George – Cutting the Nerve

George: Table Saw Disaster

I was in my Dad’s woodworking shop cutting some boards. I was in a hurry. I forgot to lower the sawblade on his table saw. In a moment of stupidity and forgetfulness, I reached over the blade with my right hand and made contact with my thumb and pointer finger on the blade.

I immediately grabbed my thumb and closed my hand around. At this moment I didn’t realize I had nicked my pointer finger as I had cut the nerve at the first joint. I went to wife and showed her what I had done, she panicked.

Being a Paramedic in my state for several years at the time, I sent my kids to the car for 4×4’s and cling wrap. I wrapped my thumb in a pressure bandage and my wife took me to the hospital.

When I got to the hospital, the nurses were amazed that I had wrapped my own injury and stopped the bleeding. In the emergency room I found out that I had cut the nerve in my finger and could only feel half my finger. Thanks to a fantastic Surgeon though, I still have all my digits and feeling back in finger. I still have the scars, but have good use on my hand and fingers still. Advice I would give is to slow down, think about what you are doing, and work safe!

Assess Blog

When Should I Perform the Primary Assessment, Secondary Assessment, & Secondary Survey?

George – Cutting the Nerve

George: Table Saw Disaster

CPR Blog

Why Does the MARCH Protocol Prioritize Respiration Before Circulation?

man-first-aid-kit-fatigues

What Should I Include in a First Aid Kit for a Cross-Country Road Trip?

FAK #3

Is Betadine a Good Choice for Wound Treatment?

Blister Blog

What’s a Dual-Layer Pad for Blister Prevention and What Product Should I to My First Aid Kit?

Thomas – Car Accident

Thomas: Telephone Pole Collision

Electro Blog

What Should I Include as “Electrolytes” in a First Aid Kit?

Mary – Carnival Birth

Mary: Unexpected Carnival Delivery

Anika - Plot Twist

Anika: Rock Climbing Catastrophe

Kenneth – Hypothermia

Kenneth: Cold Crisis in California Mountains

Bacteria Blog

What Bacterial Infections Are Likeliest in the Canadian Northwoods?

Daniel – The Heimlich Maneuver

Daniel: Wife Chokes During Dinner

Shawn – Hunting Trip

Shawn: Lost in the Fog

Hypo Blog

Blowup Mattresses, Burritos & Buddies: What Works To Treat Hypothermia?

Tourniquet Blog

What Is the Best Knot for a Tourniquet?

W3W Blog

Is What3Words a Good Offroad Companion?

ryan-jump-bag

What’s in a Paramedic’s First Aid Kit?

Diane – Fire

Diane: Backyard Blaze

Epi Blog

Is It Safe to Use Someone Else’s Epi-Pen in Anaphylactic Situations?