The Common Snow Injury You Haven’t Thought About

During winter months, hand and wrist injuries from falls are prevalent, but Safi Faruqui DO, of the TriHealth Orthopedic & Sports Institute, says he sees just as many injuries from something that’s seemingly harmless: using your snow blower.

“These injuries can be devastating,” he warns.

Snow blower injuries occur when people try to unclog the shoot without realizing the blade is still going. Dr. Faruqui has seen people lose fingers or cut themselves so severely that it takes months to recover.

Take Your Time: It's Critical

“If you’re snow blowing and the snow gets jammed, do not put your fingers or hand anywhere near where the blade is,” he explains. “Even though you’ve turned the power off, the blade can keep spinning, so take your time.”

After turning the snow blower off, you should wait a minute or two before unclogging the shoot to avoid injury.