2014 WINTER WARNING: Keep your hands safe when using snow blowers

Snow Blower Safety

Recommendations for safe use of a jammed snow blower snow blowers include: (O C D  STICK)

1. If the snow blower jams, immediately turn it OFF

2. Disengage the CLUTCH

3. DELAY...Wait 10 seconds after shutting of to allow Impeller Blades to stop rotating

4. Always use a STICK or broom handle to clear impacted snow. The stick most be strong enough to avoid breakage or eye injures can result from flying fragments.

5. Never put your hand near chute or around blades

6. Keep all shields in place. Do not remove safety devices on machine

7. Keep hands and feet away from moving parts

8. Keep a clear head, concentrate and ...

    Do not drink alcoholic beverages before using a snow blower

As physicians dedicated to the care of the Hand and Upper extremity we want to inform the public concerning the perils and pitfalls of improper snow blower use.  Physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and therapists who deal with these injuries live in fear of the first heavy wet snow of the season. Invariably injuries are seen despite general knowledge that these injuries occur. These safety tips cannot guarantee against injury but hopefully if you are reading these or even better spreading these, it is one more step towards preventing these types of injuries.

*Injury Profile

Average age: 44 years

Sex: Male

Dominant hand — 90% of injuries

Amputations of tips of fingers

Middle finger most commonly injured

Common Weather Conditions

• Heavy, wet snow
• Large snow accumulation, greater than six inches
• Temperature: 28 degrees Fahrenheit or greater

Injury Causes

• Snow clogging the exit chute of the machine
• Not noticing that the impeller blades are still rotating even though the machine is off
• Operator attempts to clean the clogged exit chute with hands
• Hands connect with the rotating blades, resulting in severe injury

*portions taken from http://www.assh.org/Public/Safety/Pages/SnowblowerSafety.aspx

Snowblowers are safe if used properly.

Remember — if your snowblower jams:

• Turn it OFF!
• Disengage CLUTCH.
• DELAY, Wait five seconds after shutting machine off to allow impeller blades to stop rotating.
• ALWAYS use a STICK or broom handle to clear impacted snow.
• NEVER put your hand down chute or around blades.
• Keep all shields in place. DO NOT REMOVE the safety devices on the machine.
• Keep hands and feet away from all moving parts.
• Keep a clear head, concentrate, and
• DO NOT DRINK before using your snowblower!

REMEMBER — SAFETY FIRST AT ALL TIMES!

News organizations and weather services can help.

Conditions that are associated with a higher incidence of injuries, hay wet snow exceeding 6 inches of accumulation and temperatures above 28 degrees Fahrenheit offer good opportunities to provide warning for the public. We need your help to reduce the incidence of these preventable injuries.
Let others know of this problem. Remind your colleagues, friends and neighbors when you see them outside. Lets put an end to these devastating injuries.

More Snowblower Facts

Canadian inventor, Arthur Sicard invented the snowblower in 1925. The Montreal based inventor sold his first, "Sicard Snow Remover Snowblower" as it was called, to the nearby town of Outremont, in 1927. The invention consisted of three sections; a four-wheel drive truck chassis and truck motor, the snow scooping section, and the snow blower with two adjustable chutes and separate motor. The snowblower allowed the driver to clear and throw snow over 90 feet away from the truck or directly into the back of the truck and it worked on hard, soft or packed snow.

Arthur Sicard was born in Saint-Léonard-de-Port-Maurice, Quebec on December 17, 1876. He died on September 13, 1946.

HAVE A SAFE HALLOWEEN SEASON AVOID PUMPKIN CARVING INJURY

Hand Surgeons Warn of Pumpkin Carving Dangers

THE PHYSICIANS OF THE HAND CENTER WANT YOU TO BE SAFE THIS SEASON

Use caution during the Halloween season, and take steps to prevent hand injuries when carving.
"Every Halloween season we see four or five patients — both adults and children — who come into our office with severe injuries to their hands and fingers," from The Hand Center of Western Massachusetts in Springfield, Mass. "Treatment can often run three to four months, from the time of surgery through rehabilitation."

To prevent hand injuries, the ASSH and the HAND CENTER of WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS suggests the following safety tips:

Carve in a Clean, Dry, Well-lit Area

Wash and thoroughly dry all of the tools that you will use to carve the pumpkin: carving tools, knife, cutting surface, and your hands. Any moisture on your tools, hands, or table can cause slipping that can lead to injuries.

Always Have Adult Supervision
"All too often, we see adolescent patients with injuries because adults feel the kids are responsible enough to be left on their own.  Even though the carving may be going great, it only takes a second for an injury to occur."

Leave the Carving to Adults
Never let children do the carving. We suggests letting kids draw a pattern on the pumpkin and having them be responsible for cleaning out the inside pulp and seeds. When the adults do start cutting, they should always cut away from themselves and cut in small, controlled strokes.

Sharper is Not Better
"A sharper knife is not necessarily better, because it often becomes wedged in the thicker part of the pumpkin, requiring force to remove it. "An injury can occur if your hand is in the wrong place when the knife finally dislodges from the thick skin of the pumpkin. Injuries are also sustained when the knife slips and comes out the other side of the pumpkin where your hand may be holding it steady."

Use a Pumpkin Carving Kit
Special pumpkin carving kits are available in stores and include small serrated pumpkin saws that work better because they are less likely to get stuck in the thick pumpkin tissue. "If they do get jammed and then wedged free, they are not sharp enough to cause a deep, penetrating cut," says Wint.

