Shoveling snow is not the only activity that can put your health at risk as you cope with this winter season. Health experts are warning you to be careful with that snowblower, too.

While the time-saving devices may help you avoid the back pain that can accompany shoveling snow, they can present grave danger to your hands and fingers. Snowblower accidents cause severe injuries to hands and fingers that require finger amputations and rehabilitation, says a hand surgeon from Loyola University Health System in Chicago.

“Every winter, we get three or four cases,” Dr. Randy Bindra says in a university news release.

To stay safe, never use your hands to clear snow from the machine if it gets clogged. Instead, use a broom handle or stick.

For more tips on safe snowblower use and to read the full Health Day story — Go Here Now.