Echo GT-225L Operator's Manual page 10

SAFETY
• 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 unit 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.
Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI)
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 exercises 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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GT-225L
X7732272601
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