Hand Care

Hand Safety Year-Round

Winter: Snowblower Safety

Snowblower Fast Facts
• Most snowblower injuries occur when temperatures reach 28 degrees or higher following at least six inches of accumulation; this results in wet, heavy snow.
• Snowblower injuries often occur after the exit chute becomes clogged, and the operator attempts to clear the block with a hand. The hand then comes in contact with the rotating blades or the inside of the chute, potentially causing severe injury.
• Blades inside the snowblower may continue to rotate even after the machine is shut off.
• The most common snowblower injury is amputation of the tips of fingers, most often on the victim's dominant hand.
• The most commonly injured fingers are the: middle finger (78%), index finger (46%), and ring finger (32%).

Jammed Snowblower Safety Recommendations
• Turn it off!
• Disengage the clutch.
• Wait at least five seconds after machine is turned off before attempting to clear the impacted snow.
• Use a stick or broom handle to clear out blockage.
• Do not put your hand into the chute or anywhere near the blades.
• Never remove any shields or safety devices on the snowblower.
• Keep hands and feet clear of any moving parts at all times.

Spring: In the Garden

• Wear gloves: gloves will protect you from blisters, sunburn, fingernail damage, and potentially harmful fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, you will be protected from fungus and bacteria in the soil, which may otherwise enter the body through even the smallest cut. Leather gloves have the added benefit of protecting from thorns, poison ivy, and bites from small garden critters.
• Rotate your tasks: prolonged, repetitive motions such as raking, pruning, or digging may lead to irritation of the skin, tendons, or nerves. To avoid this, vary your gardening activities, performing no one activity for more than 15 minutes at a time.
• Beware when you dig: use a gardening tool for digging, as sharp objects buried in the soil may cut you.
• Use the right tools: use each tool for the activity it was intended for. When appropriate, purchase tools with a safety lock, and always keep sharp tools away from children.
• Remember your wrist: to maintain optimum grip strength, keep your wrist in a relaxed or neutral position while gardening.
• Avoid finger-grip handles: tools with molded finger grips will not fit most hands perfectly. Larger hands will overlap the ridges, leading to pain or calluses, and the fingers of smaller hands will be spread out, resulting in reduced grip strength.

If You Are Injured
If you get a minor cut while gardening, carefully remove your gloves, gently wash the wound with mild soap and clean water, and apply pressure with a clean cloth. Seek the help of a hand surgeon or visit the emergency room if:

• bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes of continuous pressure
• your fingers are numb or tingling
• you are not up-to-date on your tetanus shot
• you can not thoroughly clean the wound yourself

Summer: Safe Hands in the Summertime

Fireworks: look, don't touch
Fireworks are a fun part of the festivities of summer, and the Michigan Hand Center physicians urge you to enjoy them at professional, controlled public displays. Unfortunately, when people attempt to put on their own fireworks displays at home, all too often it can lead to burns, cuts, fractures and even amputations of the fingers, hands, and arms. According to the American Pyrotechnic Association, common fireworks such as sparklers, bottle rockets, and firecrackers account for more than half of firework-related injuries. Sparklers alone account for 10% of firework injuries, and children under five are particularly at risk. Public, fire department-monitored displays offer spectacular sights and enhanced safety, provided you use some caution and common sense:

• Obey the safety regulations in place.
• Keep back at least 500 feet from the launching site.
• Don't pick up any firework debris, which may be hot, or may still explode.

Lawnmower Safety
The smell of fresh-cut grass and the sound of a lazily droning lawnmower motor are two hallmarks of summer. Keep the following facts and precautions in mind whenever a lawnmower is in use to ensure the safety of yourself and others.

Lawnmower Fast Facts

• Most lawnmower injuries occur when the grass is wet or the ground is damp.
• Lawnmower injuries often occur when a person makes direct contact with the blades, whether they are rotating or jammed.
• Lawnmower injuries may be severe, causing serious tearing or breaking of soft body tissue and bone, complicated by contamination from the grass and organisms or debris in the soil.
• Lawnmower injuries most often occur in adults aged 25-64 and children under five; deaths have been reported in children under six.
• The most commonly injured body parts are the: wrist, hand, or finger (22%), and the foot, ankle, or toes (14%).
• Amputation is required in 25% of all lawnmower-related hand and foot injuries.
• Lawnmower blades create enough power to eject objects at up to 100 miles per hour.

Lawnmower Safety Recommendations

• Before using a lawnmower, read the instruction manual.
• Never remove any shields or safety devices on the snowblower.
• Keep hands and feet clear of any moving parts at all times.
• Use a stick or broom handle to clear out any blockage or obstruction.
• Never use your hands or feet to clear out a lawnmower.
• Do not attempt to operate a lawnmower on wet or damp ground.
• Keep children away from lawnmowers and the area being mowed at all times.
• Riding mowers are designed for only the operator; never allow any passengers.
• Do not pull the lawnmower backwards.
• When using a riding mower, use caution and always mow up and down rather than across.
• When using a power mower, use caution and always mow across rather than up and down.
• Dress appropriately when mowing: wear protective boots, long pants, gloves and goggles. Never wear sandals, open-toed shoes, or mow barefoot.
• Keep your lawnmower in good repair, with sharp blades.

Fall: Be Sure the Jack-O'-Lantern is All You Carve!

• Stay dry: wash all your equipment, then dry it completely, making sure that your hand and cutting surface are also dry to avoid potentially dangerous slipping.
• Bright lights: be sure your work area is well-lit.
• Adult supervision: adults should refrain from assuming their kids are "old enough" to handle sharp carving tools alone.
• Let children draw the design onto the pumpkin and clean out the inside, but always have an adult do the carving.
• Injuries may occur if a very sharp knife becomes wedged in the pumpkin and then forcefully dislodges, or if it slips through the back side of the pumpkin. Using a duller knife is a safer option.
• Use a pumpkin carving kit with a small, serrated pumpkin saw.
• Small cuts resulting from pumpkin carving should be carefully washed with soap and water, then direct pressure should be applied with a clean cloth. If bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes, you may need to visit the emergency room.

Exercises for your Hands and Wrists

1. Sit up straight with your right arm lifted loosely straight in front of you, forming a 90 degree angle with your body, looking at the back of your right hand.
2. With your left hand, very gently pull back toward you each finger of your right hand one by one, beginning with your index finger.
3. Now use the palm of your left hand to gently pull back toward you all the fingers on your right hand, stretching out your palm.
4. Grasp your right thumb and gently pull it back towards your wrist, then forward again
5. Make a tight fist with your right hand, then slowly release it, opening up your hand as wide as you can.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 with the opposite hands.
7. Finish by performing this stretch with both hands: Press your palms together firmly, fingers pointing up. Keeping your palms pressed firmly together, slowly lower your hands down towards your waist, feeling the stretch in your fingers, palms, and wrists.

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