Roland Abbott, director of the Wiscasset Ambulance Service, knows that when there's snow to shovel, people just want to keep at it until the job is done.

“It's human nature,” he said.

But it's not the way to go. Just like taking the time to sand a slippery walkway, taking time when shoveling can help avoid a medical emergency.

That doesn't just go for people with heart conditions, according to Abbott and Brenda Vitali, spokeswoman for The American Heart Association of Maine.

Lifting and moving shovel loads of snow is work, even for someone who is in shape, Vitali said. Plus, being out in the cold can bring on hypothermia. Among other things, the condition makes it harder for a person to recognize when their body needs a break.

But doing certain things and avoiding others can help. Don't shovel after a heavy meal. “It puts an extra load on the heart,” Vitali said. No alcohol, either. The warm feeling it gives is misleading, and can keep people out in the cold longer than they should be, she said.

She and Abbott both cited the tip of using a smaller shovel. Less snow means less weight in each load.

And take those breaks.

While shoveling, don't ignore upper body discomfort, in the chest or anywhere else. It can be a sign of a heart attack, as can nausea, light-headedness or shortness of breath. For women, shortness of breath is sometimes the only signal they get when having a heart attack,  Vitali said.

As with exertion, untreated ice underfoot is a wintertime hazard that can injure anyone.

“Ice doesn't discriminate,” Abbot said. People of all ages slip, fall and get injuries ranging from bruises to dislocations and even broken hips, he said.

To give injuries the slip, treat the area with sand and walk with care.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.