Elem Garden Technic THT26RH-AV Traduction Des Instructions Originales page 44

Extended operation and extreme conditions
Fig. 2
It is believed that a condition called Raynaud's Phenomenon, which affects the fingers
of certain individuals, may be brought about by exposure to vibration and cold.
Exposure to vibration and cold may cause tingling and burning sensations, followed by
loss of color and numbness in the fingers. The following precautions are strongly
recommended, because the minimum exposure, which might trigger the ailment, is
unknown.
● Keep your body warm, especially the head, neck, feet, ankles, hands, and wrists.
● Maintain good blood circulation by performing vigorous arm exercises during frequent
work breaks, and also by not smoking.
● Limit the hours of operation. Try to fill each day with jobs where operating the hedge
trimmer or other hand-held power equipment is not required.
● If you experience discomfort, redness, and swelling of the fingers followed by
whitening and loss of feeling, consult your physician before further exposing yourself to
cold and vibration.
Warning! Do not operate this product indoors or in inadequately ventilated
areas.
Engine exhaust contains poisonous emissions and can cause serious injury or
death.
Repetitive Stress Injuries
Fig. 3
It is believed that overusing the muscles and tendons of the fingers, hands, arms, and
shoulders may cause soreness, swelling, numbness, weakness, and extreme pain in
those areas. Certain repetitive hand activities may put you at a high risk for developing
a Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI).
An extreme RSI condition is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), which could occur when
your wrist swells and squeezes a vital nerve that runs through the area. Some believe
that prolonged exposure to vibration may contribute to CTS. CTS can cause severe
pain for months or even years.
To reduce the risk of RSI/CTS, do the following:
● Avoid using your wrist in a bent, extended, or twisted position. Instead try to maintain
a straight wrist position. Also, when grasping, use your whole hand, not just the
thumb and index finger.
● Take periodic breaks to minimize repetition and rest your hands.
● Reduce the speed and force with which you do the repetitive movement.
● Do exercise to strengthen the hand and arm muscles.
● Immediately stop using all power equipment and consult a doctor if you feel tingling,
numbness, or pain in the fingers, hands, wrists, or arms. The sooner RSI/CTS is
diagnosed, the more likely permanent nerve and muscle damage can be prevented.
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