were very concerned today about my health as I have a history of heart problems and asthma. They watched me closely and took over the “heavy stuff” several times.  If you’re gonna shovel and have this kind of history, shovel with a friend or family member that understands your health.

Smokers may want to resort to that snow blower - and certainly you should never smoke while shoveling. Tobacco smoke constricts blood vessels just as cold air does; the combination can be dangerous. Now, if you’re gonna smoke and use the snow-blower, do I have to tell you to put the cigarette down while refueling?

Now, I’m not into excersize in any way shape or form, in fact, I am trying to start a coalition for drive-thru WalMarts, but I am active and that helped today.  If you are not active, you could be putting yourself at risk just by grabbing the shovel.  Shoveling is EXTREMELY taxing. Do not push past what your capabilities are.

I heard a call on the scanner today…97 year old female fell while shoveling…I thought for sure it was a heart attack. Nope. She slipped on the ice.

Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you should shovel and if you’re old you shouldn’t. It is about health and capability.

Here are some tips to make shoveling safer:

Always remember to dress warmly. You may be working up a sweat, but that doesn't mean you're immune to the effects of the cold.

Don't feel you need to get the whole driveway cleared in one shot. Take breaks every 15 minutes.

Go inside for some hot chocolate, but don't drink coffee. The caffeine may increase your heart rate and cause your blood vessels to constrict, just like smoking does.

Keep hydrated. Drink plenty of water.

And most importantly, know the warning signs of a heart attack. These may include chest pain, shoulder, neck or arm pain; dizziness, fainting, sweating or nausea; or shortness of breath. And if you think you're having a heart attack, seek medical help immediately.

When shoveling, it's important to avoid back strain. The average shovel (loaded with 16 pounds of snow) ends up moving 192 pounds of snow, if you load your shovel about 12 times a minute. That's almost 2,000 pounds being lifted in just over 10 minutes!

Here is how to shovel properly:

• Lift with your legs, not your back. Bend your knees and keep your back as straight as possible so that the lifting comes from your leg muscles, not your back. Never bend at the waist. Step in the direction that you're throwing snow. This will help prevent the lower back from twisting and will help alleviate any back soreness that you might typically experience the day after a hard shoveling job.
• Create some distance between the hands. This will give you more leverage and make it easier to lift snow.
• Pick up smaller loads of snow. It's best to shovel by sections. If you're shoveling deep snow (a foot or more), take it easy and shovel two or three inches off at a time.
• Do push. Don't lift. Save your back and your energy by simply pushing the snow to the side instead of lifting the snow and throwing it off to the side.

Now, as you start to brave the cold wind and start to clear those passageways you let go today, be careful. Stay safe. Think about spending Christmas with your family and what a stupid thing it would be to have a clear walk but no YOU for the holidays.