In the midst of record heavy snowfall in various parts of the country, activities were carried out to support people who have difficulty removing snow or who are unfamiliar with it.
In Shizukuishi Town, Iwate Prefecture, where the population is aging, local junior high school and high school students visited their homes to watch over the elderly living alone and shoveled snow.
In Shizukuishi Town, Iwate Prefecture, volunteers called "Yukinko Watch Team" visit once a week to shovel snow for households that have difficulty removing snow, such as the elderly living alone and people with disabilities. going.
On the 16th, about 60 people, including local junior high school students, high school students, and residents, divided into eight groups and visited about 50 households.
Of these, local junior high school students who went to the site by minibus talked to the residents of the house they visited to check their physical condition and ask where they would like to shovel snow.
In this area, there is about 40 cm of snow, and junior high school students carry scoops one by one to throw the snow that has accumulated between the entrance and the road into the snow dump and drop the snow that has accumulated on the roof. I did.
Toshifumi Fujimoto (87), who lives alone, said, "It's very helpful because I can't shovel snow alone. I'm grateful that there is more snow than last year."
A first-year junior high school girl who participated for the first time said, "It's a lot of snow and it's hard, but it was very rewarding to receive words of gratitude. I plan to participate every week in the future."
Accident prevention class for migrants
In Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, a snow-lowering class was held for immigrants.
This workshop was sponsored by Hida City, and seven people in their 20s to 60s gathered at the office of the Construction Industry Association, which was the venue.
Participants should check the L-shaped snow stopper on the eaves of the roof to secure a foothold and leave snow to be a foothold so that it will not fall down with the snow accumulated on the roof. We received an explanation about precautions for ensuring safety.
After that, I climbed the roof of the office about 7 meters high while holding on to the fall prevention rope and experienced the snow removal.
Approximately 50 cm of snow was piled up on the roof, and the participants used snow dumps and shovels, which are snow removal tools, to remove the snow under the guidance of the members of the association.
On the 16th, the snow condition was confirmed in advance, so I did not use a lifeline, but Hida City and the Construction Industry Association want two or more people to wear a lifeline for safety when working at home. It is said.
A woman in her 50s who moved to Japan last March said, "I'm glad I participated because I learned how to hang a ladder, how to make scaffolding, and other tools that should be prepared." ..