Snowblowers Leading Cause of Finger Amputation!

Interestingly, snowblowers are a leading cause of finger amputations among consumer products.

A problem with the design of the snowblower is that the snow can clog the discharge chute & build up around the auger; jamming & stalling the motor. This is complicated by the fact that the auger may twist before applying enough resistance to the motor to stop it. When the jam is cleared with a hand, the auger returns to its natural shape, suddenly & with great force, severing fingers & hands; making snowblowers the leading cause of traumatic finger amputations.

Aurora Off Road's newest invention, Slush Buster, helps prevent the attachment of slush & snow on the chute, auger & housing which reduces clogging & jamming. Slush Buster coats the surfaces with a super slippery hydrophobic polymer, VS721, making it difficult for the wet snow to stick. The snowblower operates with greater efficiency & the problem of clogging & jamming is eliminated. An added benefit is that it improves the performance of the snowblower reducing time & effort to clear the snow as well as reducing fuel consumption & wear & tear on the machine.

Municipalities & professional snow removal companies are now coating their snow plow blades with Slush Buster to stop the annoying & time consuming necessity of dislodging & clearing slush & snow that sticks to the blade. Previously, the operator had to stop the truck, lift the plow & allow it to drop onto the pavement to attempt to dislodge the build-up. This constant banging on the pavement is damaging to the equipment & time consuming. When that fails then it's time to get out of the truck & go at the build up with a shovel or pick. With Slush Buster on the plow, the slush & snow just falls off. No stopping, no banging, no shovel & pick & the driver gets home earlier with his plow in one piece.

Slush Buster has been proven effective on snowmobiles where it is used to prevent the attachment of slush, snow & ice on the rails, skid plates & suspension parts. Build up of snow & ice on these machines can add substantial weight & impact negatively on performance, speed & fuel consumption. In addition, if allowed to freeze, the ice can cause expensive damage to the track, clutch, bearings & suspension parts & in some cases even snapping drive axles. There is also the safety issue of snow & ice building up on the rails where riders are dependant for sure footing. If their foot slips, they could very easily lose control of the snowmobile which can result in injury to the operators & damage to the machine.

Snowblower owners have tried various remedies from cooking oil to hair spray to lubricating oils, silicones & PTFE's with limited success. The problem is that the slush & snow rapidly washes away the spray. Slush Buster is applied by rubbing the polymer into the surface with a sponge or rag & allowing it to cure. It binds to the surface & can be lightly buffed to an even more slippery surface for greater performance. This binding process adds durability & life. Slush Buster lasts for weeks rather than minutes.

More information is available at Aurora Off Road.

The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) recommends that individuals take the proper precautions to prevent hand related injuries while removing snow this winter. Each year thousands of people suffer maiming or amputations of their fingers or hands due to improper handling of snowblowers.

"Snowblower injuries are usually very serious, often requiring delicate surgery followed by weeks or even months of rehabilitation" said David M. Lichtman, MD of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. "Most snowblower operators aren't aware that the impeller is only 2 inches below the opening of the discharge chute."

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, two-thirds of snowblower injuries involves fingers & among consumer products is a leading cause of finger amputations. In a 1999 study, 3,546 injuries were found to be snowblower related accidents but not necessarily product caused. Of those injuries, approximately 3,000 involved hand & fingers, including 283 finger amputations. With proper safety techniques you can stay away from the emergency room.

To prevent hand injuries the ASSH suggests the following safety tips if your snowblower jams.

• Turn it OFF!!
• NEVER put your hand down the chute or around the blades
• Disengage the clutch
• Wait 5 seconds after shutting the machine off to allow impeller blades to stop
• Beware of the brief recoil of motor & blades that occurs after the machine has been turned off
• ALWAYS use a stick or a broom handle to clear impacted snow. Never use your hand
• Keep all shields in place. DO NOT REMOVE the safety devices on the machine
• Keep hands & feet away from all moving parts
• Keep a clear head, concentrate & DO NOT DRINK before using your snowblower

Injury Profile
Average Age: 44 years
Sex: Male
Dominant Hand: 90% of injuries
Amputations of tips of fingers
Middle finger most commonly injured

Common Weather Conditions
Heavy, wet snow
Large snow accumulation
Temperature: 28 °F or greater (-2°C or greater)

Injury Causes
Snow clogging the exit chute of the machine.
Not noticing that the impeller blades are still rotating even though the machine is off.
Operator attempts to clean the clogged exit chute with hands.
Hands connect with the rotating blades, resulting in severe injury.

