Advice for the week- Thumbs and chainsaws DO NOT make for a happy union! No worries kids, merely a flesh wound. Ok, so I was holding a branch to cut free and trow over a very expensive garden bed and at the exact moment I was throwing the branch (JUST after shutting of the saw), I lost my balance and threw the saw into my thumb. As that my chain was REALLY sharp and still on it's final rotation after being shut off.... it took a little chunk out of the very tip of the nail and a bit of the stuff underneith. As that I immediately put direct pressure on to my thumb with my other hand, hence removing any chance for me to lower myself out of the tree, I saw this as an exellent opertunity for my ground man to practice his ariel rescue technique.... so I had him lower me out of the tree after I had been securely locked into a belay device and cut my own friction device free.
As that I had just completed my Outdoor First Aid course, I was cool as a cucumber and quite exited to use my 1st aid kit and new found knowelage. I wrapped up the thumb (which was pretty ugly.... thumbnail bits were in places they were ot supposed to be) and began keeping a record of my pulse, my breathing rate, time of accident, personal medical history.... all the stuff that a good medical crew will need to assess my situation at the hospital.
Ah.... the hospital. This is where it get a bit interesting. We go to the nearest medical facility (a walk in clinic in the town we are working in) and up to the desk.
"Hi, I've cut my thumb with a chainsaw."
"Oh, can you fill out this form and sit over in the corner.... the doctor is at lunch."
"I have a record of my pulse, breathing rates and past medical history.... I just finished my Outdoor First Aid course!"
"That's nice dear." (At this point I start to think that the "laid back" additude I am so fond of here has its possible draw backs.)
After about half an hour of sitting in a corner, clutching my thumb (which has not so much as been LOOKED at, let alone having any vital signs taken etc!) they came up with a doctor who wasn't eating his lunch. He unwrapped my thumb.... said "Wow, that looks horrible, I don't know I can do anything for THAT," wrapped it up again (making sure to poke at the sore bits in the process so I winced and felt dizzy with pain) and sent me to the Palmy hospital... 35 minutes outside of town!
Entering the Palmy emergancy room, I see one other person waiting. I go to the desk, explain I have cut my thumb with a chainsaw and..... what do you know.... the receptionist tells me to fill out a form and sit in the corner. I can only assume the do lunch a bit later up in Palmy! Anyway... after about an hour and a half, I finally make it into the actual ER where the nurse unwrapps my thumb and says (wow, did this hurt my feelings) "Boy.... that looks horrible, you should have come in a while ago!!!" Ah yes, tell THAT to the doctors having there lunch, which I still have NOT gotten to have (by now it is almost 3... 3 1/2 hours AFTER the accident!).
Well... to boil down the rest of the story.... over the next few hours, amongst lots of sitting around time, I got a few x-rays taken, got my thumb numbed up and got the cut cleaned up. I ot pain killers and anti-biotics and sent on my way. All said and done, it really isn't that bad. LOOKED bad and would have been bad if not properly cleaned up.... but it should be right as rain in a week or 2. The way I see the whole event, it was just a friendly reminder from the powers that be that I do dangerous work... "DON'T GET SLACK!" Ok, point taken!
