So far so good … According to Bob McGarva, road field supervisor for the Lassen County Public Works and Transportation-Road Division, Westwood area residents are doing a fairly good job of keeping their cars off the road so snowplows can clear roadways.
He said while it is best to park cars in a driveway, carport or even on the lawn he realizes many residents do not have a way to get their vehicles completely off the road. In such cases he advises clearing the snow berm and parking as close to the fence line as possible. In this way the snowplows will be able to make the roads as wide as possible.

If snowplows are prevented from properly clearing roadways, residents will first be asked to move their vehicles by either employees from the Lassen County Road Department or the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department. Cars that aren’t removed could be ticketed.
Most of the streets in Westwood are wide so the plows can clear roads even when cars are parked along them but the county prefers to adhere to the ordinance which requires all vehicles off the road.
While it is important to keep residences properly cleared of snow to allow room for parking and proper snow removal, those who shovel snow need to be aware of the health risks.
According to a health report by CBS News, heart attacks rise when people go out into the cold to shovel snow. That’s because a person’s heart rate and blood pressure increase during the activity and arteries and blood vessels constrict when it is cold. People most at risk are those who have had a heart attack in the past, have heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Anyone experiencing pain in his or her chest, shoulder, neck or arm may be having a heart attack. Other warning signs include dizziness, sweating, nausea and shortness of breath. When these symptoms occur it is important to get medical attention.
While shoveling snow leave the cigarettes and coffee inside the house. Both cause blood vessels to constrict similar to the cold weather. In addition, caffeine causes a person’s heart rate to increase.
The report suggests that dressing warmly, taking short breaks every 15 minutes and drinking water while shoveling is a healthful way to get the job done safely.
It’s important to avoid back strain as well. Within a 10-minute period on average a person will lift 2,000 pounds of snow. Therefore lift with leg muscles rather than the back. To accomplish this, knees must be bent and the back kept straight. People should never bend at the waist while shoveling and its best to pick up small shovel loads. When working through deep snow a good strategy is to work down a few inches at a time. It’s also good to step in the direction the snow is being tossed.
The good news about shoveling snow is that it burns about 200 calories during a 30-minute period. However, as with any exercise regimen its best to start slow and build fitness.