As the season's late nor'easter continues pounding the Garden State with a mix of snow, sleet and rain, experts are warning residents to be careful as they dig themselves out.
The best way to avoid physical exertion is to pace yourself and shovel a couple of times throughout the day.
"The primary tip for snow/ice/sleet is to shovel regularly," said Martin Tirado, CEO of Snow & Ice Management Association, Inc. "Don't wait until the storm is over, doing it multiple times is easier physically and better prevents the snow and ice from sticking to the pavement."
How often is often?
Tirado suggests not letting the snow pile up more then four inches and warns against letting snow and ice freeze overnight.
"When the temperatures drop, then it gets really hard to remove," he said.
Raymond Smith, a garden associate at the Home Depot in Woodbridge, suggest residents go out in stages, especially those who are older.
"You have to watch your breathing , you have to watch your heart," he said. "You just have to pace yourself especially in this kind of weather."
What equipment is best?
Snowblowers or hand shovels are both fine to use and work best in combination with a de-icer like salt, calcium chloride or a mix of both, Tirado said.
While calcium chloride releases heat, salt lowers the freezing point of water -- and that's where the melting comes into play.
Smith recommends using snow melts that are environmentally friendly and won't harm the lawn or any pipes. He said de-icers should be applied once the storm is over.
"Ice melt comes last, after the path or the walkway is clean, to keep it from refreezing," he said.
How to prevent injury?
Push, don't lift, experts warn.
"Let the shovel do the work, and never, never -- it will put a strain on your back -- never try to pick up a full shovel of snow," Smith, 59, said.
On its tip sheet, the Snow & Ice Management Association says residents should push snow to the side to exert less energy and strain on the body -- and prevent injury.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends taking breaks to prevent overexertion that can lead to a heart attack.
What to wear?
FEMA suggests wearing loose layers of clothes. The Snow & Ice Management Association says people should wear a base layer of breathable fabric to keep skin dry, a warmer layer like a vest and an outer layer that is waterproof to keep you dry.
Other best practices?
FEMA says shovelers should help firefighters by keeping fire hydrants free of snow. And, if you haven't already, pick up your car's windshield wipers.
Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.
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