Winter Related Injuries

From slipping and falling on ice...to heart attacks to snow blower injuries...winter conditions can lead to serious injuries.    

    Old man winter has come to town forcing people to break out their shovels and show blowers, but there are hazards people need to take into consideration before operating certain kinds of machinery.

It seems like common sense... But everyone will tell you the same thing when you're operating a snow blower.

    Don't put your hand inside the chute or front auger system for any reason at all.

    Harvey Waldinger at Gerloch's tells us snow blowers are still loaded even when they are shut down, so putting your hand in even when it's off could result in the loss of one or more fingers

     When you get heavy, wet snow like this... The snow blower could clog easily..

    Every machine is equipped with a cleanout tool that clears the snow in a matter of minutes.

    Another thing to note is wear appropriate clothing..

    Waldinger says wear tight clothes so nothing gets stuck in the auger.

    But that's not all you should be worried about...

    Experts at Saint VincentHealthCenter tells us if you have cardiac history.. You shouldn't be shoveling snow.