Hand saw wacking

[mikecross23]

I prunned a live oak Sat. Morning and wacked my wrist good w/ my hand saw. It started squirtin' blood about 2" from one hole and about 1" from another. I was about 30' up and about 20' from my tie in so I came in right away and repelled down FAST. It probably took me 30 secs to hit the ground and unclip and by the time I made it to my truck 30' away I was ready to pass out! Dunked my hand in ice cold water, compressed and layed back in my truck about to pass out. Few miniutes later came to my senses took an early lunch and finished that job and another in the afternoon. I looked nasty and everything ropes and all were covered w/ blood. The cut is not bad but it sure hit a dang bad spot! Duct tape and fast food napkins did the job though!

Just another reason to BE MORE CAREFULL!!!!!!!!

-Mike-

 

[treeclimber165]

Those Silky's are lethal. Seems like I bleed about every other time I use it on a job. I guess I need to be more careful handling sharp objects.

Last time I scratched myself good was with my chainsaw. Combination of improper technique (one handing), poor positioning and being in a hurry without thinking ahead. Probably should have got a couple stitches but I did the same thing you did. Napkins and some duct tape to stop the bleeding till I finished the job and got home. Then I cleaned it and butterflied it with medical tape. Only a small scar where the chainsaw tooth took out a chunk of meat.

 

[treeslayer]

My hayuchi pole saw has cut me too many times to count, (messing with the scabbard.)
I was pushing blocks out of a huge holly tree last summer and laid my forearm across my 020 with the chain still turning. laid me wide open, I bled over everything getting out of the tree. used direct pressure to stop the bleeding, went to the hospital and got 9 staples to close it. It never hurt until the quack pulled the skin back to staple.
taught me a good lesson, and I have a cool scar.

 

[treeguy347]

Yow slayer, time to start snap-cutting. I just barely caught my forearm today with my gomtaro. Not deep, but bled like you wouldn't believe... Not bad enough to warrant coming down though. Spent 3 hours up there on climbers today.

 

[timberfell]

I leaked a little on the first pruning job I did this year. I hit my index finger just below my knuckle as my handsaw came through the cut. I wasn't even moving across when I hit it I just came stright down on my finger. It bled in gushes immediatly. I was only about 18' or so, but wasn't using a climb line, just a lanyard and spikes, so spiking down was a litlle shaky. Anyhow, I got down, took a look and saw it wasn't really that bad, probably could have used couple of stitches. It took about 20 minutes to get that one limb off, and about another half hour to cover all of the blood in the snow. I guess I just didn't want the homeowner(who wasn't there) to think I was a hack.

Worst part of the story is that I cut myself with my old handsaw which is kinda dull. I have a silky coming in the mail

Kurt

Oh yeah, the only reason I was using spikes on a pruning job, was because we were coming back the following week to remove the tree completely, I just had to stop squirrel that was getting in the house via one limb.

 

[treeclimber165]

Glad you included that last paragraph, or your credibility rating might have suffered greatly. Just one more example of why it's always a good idea to tie in on a lifeline when off the ground. I have some short lifelines (less than 50') that I use specifically for short climbs like that.

Whenever I injure or cut myself on a job, I try to think through what speciffically I did wrong and why it happened. Then I mentally add that to my list of things not to do in a tree.

 

[timberfell]

Yeah, I tried to put out that fire before it started. Thanks for the advice, it's always welcome.

 

[mikecross23]

Originally posted by timberfell
I guess I just didn't want the homeowner(who wasn't there) to think I was a hack.

I felt the same way. I told the homeowner that I was taking an early lunch but he noticed all the blood on my clothes and gear. I had already sealed it and stopped the bleeding before he saw it so I played it off as not being so bad but it was obviouse. It was embarassing. He made a joke to his wife later that he felt bad for bein' lazy while I was out here bleeding to death.

-Mike-

 

[UrbanEarth]

Hmmm. It seems that none of you carry any kind of first aid equipment aloft. Is this a general practice? I would of thought that at least a compression bandage would be a minimum. Why would you not carry such a small thing?

