Last Sun. I was using a chisel to square up a corner that the router left rounded. I was not being careful and had my left in front of the work area. Before I know what happened, I had the freshly sharpened 1/2″ chisel slice through my thumb. It probably requriered a few sutures but I opted for some butterfly bandages instead. Now my thumb is still swollen and bruised. Hopefully it will heal well. the gash is about 1″ wide and the sharp chisel cut me clean.
My point is that even hand tools can do serious harm in the shop.
Remember—be careful out there…it’s a dangerous hobby we have.
Thank you,
Cheatah
Replies
I wish you a fast recovery!
When I did the same thing, I lost feeling in my finger tip for several months. I got lucky though and eventually sensation returned.
Rule #1 - Be Careful.
"100 Years" -- scribbled on the wall by a woodworker to remind him to do his best and as a warranty on his work -- "If anything I make fails in the first hundred years, bring it back, and I'll take care of it. After that, there will be a small charge. (Original purchaser only)"
In my experience, a freshly honed chisel is sharper than anything else in my shop. Being sharp makes it easier to work with and safer, but a slip can have exactly the results that you describe.
BTW, the butterfly approach is generally not the best fix. A fresh wound should be cleaned thoroughly with soap and water and irrigated to remove any saw dust or detritus. If you haven't had a tetanus tox in the past 5 years, you should go ahead and get one. Depending on the location, nerve and tendon integrity should be assessed.
If the wound is deep, it may need to be closed in two layers. In any event, unless it is very superficial, the wound generally will heal faster and more cleanly with a few interrupted nylon sutures. Hands flex and move, so it is hard for a butterfly to keep the edges opposed. If the wound isn't too deep, glue is sometimes a good alternative (it's a nontoxic form of "crazy glue").
If it's been more than 24 hours, its probably past time to suture. But if your hand isn't getting better, get it looked at. After all, it is a hand...
Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
For those who don't know, or haven't figured it out, Glaucon is a doc, and should be listened to very carefully on these matters (it's ok to listen to him on other matters too).As I have learned from him, and other docs over the years, hand injuries are not to be trifled with. Even a simple splinter can become infected, and if that infection gets out of hand, so to speak, antibiotics won't touch it, and you're talking surgery to scrape it out.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
well lookee here, I finshed reading this post yesterday and promptly .........ain't that a kick in the head? to show my appreciation....I fixed my Docs examining table wiring problem after he sewed me up
I am one of the First Aid Attendants (along with my usual duties) and before Christmas one of the machinists banged his hand on the edge of the part he had just machined.
Sent him to the hospital to get the knuckle stitched. Tendon was cut through and they fixed it, stitched him up, and referred him to a hand surgeon the next day.
The cut infected and antibiotics seemed to take care of it but it turns out that the bones in his finger are infected. So now he's back on antibiotics again, and if that doesn't work they will cut the finger open again to scrape the bones to clean them. If that does't work the finger is coming off. And he still has to do the physio in the future to rehab the tendon if he still has the finger. My point in telling this is to reinforce what has been said. Don't be a manly man. Go to the doctor.
Excellent advice. My father-in-law's (ex builder) bricklayer cut his hand with a circ. saw. Not too deep, so he was a manly man ( like you stated), wrapped them up, and never saw a doc. 3 weeks later, they removed 3 fingers because the infection was so bad they were worried he'd lose his arm from the elbow down.
GET TO THE DR.! It's not worth it.
Jeff
Just out of curiosity, what is the first-aid protocol in a situation such as you described?Do you attempt to wash out the wound with soap/water before you send the guy on to the hospital? Is time important when trying to prevent the onset of infection?********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Just out of curiosity, what is the first-aid protocol in a situation such as you described?GO to the ER if ya can affords it!
Here in British Columbia Canada the Workers Compensation Board ( WCB ) sets the standards for the First Aid training, staffing levels depending on the type of workplace and the distance from medical aid, and the methods and protocols for treatments of injuries. They will vary from province to province and I would expect you would have similar in the States. Industrial First Aid also differs from Red Cross or Wilderness First Aid.We have been told not to use strong disinfectants (Detol etc) or Hydrogen Peroxide on wounds unless they are obviously contaminated with bacterial laden materials. Eg: someone getting cut while working on a toilet. As the disinfectant kills the flesh of the wound along with the bacteria which slows the healing of the wound.
If the wound site is clean. We wash the area with saline solution only. If it's oily and grimey then mild soap and water around the cut area trying to keep it out of the wound itself.
Small surface cuts get a "band aid" with a small amount of "Polysporin cream" on the gauze and maybe a "steri strip" to help hold the cut closed.
