Paramedics are asking everyone out shoveling to take it easy after seeing a drastic spike in calls for those in cardiac arrest.
Superintendent of Education for Middlesex-London EMS Jay Loosley says snow shoveling can cause heart rates to skyrocket.
"If I go out for a slow walk or maybe a jog, my heart rate will naturally increase to compensate for that. But when you start shoveling, your heart rate jumps up from 80 (beats per minute) to about 150 (beats per minute), and that rapid rate really causes some problems for people with heart issues," he says.
Loosley say there are a number of things Londoners can do to protect themselves when shoveling snow.
"Take lots of breaks, don't eat a big meal before you shovel, and don't hold your breath while you're shoveling," he says. "Just go slow."
