Assemblyman Joseph Saladino Warns Of Dangers Associated With Winter Weather, Driving Hazards and Snow Shoveling

February 15, 2013

Assemblyman Joseph S. Saladino is advising his constituents to take safety precautions during and after the winter storms that have been hitting Long Island. As we experience the problems of ice, slippery roads and deep snow, Assemblyman Saladino asks people to heed warnings to protect themselves and their families. There are several common-sense safety measures all residents can take to help themselves and their neighbors during and after severe winter storms.

Snow shoveling presents risks that people need to be aware of before going out to clear their driveways. According to a study in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, an average of 11,500 people are injured while shoveling snow per year, with 7% of those suffering from heart attacks. The stress that shoveling snow puts on the body can raise a person’s pulse above recommended limits after only two minutes.

“Everyone knows that they need to shovel after a winter storm, but doing it incorrectly can have dangerous results. Make sure to bend with your knees and not your back to avoid unnecessary stress.” said Saladino. “You can injure yourself and, in extreme cases, experience dangerous episodes including a heart attack. To avoid this, know your limits and do not shovel more snow than is comfortable. Take breaks and drink plenty of water.”

“After a severe snow storm, our municipalities take care of much of the cleanup by plowing the roads and helping to restore safety. However, there are steps that residents can take to help municipalities,” said Saladino. “Actions that fall into this category include making fire hydrants accessible to firefighters, making mailboxes accessible for mailmen and clearing storm drains of ice and snow to better allow melting snow to clear streets. Also, during a storm, practice safe driving by slowing down and avoid driving in all cases except where absolutely necessary.”

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