If the cut is through the skin and is exposing the fatty tissue and/or muscle it's just the saline and nonstick dressings to control the bleeding and it's off to Emergency by taxi for treatment. Same applies to deep punctures.
The FA has total discretion with regards to the treatment of injuries and company owners and management cannot interfere or try to influence those decisions. I love the power. ;-)
If an infection starts to show don't wait or try to "do it yourself" get treated right away. And as mentioned in another post, get a Tetanus shot. They're free. Well they are here. (Shameless boasting of Universal Health Care.)
A one day Level 1 Industrial First Aid course costs about $80 Canadian and there are similar from the Red Cross that would be useful to anyone in all walks of life. And knowing CPR could save your kids life at the lake next summer.I believe the infection in the case that I described came after the hospital treatment when the machinist was in Physio a few days later. They had his hand in some kind of hydrotherapy basin and there was another patient doing the same on the other side of the basin. (Facility not following proper hygiene protocols but I can't be certain.)
Thanks for all the info. I have a few questions for clairfication, though:1) you said on a grimey wound, you use soap and water on the surrounding area, trying not to get it in the wound itself. Is there anything harmful about getting soap inside the wound? When I get a cut, these days I have stopped using hydrogen peroxide, but I do irrigate and wash the wound and the surrounding area with soap and water.2) what have you learned about irrigating the clean wound with an antiseptic such as Betadine? On an everyday basis, I am mostly concerned about common splinters -- every since I met a woman a few years back, who had just had hand surgery to scrape out infectious tissue that started with a simple splinter. So I pretty compulsive about digging them out with a sterile needle/tweezer, washing the area with soap/water, and then applying something like Betadine. I always carry a first aid kit on jobs, but soap/water is not always readily available, so I douse the wound with an antiseptic. I am wondering if there is something better or different I should be doing.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Of all the dings I've had over the years, the worst involved, of all things, an ice cube tray. It was the style that you operated a lever to free the cubes. As I levered the handle, a sharp shard of ice (or the divider-never knew for sure) made a small cut in the crease in the palm of hand holding the tray. Small cut, bled a lot. Cleaned it up, bathed in iodine put on a bandaid and forgot it. Two days later the hand was red and swollen and the red line up my arm dissapeared at the armpit. Doc said I was about 24 hours from dead! Scared me and I ain't scared a nuthin.........exept ice cube trays. ; )
Be careful! You never know.
Chuck
Your welcome.The reason that I try not to clean in the wound when they are grimey is that with the work that the CNC machinists are doing they often have coolant (cutting fluid), metal fines/oxides,and dirt on their skin.
When trying to clean that kind of cut there is a good chance that more of the crud will end up in the wound than if I let the bleeding do its natural function of pushing it out.
Judgement needs to be exercised for each case, and there are times when we do start with a thorough wash with soap and water at the sink. (That's when the tough guys go a bit whiney because their boo boo stings.) If you have doubts about if you should wash or not then err on the side of caution and clean with the soap and water.I am not familiar with "Betadine". If it's in the strong disinfectant category (Detol,Savon,etc) then as I stated our protocol is not to use it as a general rule. The situation will dictate whether you use it or not.
For those waterless sites you might look into the "wet towelette" dispenser products to carry with the kit.Your practices are working for you so continue unless the cuts are taking too long to heal. The next time you're at your doctors, you could bring up the subject when he asks you to turn and cough. They are far more qualified to make recommendations.
Sage advice.
There was a time when I sewed up lacs in a NYC ER- our policies were similar. We had patients avoid peroxide and astringents because they can cause more tissue injury (although peroxide is actually quite mild).
What worked for us was to do a brief exam to confirm neurovascular and tendon integrity, then irrigating any debris out of the wound. If there were no major issues we would park the patient and his boo-boo near a sink with a 500 ml bottle of betadine scrub. Betadine is what we would use ourselves when prepping for surgery or procedures and is a mixture of iodine and mild soap ("surgical scrub"). The patient would then have 10-15 minutes to gently scrub the wounded area, rinsing it with warm water (letting the pt do it themselves generally resulted in fewer tears and less swearing). We'd come back and carefully towel dry the wound and do a more thorough exam. If the wound was an uncomplicated laceration, we would close it.
Small shallow lacs could be closed with steristrips; deeper or wider injuries required sutures. Location is also important- facial lacs usually healed better with fine (0000 or 00000) sutures that were removed in ~5 days to minimize scarring. Lacs on the trunk might do well with steristrips, those on the hands usually were sutured to optimize results. The injury described in the original post was a "1 inch" chisel injury to the thumb. I have farily large hands, and one inch of my thumb is a significant sized injury- since the thumb is difficult to immobilize without casting, I'd probably favor suturing it, because both edges of the wound can then be brought together and maintained in close apposition to alllow for clean healing. If they pull apart, the wound will have to heal by secondary intention, forming a larger scar to fill in the area between the edges. This is not only cosmetically unappealing, but also can affect function depending on the exact location (e.g. in the skin crease between a joint). Also, the longer that a wound is open, the greater the risk of infection.
