Ottawa man, 84, dies while shovelling snow
CBC News | Posted: December 11, 2014 4:05 PM | Last Updated: December 11, 2014
About 15 to 20 cm of snow fell in Ottawa Wednesday
An 84-year-old man from the rural Ottawa community of Metcalfe died Thursday morning after he collapsed while shovelling snow.
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Ottawa paramedics said a neighbour of the man called 911 and when emergency crews arrived on the scene, the man was without vital signs.
Paramedics said the man was pronounced dead at the scene after they had exhausted "all resuscitative measures."
About 15 to 20 cm of snow fell in Ottawa on Wednesday.
On Wednesday afternoon a man in his 70s collapsed and went into cardiac arrest in his west-end Ottawa driveway while shovelling snow.
Paramedics managed to restart his heart after several minutes and took him to hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Paramedics reminded people to be careful shovelling wet, heavy snow, which they say can put a heavy demand on the heart.
"If someone is unusually short of breath or has chest discomfort, paramedics urge them to stop the activity immediately and call 911," they said in a statement.
Heart Institute offers shovelling tips
The Ottawa Heart Institute on Wednesday offered a number of tips for health shovelling:
- Get an "ergonomic" shovel to make shovelling easier.
- Spray the shovel blade with cooking spray so snow doesn't stick.
- Work slowly and take frequent breaks.
- Get a local teen or healthy neighbour to shovel your snow if you are in a high-risk health group.