Hardware Stores Receive Them to Place on Shovels, Snow Blowers
Snow removal can be hard on your heart. ThedaCare Cardiovascular Care is educating people about the signs of a heart attack by donating magnets with a list of symptoms to area hardware stores.
Cherian Varghese, MD, a cardiologist with ThedaCare Cardiovascular Care in Appleton and Neenah, said it is not uncommon for people to have heart attacks while shoveling or running a snow blower. “People exert themselves in a way they are normally not used to when shoveling and that can have a negative effect on their cardiac health. Some people come in with injuries while others may have chest pains,” said Dr. Varghese, who also sees patients in New London, Shawano, Waupaca and Wausau.
Donated by ThedaCare, the magnets are placed on shovels and snow blowers and contain five heart attack warning signs: uncomfortable pressure or squeezing in the middle of the chest that lasts for a few minutes or goes away and comes back; pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the jaw, stomach, neck or back; shortness of breath with or without chest comfort; breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness; and women may have unexplained signs of fatigue, anxiety and weakness especially with exertion. Underneath the list of symptoms is a reminder to call 911 as soon as possible if anyone experiences any of the symptoms.
The magnets were donated to: Hardware By Design in Appleton; Sears Outlet in Appleton; Northside True Value Hardware in Appleton; Kitz & Pfeil True Value Hardware in Appleton, Menasha, Oshkosh and Berlin; Ace Hardware of Appleton and Wautoma; Carstens Ace Hardware in Appleton; Brick’s Hortonville Hardware; Lindner Ace in Little Chute; New London Building Supply; Johnson Hardware & Appliance in Shiocton; Tractor Supply Co. in Berlin; Ripon Ace Hardware; Drexel Building Supply in Berlin; Qualheim’s True Vale in Shawano; Tractor Supply Co. in Shawano; Seymour Lumber; Diedrick’s Hardware in Seymour; Wautoma Do It Best; Sears Hometown Store in Waupaca; Noffke Lumber in Waupaca; Torberg’s Lumber Waupaca; Mills Fleet Farm in Waupaca; and Farm & Home Hardware in Chilton. In addition, the Rural Health Initiative in Shawano, Waupaca and Outagamie counties will distribute them to farmers and ThedaCare At Work will provide them to employers.
For more than 100 years, ThedaCare® has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast Wisconsin. The organization serves over 200,000 patients annually and employs more than 6,800 healthcare professionals throughout the region. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose as well as 32 clinics in nine counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a non-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service.