CARELESS KNUCKLEHEAD + CHAINSAW = EMERGENCY ROOM

[wksinatl]

Well, I got careless with the saw and spent last night in the emergency room. It could have been avoided!

I was "nosing in" between to very close trees and it kicked back hitting my knee. I threw the saw and equipment in the FEL and headed for the house. Wife and kids took me to a VERY busy ER.

I was extrememly lucky and still have everything where it should be. I have learned my lesson and feel thankful it wasn't worse.

Guys, PLEASE be careful with your equipment.

 

[ejtaylor822]

Keith,
Glad to hear you are "alright" and things are where they should be. Hope you are back to 100% very soon. Shows just how dangerous these things can be. Takes less than half a second to make a mess of the day.

I have been around chainsaws most of my life and have a healthy amount of respect for them; actually they scare me to death. But, there is nothing I enjoy more than a cool, brisk autumn overcast day and out in the woods with the saw.....

Sorry for day-dreaming, I do have a point here....

When I bought my last saw, I remember the sales guy looking me straight in the eye and telling me - "Son, are you sure you want this? This will be the most dangerous thing you will ever buy in your life." It made me stop and think. I had never thought of it that way, but, he was right. In spite of all the safety they build into these saws, the fact remains it's numerous very sharp blades, not just one, spinning who knows how fast on TWO "open" edges that have no safety covers, is extremly light, agile and hand held. I can't think of anything much more dangerous.

It amazes me there are not more accidents. Every time they give out a hurricane or ice around here, everyone runs to Home Depot and Lowe's to get a generator and a chain saw. Makes me shudder sometimes when I see some of these guys going in and buying the biggest saw on the shelf and they probably never held a saw in their life. Our guardian angels stay pretty busy...

 

[44trxfun]

Glad you're OK Keith. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[ronjhall]

I'm glad to hear that you will recover.
I have never been injured by a chainsaw yet. I had not used any safety gear except for sound protection until the guys here on TBN started telling their chainsaw experiences. I now have a full set of safety gear that I wear when using my chainsaws. Here is one of the latest threads on TBN about what gear to wear. Click Here
You may want to print the thread out and let your wife and kids read it. They will be making sure you get some safety gear and wear it after last nights experience. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[beenthere]

And NOW you will buy the chaps and wear them?
You were lucky they were not doing a 10 hour operation trying to connect shortened tendons to your knee, which I understand is really tough when a ¼" is taken out by the chain teeth. I've caught my chaps twice now, and it's a sickening feeling to ponder the alternatives without them.

Wish you good recovery, and chaps /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks for posting, as its a good lesson for all those who don't think chaps are necessary. I was one for about 20 years of chainsaw use. The last 20 have been always with chaps and a hardhat when in the woods.

 

[Syncro]

<font color="blue"> "But, there is nothing I enjoy more than a cool, brisk autumn overcast day and out in the woods with the saw..... "</font>

Yeah you got that right. I used to really enjoy cutting alone in the woods with a snow flake or 2 in the air. Never had an accident, but sure could have with no way to get help. Fun but dumb. My brother in law had a saw come back into his face then into his chest as he let go, he survived but the scars left were nasty and 1/2" wide.

Anyways, glad you are alright, knees are a bad place to stop a moving chain. Gotta say that in my old age chainsaws scare the **** outta me anymore.

 

[jjcc246]

Glad your okay. You know we play with some very powerful machines and we have to be four steps ahead of ourselves at all times. Makes me think how many times I grabbed a saw just to trim a limb and it could have been a disaster. We think it's only going to take a minute "what could happen?" and then it does. I'll be thinking about this when next time I need to pull the cord.

 

[trlong]

wksinati,

I've very glad all is in the right place and hope no permanent damage was done. Thanks for the post as I will think on it, not just the next time I start the saw but, also before I start it as to what I'm cutting, where I'm standing, where I'd try to jump to, and ESPESCIALLY, do I have my boots, gloves, chaps and helmet w/ear protection and face shield! Some times it's easy to say "Oh, I'm just going to drop a couple of low limbs...my Stupid!

Q: Did you have chaps on? Sounds as though you didn't and got lucky.

Glad not too much damage was done,

Tom

 

[wksinatl]

Thanks for the kind words. It still scares me to think how bad it could have been. I have always worn gloves, hearing protection and eye protection "THINKING" I was good to go. Obviously riding on borrowed time, OK, I have a question:

What is a good set up for chaps? Best place to buy them? different types?

thanks guys,

Keith (movin' slow in ATL)

 

[PhilNH5]

Keith,
Most places that sell chainsaws up here also carry the chaps.
If not Northern tool has them at this link.
Also Baileys sells them here

Glad you were not seriously hurt.

Phil