At Least 2 Men Collapse And Die While Shoveling Snow In Howard County
COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) — A new warning about shoveling snow. The strenuous effort can pose health risks, and in Maryland, it has even proven deadly.
Mary Bubala has details on the deaths.
It's a heavy, wet snow on the ground, and that makes the effort of shoveling very dangerous.
Howard County, like much of Maryland, was buried in snow when residents woke up Thursday morning.
Some people tried to get out early to shovel, but by the middle of the day, two men had collapsed and died while shoveling.
The first, a 57-year-old man on Woodstock Road, died at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The second, a 55-year-old man on Southern Star Terrace in Columbia, died around 12:10 p.m.
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman addressed the sudden deaths on Thursday night.
"This is deep, heavy snow, and I implore everyone to please take it easy. Please don't overexert yourself. Clear a little at a time. Or ask a neighbor to help. We need to pitch in as a community during times like these. So if you know of a neighbor who could use the assistance, please offer to do a little shoveling. We can never prevent all emergencies, but we can take smart steps to be safe and help others."
Health officials urge people--if you are out shoveling snow, pace yourself. Try to shovel a few inches at a time, not all at once, and lift with your legs, not your back.
A third man also died after his wife found him unresponsive in their Columbia home. He had been out shoveling earlier in the day.
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