After the wound is closed- by suture, strip or glue- a clean, dry dressing is applied. The patient is instructed to keep the wound dry, and not to put any ointments, salves, poultices or creams on it. These don't help, and mother nature will generally heal if we don't get in the way. None of the antibiotic ointments offer any additional protection against infection. The only two things that seem to matter in this regard are whether the wound was contaminated at the time of injury (classic example: a nail piercing the foot through an old sneaker) and how long the wound was washed at the time of treatment.
The choice of suturing vs steristripping depends on the size and depth of the wound and the location. Although no one relishes a visit to the ER, a properly closed wound will heal faster with less scarring and risk of infection. It's similar to casting vs pinning for fractures: I wouldn't want surgery if I could avoid it, but if the alternative is to spend 12 weeks in a cast and end up with nonunion, then pinning is often a faster way to a better outcome.Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
Thanks. It's always gratifying to know when your doing something the right way.Now we have to work on the prevention aspects of injuries. Like keeping the fingers out of the potential path of cut hungry chisels.
Thanks to you and Glaucon for the good info. It sounds like I'm doing the right thing with splinters.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Good post. As an Emergency Room nurse (retired) with thirty some years experience, and a woodworker, I agree. I've frequented the ER with my own dumb accidents far too often. Drilled a hole through a cabinet door for a handle, being careful to use a piece of wood behind to control splintering: There was a little hole in the backerboard, the bit went through it, into my hand. That's not my dumbest, but I don't wish to brag.
Thanks for the compliments. But please don't be modest. Go ahead and brag about your dumbest. Or maybe start a new thread and we can all brag about how "intelligent" we are. ;-) Bet that would be a thread with some legs. I can empathize with your drilled finger because when I was a young Aircraft Mechanic I was stop drilling a crack in a DC6 engine nacelle. Air drill with #40 bit in right hand, left hand finger tips at the edge of an access hole a few inches away to brace myself against the force of drilling. Drill starts turning slow and when the bit starts to cut the Stainless Steel I gave more air and started pushing hard to keep the bit cutting. The bit decides it had enough of that boring stuff and decides to try figure skating instead and glides over to my left index finger tip.The part that I still remember as being the most fascinating was the two perfectly formed curls of "me swarf" coming out of the hole.Stainless Steel earned some respect that day too.
Yep.. I use Iodine and a new tooth brush.. Hurts alot but wound heals good...
I have a nice, barely perceptible, scar on my left middle finger. Trying to square up a mortise in some end grain. Freshly sharpened chisel, and pow! right into the pad on my finger. Still missing some of the sensation, but doc said it could take up to a year to regain it (and it may never come back completely). Five stitches and a good reminder of tool safety.
Ironically, in the instant I sliced open my finger my first thought was, "Don't drop your chisel, you just sharpened it!" and I actually had the presence of mine to place it back on my bench while blood was literally spraying across the shop. At what point did my priorities become completely messed up?!
When I cut my hand on the TS, I shut it off, went upstairs and asked my sons to watch the babies while I went to the ER... and I also asked them to clean the blood off the TS, shop floor and stairs. Heh.My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
Glaucon can correct me if this is misleading, but I keep a bottle of saline solution (found in the contact lens section of the store) to use as a rinse. Came in handy a few months ago when my stepson dropped a transmission on his forearm and split it open (the arm, not the tranny). Needless to say, since he was in the midst of swapping motors in and out of two cars, there was plenty of dirt around. I flushed it with the saline, wrapped it with some gauze and sent him off to the Urgent Care part of the clinic with his dad. Several stitches but it healed well.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Whoa... tranny OK?Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
"Whoa... tranny OK?" No cracks or dents, LOL! We're saving that one for a rebuild and back-up. We have this "fleet" of 1990's vintage S10 Blazers (well, fleet being 2). One feeds the other parts. Helps to have a Chevy mechanic in the family.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
well did my doc do Ok? this finger is still swollen and now the knuckle hurts...
If the wound is not getting better, you should followup with your doctor and be examined. You'll need to have the sutures out anyway, and followup is important.Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
I disagree. I've closed many wounds with butterfly. or "steritapes". If the wound was clean it should heal well. Sutures are not always needed, and can impair circulation. That's not to say that I am against sutures. everything in its place.
Tom
Been there, done that (not long ago):
http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=25285.50
On the table saw you ask: where would my hand go, if the wood disappeared?
