Snowblower injuries to the hand.

A single heavy snowstorm in Saskatoon in late 1984 resulted in nine patients sustaining snowblower injuries to 19 digits. Factors leading to injury included rapid onset of colder temperatures, sudden reuse of snowblowers after storage for the summer, a heavy mid-week storm that created a sense of urgency to clear snow in dusky light conditions after a day at work, frustration as exit chutes became repeatedly clogged with heavy wet snow and limited operator education. The injuries themselves resembled low-velocity "missile" injuries. A practical preventive measure would be to encourage manufacturers to equip machines with remotely located spring-opening clutches.