Lombard Fire offers snow blower safety tips

The most important safety tip to remember regarding snow blowers is to keep hands and fingers away from them. Other tips include:

• Be sure to read the manual.

• Don't operate the snow blower while under the influence of alcohol or judgment- impairing medications.

• Don't wear loose clothing that may get tangled in moving parts.

• Do not remove the factory installed safety devices.

• Do not leave a snow blower running while it is unattended.

• After the snow blower has been running the engine will get hot--don't touch it.

• Snow blowers are noisy--consider hearing protection.

• Do not leave a snow blower running in an unventilated area. It produces carbon monoxide, which can cause unconsciousness and death

• Store gasoline in approved containers and in a safe place.

• Keep children and pets at a safe distance from a snow blower.

• Perform routine maintenance on all snow blowers.

Snow blower injuries affect all age groups and levels of experience. Most injuries occur to people aged 25-60 who have experience using snow blowers. The moving parts on a snow blower should always be considered dangerous even when they are not moving. Those parts may have stored energy, which can release violently when an obstruction is removed or the part is freed.

Occasionally, snow blowers may become clogged. The following tips may be helpful in unclogging snow blowers:

• Many manufacturers supply a stick or prodding device to aid in clearing the clogged area. Sometimes a broom stick handle will do the trick.

• Keep a good grip on what you use to clear the clog

• The stored energy in the machine could cause any obstruction to become a projectile.

For electric snow blowers keep the electric cord away from all the moving parts.