Alan

 

[treeclimber165]

I cannot speak for others- only myself. I don't have a good reason for not carrying a clean, sterile compression bandage with me in the tree except that nothing on my body is clean, dry or sterile when I am working. And I guess if I were to carry everything that every person suggested I carry with me in the tree when working, I would probably need an Army size backpack and higher rated ropes to support all the weight. Never mind the additional fatigue from toting all the extra gear (which would ensure that I might be more likely to need the compression bandage buried under 40 lbs of other crap in the bottom of the backpack).
Alan, just how much stuff do YOU tote with you when climbing trees? I realize you only suggested a compression bandage, but to be honest I have never considered toting a first aid kit into a tree with me. Perhaps I should just super-glue a first aid kit to my rear end so I ALWAYS have the proper supplies close at hand......

 

[geofore]

endless loop

Can't your ground guy tie that first aid kit to the endless loop and pull it up to you or are you too embarrassest to call for it? A BandAid comes individually wraped and cheap to carry in your pocket. I like the spray on bandaid stuff, comes in the large Zee Kit that fits behind the seat of the truck. There is always the roll of duct tape under the seat, too big to carry up in the tree but handy to have for those nicks an' scratches.

Have not cut myself but did rip the seat of my pants Friday doing the pine, darn little twig snared em as I sat on a limb to rest a miniute.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

I have a combat bandage zip tied to the back of my chainsaw helmet (its on the back strap that adjust the helmet size and you can get it off one handed) Its in a sealed teeth openable pack thats sterile. Its obvious for all to see and always with me.
Theres an old saying with combat bandages
"if the cut is to small or to big for a combat bandage your not going to need it anyhow"
Although personally if I am bleeding I know that non sterile and not bleeding is better than clean and loosing claret.

Ah silky, how you love the taste of my flesh.

 

[treeslayer]

I do 2 things different now. I hang my saw on my belt and then push or throw the block.
I also have a"bloodstopper" compress, it a self contained bandage and compress that I carry inside my hard hat. I tell everybody working for me that If somebody gets hit hard with a saw, bleeding to death is possible, a hospital might be 30-40 minutes away.
sobering thought.

 

[Rob Murphy]

I didn't cut myself but.....

I droped a log on my little toe and broke it. Yep I had steel caps on but I sadly discovered that my little twinkie toe didnt fit under the cap . OUCH!!!!
Becarefull with the saws Iv'e seen one cut 8 stiches and another 7 across the back of the hand....not mine.

 

[Acer]

Originally posted by treeslayer
I also have a"bloodstopper" compress, it a self contained bandage and compress that I carry inside my hard hat. (

Where abouts inside your hard hat? There should be a few inches gap between top of your head and the shell of the hat. If anything big hits you on the helmet, this gap goes to 0" - hardhats are designed to do this as they absorb the energy of the falling item. I've known a few people who'd store stuff like bandages in this gap, directly on top of their head. Not a good idea - - that gap is essential for the hard hat to protect properly.

 

[treeslayer]

The pack is about 4''x 6" and maybe 2" thick, and all soft material, no risk to my head.
You're right about the hardhat, I probably should figure out where else to carry it, but when I'm climbing I don't have much room left over.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

I guess i shouldn't carry a sandwich up there then.

 

[Toddppm]

Judging by your avatar pic, with all that space between your skull and Walnut I think you have built in protection

 

[Greg]

Hey Sean, catching all this.... Sounds like an opportunity. I wouldn'y mind carrying some type of blood stopping bandage aloft If it didn't take up room, and stayed put on my harness where I would not have to remember to take it up.
Luckliy I have never raked my Zubat across my skin but have hit it numerous times, where I get a nice little row of holes that pump out the blood.
Greg

 

[lhampton]

I popped myself on the wrist about four years ago and learned two things. First, don't do that again, and second carry an ouch pouch.

The red kit on top is a kit with the little odds and ends if I should spring a leak. It is attached with one inch webbing with a buckle so I can take it off and get it around to the front and get into it. The lower yellow bag is the "Oh My God" pouch with the ceder roth blood stopper.

So far its been like insurance, I carry it and have never used it, but thats how I like it.

Louie Hampton