10 Tips to Safely Remove Snow and Ice

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Wear Protective Clothing and Gear

It’s imperative to wear gloves, a head warmer, long pants and long sleeves while snow shoveling. Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can lead to frostbite, most commonly on the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin, according to Mayo Clinic.

“In wind chill of minus-16.6 degrees … frostbite can occur on exposed skin in less than 30 minutes,” according to the Mayo Clinic website.

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Don’t Move Too Much Snow at Once

Snow shoveling isn’t a race. Lifting or pushing too much snow at once can strain your neck or back. It’s better to do smaller, more frequent lifting than to overload your shovel each time.

Here’s a handy snow removal hack: Use a leaf blower or shop vac to clear out as much snow as possible before finishing the job with your shovel.