Guest post by Don Marentette, Manager, National First Aid Programs
Five weeks ago I learned a very painful lesson to slow down and focus on the task at hand (no pun intended) when using power tools.
While renovating my house (a hobby of mine), I was rushing to meet a self-imposed deadline to finish the kitchen. As I released the power switch on the miter saw my left hand came across to grab the toe kick (piece of wood) that I had cut. Only the blade had not finished spinning. It cut into the space between my thumb and forefinger.
As a first aider, I knew I could control the bleeding by applying direct pressure and closing the wound together. I asked my brother to grab the Red Cross first aid kit from my vehicle and retrieve the pressure dressing. Thankfully my wife was there to drive me to the ER.
I must have been a little ashen, because the triage nurse dropped me into a wheelchair and wheeled me into the trauma room, where they began to insert needles and clean the wound.
The doctor came in and asked me why I was still doing these silly things (several years ago I was brought by ambulance to the same ER after falling off a roof (on another project) and saw the same attending physician). We both agreed that it’s time for me to take up a new hobby, but not likely I would.
The following morning I met wonderful staff at the hand
clinic of the Health Sciences Centre where the plastic surgeon proceeded to teach his medical students how to sew a tendon together using my hand as the training aid. He finished with a few jokes about the fact that a Canadian Red Cross staff person who has dedicated most of his adult life to injury prevention could end up with an injury such as this.
I have since gained a new appreciation for what our thumbs enable us to do, such as open a mini Ketchup bottle or cut a steak - both of which resulted in me wearing half my meal.
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I am so lucky to still have my thumb, and so very lucky to live in this country - the care I have received has been nothing short of fantastic. My wonderful physiotherapist (AKA the prince of pain) has helped me regain 65% of my range of motion so far. My neighbours still think this whole incident is hilarious and have given me a pair of Kevlar® gloves.
I am super lucky to have had a first aid kit handy, making sure I had the appropriate supplies.
I’m not sure if I will get my full range of movement back or be able to hold a pool cue in quite the same way, but I do know that I will always give a thumbs-up to first aid training. Pun intended.
Five weeks ago I learned a very painful lesson to slow down and focus on the task at hand (no pun intended) when using power tools.
While renovating my house (a hobby of mine), I was rushing to meet a self-imposed deadline to finish the kitchen. As I released the power switch on the miter saw my left hand came across to grab the toe kick (piece of wood) that I had cut. Only the blade had not finished spinning. It cut into the space between my thumb and forefinger.
As a first aider, I knew I could control the bleeding by applying direct pressure and closing the wound together. I asked my brother to grab the Red Cross first aid kit from my vehicle and retrieve the pressure dressing. Thankfully my wife was there to drive me to the ER.
I must have been a little ashen, because the triage nurse dropped me into a wheelchair and wheeled me into the trauma room, where they began to insert needles and clean the wound.The doctor came in and asked me why I was still doing these silly things (several years ago I was brought by ambulance to the same ER after falling off a roof (on another project) and saw the same attending physician). We both agreed that it’s time for me to take up a new hobby, but not likely I would.
The following morning I met wonderful staff at the hand
clinic of the Health Sciences Centre where the plastic surgeon proceeded to teach his medical students how to sew a tendon together using my hand as the training aid. He finished with a few jokes about the fact that a Canadian Red Cross staff person who has dedicated most of his adult life to injury prevention could end up with an injury such as this.I have since gained a new appreciation for what our thumbs enable us to do, such as open a mini Ketchup bottle or cut a steak - both of which resulted in me wearing half my meal.
I am so lucky to still have my thumb, and so very lucky to live in this country - the care I have received has been nothing short of fantastic. My wonderful physiotherapist (AKA the prince of pain) has helped me regain 65% of my range of motion so far. My neighbours still think this whole incident is hilarious and have given me a pair of Kevlar® gloves.I am super lucky to have had a first aid kit handy, making sure I had the appropriate supplies.
I’m not sure if I will get my full range of movement back or be able to hold a pool cue in quite the same way, but I do know that I will always give a thumbs-up to first aid training. Pun intended.
