Had a pole saw perched in a branch next to/near me, either the branch broke or the wind knocked it loose. Fell (not far) straight down passing through the meat of my forearm near my elbow. At first I didnt realize how bad it was, I was just annoyed my tool fell, and everytime I even look at a silky I’m bleeding from somewhere anyway. When I glanced at the wound my arm was wide open! I could’ve put my cell phone inside....Naturaly my mind and body deeply wanted to panic, but I knew couldnt until I was on the ground. Trying to deny/forget what I had just seen was difficult, but getting down was critical. I made a rapid descent, and by the time my boots touched down my boss had quick clot in the wound, and it well wrapped. They unclipped me from my system and carried me to the driveway. Luckily the local fire department had a station two driveways away. The homeowner witnessed what happened and alerted them. They walked over with a trauma kit. By this time I was in rough shape and my vitals were weak, they assisted me to a laying down position and radioed for an ambulance. At the ER they had me on a nerve blocker and a fentanyl drip. After scrubbing out the quick clot (which took FOREVER) they put in 5-6 stitches in to mend the muscle tissue that had been severed, a few more into the muscle sheath, and about fifteen on my exterior flesh. Things could have been MUCH worse. If I would have been palm up: bleed to death rapidly, severed rope: fall from 50’+, land on ground personnel: sever a head..... Lucky I guess, minor nerve damage, bruised ego, and a phobia/PTSD (I have weird uncontrollable emotions now) of pole saws aloft. Now the pole saw has a scabbard with a D ring that can be stowed on my saddle.
