I screwed up...

Blinky

Blinky

Location
Chapel Hill, NC
I got a little kiss from my 200T today. Left inside knee, both hands on the saw. I was making the second part of a snap cut when the piece started to break prematurely. I grabbed it with my left hand and lost control of the saw. It bounced out of the cut while it was spinning down and caught me.

I actually decided to keep on working until I gave it a second look and realized my leg and boot were drenched. I let the ground guys know I had a problem and by the time I was down they were ready with hydrogen peroxide, gauze and towels.

It wasn't a bad cut and you can't get me near an ER while I'm conscious... I figured I'd slap on some steri-strips and get back to work. After talking to my friend who is an ER doc i decided to have him look at it to make sure it was clean. He figured we couldn't stitch it because most chainsaw cuts are too chewed up to suture.

When i got there he irrigated it thoroughly and gave me 6 stitches. In his words, "That's not a chainsaw cut, that's a chainsaw kiss.".

The only thing I think I could've done differently was to rig the piece. I'd already made several identical snap cuts, this one was just off balance or something and cracked early. I had to grab the piece because I was over a carport.

Pic attached.
 

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That's just an accident. Everything else did like it was supposed to but you can't prepare for the unexpected. Thankfully it wasn't worse than what it was. Take care of that leg and be careful.
 
Lucky bastid!
wink.gif


I am wondering if the snap cuts were being done on vertical stems/leaders/trunk wood. Or were they snap cuts on more horizontal lateral limbs? I am trying to picture it more clearly.
thinking.gif
 
Oh man, so glad to hear it was just a kiss! I saw my brother cut his leg like that once, about 8 years ago, just messed up the skin, not too deep.


Very scary, and I would like to reiterate that the carport is way less valuable than your life.


Cool picture though!

SZ
 
Rocky top is sporting the SIP 6.1's now. Ive been thinking about getting some. I am now definitly going to get em. today. thanks for the little extra motivation, blinky. That sounds just awful. not me.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Lucky bastid!
wink.gif


I am wondering if the snap cuts were being done on vertical stems/leaders/trunk wood. Or were they snap cuts on more horizontal lateral limbs? I am trying to picture it more clearly.
thinking.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Snap cuts were on laterals, 5" dia.

No kevlar, I was 40' up. It would've stopped the saw for sure. All I have are chaps. I been thinking about Stretch-airs, just haven't sprung for'em yet.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Skin is a wonderful organ.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's true, I watched him sew me and it took a LOT of pressure to get the needle to punch through for each stitch.

...and EP... mister photoshop filter man, I honestly didn't think I was gonna be making such a mess when I caught that chunk of wood... but you're right... screw the carport!
 
I am gald that you are ok. Will you loose climbing time?

Try the chaps, they slow you up a bit but you get use to them. I've been using them for about 4 years. I think the pants would be better but that is a different story.
 
That'll be sore for a few days! I watched my uncle stick a 200 into his hand when a piece started to go early. 7 stitches in his palm. I always worry about horizontal snaps breaking before I'm ready, so I finish with my handsaw or rig'em.
 
Shouldn't lose any time... I was gonna work today but changed my mind... Christmas parade today!It's a little stiff but I think it would loosen up once I started working it. Sucky place for a bandage... creeps down unless it's wrapped tight.
 
After looking at the injury one more time,


It kind of looks like a beefy flap. Looking even further into the wound, you can just make out a little man in a small boat....some say he doesn't exist....


I must say I resent the fact that you called me out on my novice PS filter tricks.





When can you come down to CLT for a rec climb?


SZ
 
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