REGION — Even as we look out on open rivers and streams, thin ice and greening grass, according to the weather service, snow is on the way. And again area residents will be maneuvering on frozen and icy or snowy surfaces, and the injuries they caused will linger, even as the weather thaws.

“We see it every year as a recurrent theme,” said Matthew Meigh, medical director with the Garnet Health Department of Emergency Medicine.

Some of the injuries come from less-than-obvious sources. Take snowblowers, for instance. Everyone understands that when the machine is on, you shouldn’t put your hand in it, said Meigh. But it’s still dangerous even when it’s off.

Meigh and the hospital’s communication team have been getting the word out about winter safety.

When a snowblower gets clogged, the obstruction can press against the impeller, the part that blows the snow out of the machine. That impeller is spring loaded, said Meigh; if you reach inside to clear away the obstruction, the impeller can snap forward onto your hand, leading to serious injury. So the message is a simple one: don’t ever reach your hand inside a snowblower. For this reason, most snowblowers come with a device for dealing with clogs; those devices can also be purchased at hardware or department stores.

Snowblowers aren’t the only sources of injury that can happen when you clear away snow. The act of shoveling can be just as treacherous for different reasons.

People forget that they’re about to engage in heavy physical activity when they go out to shovel, said Meigh. When it comes to heavy, wet snow in particular, the exertion required can put you at risk of a heart attack.

People should be cleared by their doctor before engaging in that kind of physical activity, he said.

Another source of injury may be more obvious: the risk of slipping and falling during inclement weather.

Garnet Health sees fall patients constantly, especially when it’s wet and cold out, said Meigh. The elderly are at particular risk of injury, with lower bone density that makes breakage more likely, and with a risk of brain hemorrhages as well.

Meigh recommended that people wear appropriate footwear and use handrails when the weather is poor.

Especially if you’re part of an at-risk population, be careful, he said.