Help for a Pumpkin Carving Injury
Should you cut your finger or hand, bleeding from minor cuts will often stop on its own by applying direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth. If continuous pressure does not slow or stop the bleeding after 15 minutes, an emergency room visit may be required.

Copyright © American Society for Surgery of the Hand 2009.modifed by www.handctr.com in  2013

Fireworks safety in the Baystate and throughout Connecticut this week

Hand Surgeons Agree: Leave Fireworks to the Professionals

The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) has urged the public to leave fireworks in the hands of the professionals.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 38% of all reported fireworks-related injuries from June 22-July 22, 2001, were to fingers, hands, and arms. These injuries included burns, lacerations, fractures, and traumatic amputation.
Of the finger, hand, and arm injuries, the majority of injuries were caused from accidents involving firecrackers, bottle rockets, and sparklers— the three firework-types most often used in a backyard environment. Accidents involving firecrackers, bottle rockets, and hand-held sparklers totaled 57% of all firework injuries (source: American Pyrotechnic Association).
One solution that has been offered by the ASSH to individuals is to attend public fireworks displays, which are monitored for safety by a local fire department, rather than setting off fireworks near or around the home.

The following precautions should be taken when attending a public fireworks display:

• Obey safety barriers and ushers.
• Stay back a minimum of 500 feet from the launching site.
• Resist the temptation to pick up firework debris when the display is over. The debris may still be hot, or in some cases, the debris might be “live” and could still explode.
• Never give children hand-held sparklers. Sparklers cause 10% of all firework injuries (source: American Pyrotechnics Association)—and were associated with the most injuries to children under 5 years of age. (source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)

The Hand Center of Western Massachusetts agrees -- keep your hands safe this fourth of July. Enjoy the day and leave fireworks to the professionals

Portions Copyright © American Society for Surgery of the Hand 2008.
Modified/adapted altered by www.handctr.com from assh.org

Hand Center Connecticut additional offices 

Hand Center to Connecticut 

The Physicians and Staff of the Hand Center of Western Massachusetts are proud to announce that we are opening another Hand Center office, in Connecticut. Our new office will be at 140 Hazard Avenue, Enfield CT 86082. 

The Hand Center 

Hours will be by appointment. 

We are now the only medical practice in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut dedicated exclusively to the Hand and Upper Extremity. 

Our office has been known regionally as The Hand Center  since 1999 and has continued to serve the residents of an ever expanding geographic circle during that time.

As many of our patients come from the Northern Connecticut region now, we at the Hand Center are excited to begin working at our new Connecticut office and doing surgery near there. As residents of  towns very nearby in Western Massachusetts the Hand Surgeons Drs. Wint, Wintman and Martin all spend significant time in Enfield, Somers, Stafford, East Windsor, Ellington, Vernon, Tolland and the surrounding area. We feel that Northern  Central Connecticut is part of our home  and are eager to make our  Hand Center services available there. For more information about our us and our practice of Hand and Upper Extremity surgery visit www.handctr.com.

THE HAND CENTER OF WMA  in CONNECTICUT

140 Hazard Avenue

Suite 103

The Hand Center of WMA, Enfield, CT 06082

(413) 733 2204 

currently if you are seeking an appointment with oneof our Hand Surgeons in connecticut, please call the springfield number.

The HAND CENTER staff prides itself on helping you navigate the ins and outs of seeing a specialist. Whether it is a small or large problem, we strive to inform you of co-pays, deductibles and other requirements of your insurance plan BEFORE you arrive at our office, so that you and your Physician can focus on your care. At the Hand Center of Western Massachusetts you will ONLY see an board certified MD, an experienced Hand and Upper Extremity Surgeon at each and every visit. Our doctors have been in Springfield and Ware in Western Massachusetts for many years, have a track record of providing quality care and have earned the confidence of our patients and their health care providers. We are excited to bring this to our Connecticut Hand Center office in Enfield.  Call our office at anytime if you have questions at 413 733 2204 or visit our website at www.handctr.com

THE HAND CENTER of Western Massachusetts now in North and Central CT www.handctr.com 140 Hazard Avenue, Suite 103, Enfield (860) 272-2996

HAND CENTER CONNECTICUT:The Hand Center of WMA in CONNECTICUT

The Physicians and Staff of the Hand Center of Western Massachusetts are proud to announce that we are opening another Hand Center office, in Connecticut. Our new office will be at 140 Hazard Avenue, Enfield CT 86082. 

The Hand Center 

Hours will be by appointment. 

We are now the only medical practice in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut dedicated exclusively to the Hand and Upper Extremity. 

Our office has been known regionally as The Hand Center  since 1999 and has continued to serve the residents of an ever expanding geographic circle during that time.

As many of our patients come from the Northern Connecticut region now, we at the Hand Center are excited to begin working at our new Connecticut office and doing surgery near there. As residents of  towns very nearby in Western Massachusetts the Hand Surgeons Drs. Wint, Wintman and Martin all spend significant time in Enfield, Somers, Stafford, East Windsor, Ellington, Vernon, Tolland and the surrounding area. We feel that Northern  Central Connecticut is part of our home  and are eager to make our  Hand Center services available there. For more information about our us and our practice of Hand and Upper Extremity surgery visit www.handctr.com.

THE HAND CENTER OF WMA  in CONNECTICUT
140 Hazard Avenue
Suite 103
The Hand Center of WMA, Enfield, CT 06082
(413) 733 2204 
currently if you are seeking an appointment with oneof our Hand Surgeons in connecticut, please call the springfield number.

THE HAND CENTER of Western Massachusetts now in North and Central CT  www.handctr.com  140 Hazard Avenue, Suite 103, Enfield (860) 272-2996