WINTER ADVISORY FROSTBITE of the FINGERS PREVENT FROSTBITE

FROSTBITE

 Frostbite occurs when the skin is overexposed to extreme cold. It can occur when the temperature and/or wind chill is below 27°F (-3°C), and it typically occurs in the fingers and toes.Cases of frostbite  are “typically the result of overexposure  —skiers, snowboarders and climbers who don't have the luxury of warming up in the lodge because they have ventured off the grid.” But it can occur anywhere that the temperature and windchill puts fingers  or toes at risk

SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT

When caught early, most frostbite is superficial and therefore reversible. If your fingertips are white, numb and swollen, see your doctor as soon as possible. Do not rewarm your fingers if you will be overexposing them to cold weather again. Your doctor will take care of rewarming the affected areas, and a hand surgeon may be brought in to take care of any blisters.

FROSTBITE IN CHILDREN

If you are with a young child who is complaining of being cold, then go inside.  once frostbite sets in, the child will stop complaining because the area becomes numb and he or she cannot feel the problem. It is important to monitor children and yourself for signs of frostbite.

PREVENTION

To prevent frostbite, limit your time outside during cold weather; if you must venture outside, wear appropriate clothing. In extremely cold temperatures, winter athletes should consider electric boot warmers to protect their toes or gloves and mittens that have electric warming systems to protect their fingers, especially if they sustained frostbite in the past. Winter sports participants should heed warnings posted by the mountain on very cold days. 

SOURCE includes information edited and  taken from ASSH Frostbite post

PREVENT FROSTBITE As windchill increases time to frostbite decreases

https://www.assh.org/handcare/About-Hand-Surgery/Media/Details/ArticleID/45492/Frostbite-in-the-Hand READ ABOUT...
Posted by The Hand Center of Western Massachusetts on Friday, February 12, 2016

SPLINTS AND WRAPS FOR FINGERS, sports injury, sprains and trigger finger

THESE  FINGER SPLINTS AND WRAPS ARE ITEMS THAT THE HAND CENTER CANNOT STOCK OR PROVIDE THROUGH  INSURANCE PLANS BUT MAY BE VERY USEFUL.

ONLY SOME  FINGER problems are  treated with these, speak to your doctor before you use these. These splints and the products here are NOT medical advice




POWER SPLINTS - used for finger and sports injury,  FOR INDIVIDUAL FINGERS

• Impact resistant, non-metal core that can withstand the hardest of hits
• Protective side wings that flex inward or outward to fit various finger widths
• Stretchy front velcro allows for a full range of finger motion while the back no-stretch velcro locks the middle joint in place
• Fits under baseball/softball mitts and on top of football/batting gloves
• Soft padding underneath to provide comfort and a perfect fit

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BUDDY LOOPS used to protect the adjacent injured finger TWO FINGERS TOGETHER while allowing motion. Tape will work too but for the athlete or the worker who needs to take the tapes off and on through out the day these may be convenient

trigger finger splint may reduce frequency of  symptoms of locking and clicking, these splints are a good temporaty solution, especially if locking and clicking is painful or associated with prolonged locking, however do note that long term use may lead to stiffness

ADJUSTABLE TO MOST ANY FINGER SIZE RIGHT OR LEFT

WInter Weather Snow blower Safety Alert... JONAS and beyond

WINTER IS COMING....2016

Snow Blower Safety

Recommendations for safe use of a jammed snow blower snow blowers include: (OCD STICK) 

SNOW THROWER CLEARING SAFETY STICK to clear chute

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.

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.

More information:

Snowblower safety alert
Snowblower safety video
Snowblower safety tips
WWW.SAFEHAND.ORG
Snowblower Safety Brochure
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/disaster/winterstorm/snowblowersafety.html

SNOW THROWER CLEARING SAFETY STICK to clear chute

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Firecracker or Fireworks Injuries

With all the recent media attention on Fire works HAND injury it important to review safety tips and to remind the public that this is not a new problem. The ASSH, State Fire Marshalls, Public officlals and Health Care Personnel have been advocating for Fireworks Safety for years to try to  prevent these injuries.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, national losses involving fireworks amount to 3 deaths and 10,527 injuries annually.  Hand and finger injuries are the most common and account for 32 percent of all injuries. Head and eye injuries occur with about the same frequency, equaling 19 and 18 percent of total injuries.

Furthermore recent data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,revealed that 50% of all reported fireworks-related injuries from June 17-July 17, 2011,  were to fingers, hands, and arms. These injuries included burns, lacerations, fractures, and traumatic amputation.

2013 Report Data reveals In 2013, there were eight deaths and an estimated 11,400 consumers who sustained injuries related to fireworks. This is an increase from 8,700 injuries in 2012. Sixty-five percent, or 7,400, of the injuries in 2013 occurred in the 30 days surrounding July 4, 2013. CPSC staff reviewed fireworks incident reports from hospital emergency rooms, death certificate files, news clippings and other sources to estimate deaths, injuries and incident scenarios. Injuries were frequently the result of the user playing with lit fireworks or igniting fireworks while holding the device. Consumers also reported injuries related to devices that malfunctioned or devices that did not work as expected, including injuries due to errant flight paths, devices that tipped over and blowouts.

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).

A review of firework mishaps shows a variety of factors contribute to the typical mishap. Most pre-school age victims are injured by fireworks ignited by someone else, while older children who are injured are usually lighting the fireworks themselves. Children under age five are commonly hurt by rocket-type fireworks; small firecrackers and ground spinners injure the majority of children between the ages of 5 and 14. Most of the injuries associated with large, illegal firecrackers such as M-80's are to older teenagers or adults.

For more information concerning fireworks safety click here.

GET THE 2013 Consumer Product Safety Commission ANNUAL REPORT on FIREWORKS released JUNE 2014 ,HERE