My stupidity == My injury

Re: My stupidity == My injury

Greg W. in NC

>Chuck, glad you're ok! And as always, thanks for the reminder. Hopefully your near serious error can prevent someone else's injury, so thanks for sharing this info!

Re: My stupidity == My injury

John Lucas

>Chuck

Thanks for keeping us on our toes. Hope you get well quickly.

Re: My stupidity == My injury

Scott Stefanoski in Buggy Baltimore

>sorry to hear about the accident. i like your rule, i try to do that whenever i get an injury. fortunately it has been few and far between.

good luck healing.

Re: My stupidity == My injury

Ryan McMullen

>Well, I was there, and I was scared out of my wits! Chuck was on the last log, doing the pith cut when I sat down to start anchorsealing the cedar. I had just started the first piece when Chuck dropped (well, set down rather quickly) his CS and begain to squeeze his thumb in his fist. Af first I had no idea what he did, but then I realize that he had to of hit himself with his CS. It was a tense couple of minutes before I got him into the house to address the injury.

Fortunatly, as he said not too severe, more of an injury to pride than anything else. After I recovered (no, I don't do too well when other people get injured - hats off to all the emergency personel out there) I finished his last cut and put all the equipment away.

It'll be interesting tomorrow as it is our monthly turners meeting.

Please everyone, always keep your head focused on what you are doing,even if you've done it a thousand times. This could have been worse, much worse.

Thank God he only hit the tip.

On a personal note, too bad all the excitement didn't send my wife into labor - the due date was last Monday!!!!! At least if nothing happens soon she will be induced on Wednesday (5/26/04).

Ryan

Re: My stupidity == My injury

Mike Schwing from Maryland

>Wow Chuck, you came really close to a terrible injury. Sounds weird to say that you got lucky when you got hurt, but you were lucky.

As someone who is still recovering from a finger injury (bandsaw) I know how you feel!

And I'm sorry that I'm laughing at the image you've put in my head of two manly chainsawing men passing out in front of their women! HAHAHA!

When I sliced open my finger I tried to go back in the shop after returning from the ER and my wife said "I am NOT taking you back to the ER as second time today"

Glad you're OK, finger injuries suck. Mine has totally messed with my typing, I can't really feel the tip of my ring finger again yet.

All Things Work Together For Good...

Clem Wixted Jonesboro AR

>Thanks for the reminder. Perhaps this will help you and others to prevent a much more serious injury. Thanks for sharing.

The day before yesterday I was using my chain saw to cut down a tree and saw a big bunch of shavings at the output of the CS and I thought I would reach down and pull them out. Well before I did anything you came to my mind. I remember the day I was at your house and you impressed me with the safety precautions you took before you started up your lathe. So I thought I would turn the saw off before I pulled out the shavings.

You have already helped me to operate more safely, even before this incident.

Heal quickly and share the good news at the meeting today. (I wish I lived closer)

Thanks.

Clem

Glad you are okay. . .

Ron in Drums PA

>Glad you are okay Chuck.

I'd like to point out somthing important I pick up from reading your story. When running a chainsaw, NEVER work alone. It's important to have a buddy around "Just In Case".

Re: My stupidity == My injury

Jack (Turtle Workshop)

>Hi,

There is nothing like a wake-up call to clear the webs and get one back on focus.

Onset of shock is something to be aware of thereby possibly passing out when undergoing serious trauma. I spend a lot of time in the woods and I carry two things to at least enable me to get back home.

The first is a small 1/4 oz. bottle of spearment oil. A touch of the oil on a fingertip and a touch at each temple and the center of the forehead can aid in the control of shock. It is also an excellent remedy for headache.

The second thing is a film cannister filled with very hot cayenne pepper powder. I utilize this for all cuts and even serious abrasions. The cayenne on a deep cut can stop the bleeding in less than 1 minute. It also reduces the pain to virtually nothing. The cayenne initial bite is akin to a very minor bug bite. It also prevents infection. I've been using this combo for close to 20 years and have yet to have any away from home injury get infected.

One other point is that in our turning club I watch some of the "old hands" and they seem to me to be the most dangerous. It almost like safety takes a back door when they demo. I've mentioned it, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears so I resort to silent prayer when some of these old hands get their hands, eyes, and so forth into a potentially dangerous corner.

Focus around a dangerous machine is everything. Life is not something you get a second portion of.

Jack

Re: My stupidity == My injury

Sean Troy

>Glad it turned out better than worse. Heal fast, Sean

Re: My stupidity == My injury

Chuck Ludwigsen

>Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts and prayers. I fessed up at the meeting about what happened. Especially when I had to hold the pen funny to sign-in.

Still hurts good today. Don't exactly look forward to pulling the bandage off anytime soon. I guess this too shall pass. This should make my thumb print even more distinct.

Hope your weekend is good.

Chuck.

Well Chuck...

Tony - Memphis

>Must have been the week in Memphis...on Tuesday, I was "doing the yard." One of the many little chores I did was to prune the lower branches off the crepe myrtles. Well, I just bought a pair of those fancy pruners from Lee Valley for my wife (the #6's for small hands - she's very petite). Those things are really sweet...but also very sharp! I was reaching and holding the branch I was cutting and after the branch got cut, my finger was in the way! Ouch! Man, bled like crazy. Went and got a tetnus shot the next day. Fortunately, it seems to be healing ok and its my left hand. Hope you heal well and quickly too!

Tony

Re: Well Chuck...

Chuck Ludwigsen

>Thanks, Tony.

Sorry to hear about your left hand. It was my left as well. Unfortunately, I'm a lefty.

I has been a weird week in Memphis, though.

Take care,

Chuck.