Recommendations:
Snowblowers are safe if used properly.

Source:
National Electronic Injury Surveillance Systems of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) data

American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) 2001

Aurora Off Road, division of Aurora Marine Industries Inc http://auroraoffroad.com/

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Remove Staining Produced by Spiders & Bird Poo

Question:

Lisa asked:

I am looking for a guaranteed product to remove staining produced by "spiders" and bird poo.
We have a 40’ Sundancer, and of course, it looks awful.
Which of your products would you recommend working the best!!!!???

Tired of scrubbing….
Lisa

Answer:
The products that you need for the deck of your boat are: Boat Clean Plus, Boat Scrub and Sure Step.

Wash the deck first with a 1:4 solution of Boat Clean Plus and water. Next deep clean and brighten it by scrubbing with Boat Scrub. Use a deck brush on the non-skid areas and a Marine Scrub Mitt on the smooth parts. Inspect the deck for any remaining stains and take them out with a 50/50 solution of Boat Clean Plus and Boat Scrub. Rinse and let dry. Your decks should be so clean that they will fluoresce.

Now you can apply Sure Step on the entire deck, the non-skid plus the shiny parts, with a sponge or sponge roller. When it dries to a haze, wipe off the haze with a terry towel or jewelers buffing wheel on a portable drill. After 24 hours apply a 2nd coat. The Sure Step will seal the pores to prevent dirt and stains from getting in and put a beautiful easy to maintain shine on the deck. This protective coating will resist the attachment of bird poop and spider droppings and make your decks much easier to keep clean. No more scrubbing. Just wash them with a mop and a weak solution of Boat Clean Plus and water (1:15 or 1:20)

Sure Step is pressure sensitive so although it is very slippery to light weights such as dirt, when you step on the deck, your weight creates pressure and the pressure changes the coefficient of friction and gives you grip. When the decks are wet the traction increases.

Sure Step lasts 3 to 6 months and usually re-application consists of washing with a 1:4 solution of Boat Clean Plus and re-application of the Sure Step. Coverage of Sure Step is 200 sq. ft. We suggest that you also apply a coat in the fall when you winterize your boat to prevent winter dirt from penetrating into the gelcoat, making spring preparation a whole lot easier.

This should eliminate the scrubbing and give you more time for boating.

Thanks for your question,

Captain Aurora

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Cleaning & Protecting Sunbrella Dodger from Bird Droppings

Question:

Donald Kluberdanz asked:

Do you have a product or suggestion for maintaining/cleaning/protecting Dodger & Bimini "Sunbrella" material, particularly from bird droppings?

Answer:
Boat Clean Plus is excellent for cleaning the bird droppings from all soft surfaces, like Sunbrella canvas as well as hard surfaces like fiberglass. Simply spray it on, full strength, making sure that the entire mess is wet and allow it to work for 20 minutes or so, then rinse it clean. Although Boat Clean Plus is an aggressive cleaner, it is safe for all fabrics and stitching so it won't damage the canvas or leach the color.

As far as protecting the top from bird droppings, you need to find some way of discouraging the birds from leaving their presents, or covering the top with plastic, which may not be practical. There are numerous devices such as fake Owls, fishing line strung back and forth over the boat, probes or spikes temporarily attached to areas of your boat where they like to perch, etc. to discourage them. Boaters have reported various degrees of success with these items. It may be worth experimenting with them.

There is no chemical that will prevent the bird feces from sticking or attaching.

Thanks for your question,

Captain Aurora

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