Two Renfrew County people between the ages of 50 and 70 died of cardiac arrest while shoveling Saturday.
The county's chief paramedic, Michael Nolan, did not provide the victims' names, their ages or other information about them.
Any loss of life is a tragedy that hits a community like Renfrew County particularly hard, Nolan said.
After heavy snowfall in eastern Ontario on Saturday, Mr. Nolan said many Renfrew County residents were shoveling at home, including the two victims. In each case, passers-by attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation and quickly called emergency services.
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Renfrew County Chief Medical Officer Michael Nolan advises people who need to shovel large amounts of snow to do so in multiple sequences and within their physical capabilities.
Photo: Radio-Canada
After being transported to the hospital, the victims lost their lives.
Mr Nolan says paramedics often expect to receive calls about injuries or other medical complications such as falls and shortness of breath after heavy snowfall.
We want to help people reduce the risk of injury or death by taking care of themselves and thinking about how they prepare and how they feel when they expend their energy while shoveling.
Renfrew County's chief paramedic recommends paying close attention to symptoms leading up to cardiac arrest, including dizziness, chest pain and shortness of breath. If someone experiences these symptoms, Nolan recommends calling emergency services as soon as possible.
Warm up before scooping
An exercise physiologist in Gatineau, Stéphan Ouimette, remembers that every year people lose their lives while shoveling. He points out that shoveling is often quick and requires a lot of effort. According to him, shoveling makes your heart work much harder and in less time than other daily physical activities. This could lead to cardiorespiratory problems, he warns.
Mr. Ouimette recommends warming up before shoveling. He says this habit can help improve blood flow and heart regularity.
If a person is at risk of heart disease or has already suffered a cardiac arrest, authorities recommend that someone supervise them while shoveling.
With information from Jean-Sébastien Marier and CBC News