Hand Surgeons Provide Tips for Power Saw Safety  Rosemont, IL;
May 4, 2005— The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH)
recommends that individuals take the proper precautions to
prevent hand-related injuries while tending to Spring projects. 
Each year, thousands of people suffer maiming or amputations of
their fingers or hands due to improper handling of power saws.
In a 2001 study, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
found that over 50,000 people were treated in U.S. hospital
emergency rooms for injuries associated with table saws, band
saws, miter saws, or redial arm saws in the calendar year. 
Contact with the saw blade was the major hazard to power saw
operators, followed by being hit by stock or cutting
material. An injury sustained from a power saw could quickly and
suddenly have devastating consequences involving severe
lacerations and fractures. Nerve, tendon, vascular injury and
amputation are possible as well.  Fingertip injuries are the
most common with the thumb being the most