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Shovel safe this winter

by Maria Gracia Join our newsletter to be notified when the newest Statistics, Facts, and Figures are available. Not long along, 220,000 tons of snow filled the Buffalo Bills football stadium in New York. Due to this unprecedented amount of snow, the NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets had to be moved to Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. So how much is 220,000 tons of snow? It actually equals 440,000,000 pounds…which is the rough equivalent of EIGHT Statues of Liberty or ONE Sears (Willis) Tower in Chicago. If only ONE person shoveled out the stadium, it would take this person 33.5 years (assuming that each shovelful of snow weighed 25 pounds). If 500 people came to help, it would still take 3.5 weeks. It’s a good thing that the Buffalo Bills have faithful and unwavering supporters and snow plows! If you’re out shoveling this winter, be sure you’re shoveling safe. According to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, there are no shortage of shoveling injuries each winter.  55% are generally soft tissue injuries, 16% lacerations, 7% fractures, 7% cardiac-related (very serious), and the remainder were other. • Push the snow. Do not lift it. A shovel- full of wet snow can weigh nearly 25 pounds! • If you absolutely must lift the snow, squat with your legs apart, your knees bent, and your back straight. Do not bend at the waist and pick up SMALL amounts of snow. • When gripping the shovel, keep your hands about 12 inches apart for more stability and less strain on your body. • Pace yourself. Focus on areas that truly have to be shoveled and do those first. Do a little bit at a time, break the job into several sessions, and share the workload with other family members if possible. • If at all possible, buy a snowblower, or hire someone in the neighborhood to get rid of the snow for you. Back to Organizing Statistics, Facts, and Figures Index