With a chisel you ask: where would the blade go if the wood disappeared?
May you heal fast.
I'm going to echo what Glaucon said, you should get it checked in case there's damage that could affect you later. When I cut my hand on the TS, the ER doc (appropriately) just cleaned and stitched it up, and told me to see a hand surgeon. The hand surgeon opened it up and found a tendon 80% cut through. If I'd not had it repaired, it was almost a certainty that on some future day, I'd be lifting something heavy and just have the thing snap. Then they have to dig around and find the ends of the tendon, and repairing that is far worse than fixing up a tendon that's mostly intact.
Either way, I'm real sorry to hear you got hurt. It's good of you to share it with us, because someone else may avoid an injury due to learning from you. I hope you will recover quickly.
Been there. Go to a doc. That chisel was sharp AND DIRTY!!!!
My worst woodworking accident was not with some power tool, but with a chisel pretty much like the original poster described.
I got a good scar out of it. A half inch to an inch to the left, and I'm sure I would have sliced through some ligaments and/or tendons. Now, that would have required surgery!
A while back I started a thread called woodworking pearls of wisdom. One of 'em that I always pass along to my students is:
"Friction is always greatest before a slip."
If you are really forcing a tool, it is miliseconds away from butchering up the wood and you.
Maybe you should do a search for that pearls of wisdom thread. Maybe you could pick something up from the been there done that, got the stitches crowd.
Chills
And remember this, there is no more important safety rule that to wear these: safety glasses...........
Heck, you don't even need hand tools! When I was young, I slipped when putting a gasoline line back together (there was gas on the outside of the line). Hit the fender brace in a '58 chevy - sliced a finger clear to the bone.
Hope you recover soon.
Bob
Ya' ever see that Roy Underhill's fingers on that TV show?? He even explained about some black stains on the OAK he was making a bench from.. He said it was 'BLOOD" It was so funny!
I took in a timbeframe workshop a little over a month ago. It was a three day event learning about timberframe joinery and then working on our own pair of sawhorses using techniques learned.
On day three.......end of the day.....tired.....I should have left well enough alone and put the tools away. But, I thought just one more touch with the chisel there and then slip.... a nice half moon slice on my finger by the knuckle. I applied immediate pressure to the wound .... went to the Emergency at the local hospital.
Three hours included forms, waiting, a basketball game on TV, initial survey of the wound by a cute physicians assistant, cleaning of the wound, x-rays (they said that was required because they often find pieces of metal left in the wound from "clean" chisels),more waiting and then finally sutures by the cute PA.
The cut has healed now but still hurts at times when I pick up heavier objects.
Hope your cut heals well!
Taught high school woodshop for many years. Two of the worst accidents were from wood chisels. Like you said, one hand in front of the cutting edge and a slip can give one a nasty cut.
WOW---- I never thought my simple post would lead to 29 threads in the post. Well, it has been a week. I did not go to the doctor.....I know, I know ......I should.
The would seams to be healing well. But,.........Yes there is a but.....
It seams that there is one spot that is VERY sensitive. So I am going to see my doc this Monday or Tuesday. I will keep you posted to how it goes.
On the plus side...I am able to work in the shop again. But I am baby-ing the thumb.
Again-------- Thank you for all the advice. I appreciate it.
Cheatah
Thank you,
Cheatah
Cheatah,
WHEW!!! I wish you a speedy recovery!!!
Just as one Woodworker to another, don't forget to keep it clean, use plenty of antibotic creme at noon and at night, and be sure to see your Dr. for a Tetnus Booster...
It's time for mine, and the Doctor says it should be done every 5 years.
Bill
It has been about 2-1/2 weeks since the chisel mishap. I finally went to the doc. He did not have much to say except that it looked liked it was healing nicely. The sharp pain I have was not too much of a concern and he thought it would go away as it continued to heal.
So all is well. And I am a bit more cautious with chisels these days.
Thanks--
CheatahThank you,
Cheatah
Last summer I did the same thing with a wood chisel. I went to the doctor and he removed a large wood chip and put 5 stitches in my left palm. I didn't see the wood chip when I washed the wound and if I hadn't gone to the doctor who knows what kind if calamity may have resulted. He also gave me a tetanus shot so I'm good to go for the next dumb move I make.
Lets not forget to wipe that chisel of any trace of blood. Blood is highly corrosive and can pit steel.
well thank goodness you just sharpened the chissel...reminds me of the time i got a freshly sharpened 60tooth saw blade and after cutting true 8/4 lumber, with the mental question in my mind,of witch bandsaw blade to use to cut a radious, i reached for the offcut and chopped my left thumb off just above the knuckle..lesson always pay attention..regards http://www.ccgwoodworks.com is my web site oh always use sharp tools .
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