• Original Reporting
  • References

The Trust Project

Original Reporting This article contains firsthand information gathered by reporters. This includes directly interviewing sources and analyzing primary source documents.
References This article includes a list of source material, including documents and people, so you can follow the story further.
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(Provided by Gigafact.)

Yes.

Applying cooking spray to a shovel can help keep snow from sticking to it, easing the task of clearing sidewalks and driveways. Coating a shovel with vegetable oil or wax has the same effect. 

Other tips to make snow shoveling easier include dressing for cold weather, making sure your equipment is comfortable to use, warming yourself up before starting to shovel and tackling wet, heavy snow in layers, taking breaks as necessary. Snow shoveling can put an intense strain on the heart, rivaling maximum treadmill activity in tests. The American Heart Association estimates hundreds of deaths related to snow shoveling occur in the U.S. annually.

Many Coloradans are bound by local laws requiring property owners to clear their sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowstorm for pedestrian safety. Colorado law also prohibits depositing snow on public roadways. Crosswalks, intersections, entrances and exits must also be kept clear. 

See full source list below.

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The Colorado Sun partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

References:

How cooking spray and socks can make shoveling snow easier, Accuweather, Mar. 4, 2024. Source link.

How can I stop snow from sticking to my snow shovel?, Westlake Ace Hardware, accessed in November 2024. Source link.

Tips to shovel wet, heavy snow, 9News, Nov. 9, 2024. Source link.

Snow shoveling can be hazardous to your heart, American Heart Association, Dec. 15, 2022. Source link.

Exercise-Related Acute Cardiovascular Events and Potential Deleterious Adaptations Following Long-Term Exercise Training, The American Heart Association, March 2020. Source link.

Cardiac Demands of Heavy Snow Shoveling, Journal of the American Medical Association, Mar. 15, 1995. Source link.

Colorado’s Snow Removal Law, Colorado Department of Transportation, accessed in November 2024. Source link.

Type of Story: Fact-Check

Checks a specific statement or set of statements asserted as fact.

Por recently graduated from CU Boulder with a master’s degree in journalism and is interested in writing about the environment and exploring local stories. When not working on some form of writing, Por is either looking for Thai food or petting...