Why Montanans Over 45 Should Think Twice Before Shoveling Snow

The forecast for most of Montana still calls for more snow and possibly colder than average temperatures for our winter. Some places in Montana have already had a taste of what winter may have in store for us. In other parts of the state, it hasn't really begun to feel like it, yet, but it's coming.

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The Winter Solstice is Saturday December 21, so for Montana, winter hasn't begun yet. If the forecasts are to be believed, we are going to be seeing some major snow before the season is over. When it comes to removing that snow, Montanans need to be careful. The older we get the harder it is on us physically to shovel snow.

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How old is too old for shoveling snow? It may not be as old as you may think. According to AOL.com, they spoke with a spokesperson from the American Heart Association, stated that adults over 45 years old should be "cautious" when shoveling. There isn't a specific age for someone to stop altogether. That would depend on the specific person. If you never want to shovel Montana snow again, there are now snow shoveling robots available, if you can afford them.

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The American Journal of Emergency Medicine shows between 1990 and 2006,  estimated over 195,000 people were injured in snow shoveling accidents. Not only can a person get injured with heart strain, and back injuries, but shovelers can also slip and fall on the ice.

For me, I am going to use 45 years old as my official cut-off age for shoveling snow. So, as of now, it looks like I am officially retired from shoveling snow. We will see how long my "retirement" lasts. After all it looks like we may still an 'epic' season of snow coming our way. In the meantime the next time we get a big snow fall check on your older family members and neighbors to see if they can use a hand clearing some of the snow.