Hello all,

As the title suggests, I did another stupid thing yesterday. I was at work (I work as a "cook" for Wienerschnitzel) and we were short handed yesterday. When the lunch rush hit we were all running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Anyway, I needed to open a big plastic bag of peppers so I could put them on the grill. The regular knife we normally use was nowhere to be found so I picked up the one with the serrated blade and tried to open the bag. However, all I proceeded to do was open up the tip of my left index finger

After saying a few choice words which I will not repeat here, and dropping the knife, I went to the sink to wash it off, and cover it with a washcloth, applying pressure to try and stop the bleeding. I wasn't able to stop the bleeding until I put two bandages on it as tight as I could using only my right hand.

They sent me to their workers comp medical group (meaning I rode the bus since they were short handed and couldn't afford to have someone drive me) which could not stop the bleeding once they took the bandages off, so they referred me to a hand specialist. The hand specialist stopped the bleeding, took x-rays (to see if the bone had been damaged, or if a piece of the knife was still in the finger-no on both counts), and eventually ended up putting 9 stitches in my finger, and wrapping it back up.

Moral of the story? Do not use the sharpest knife in your inventory to open a bag of peppers. Sometimes I think my common sense takes a vacation, and when it does all he** breaks loose.

I am fine now as the anesthetic still has not worn off yet. The doctor has prescribed Vicadin (sp) for when it does, and I will be going to Wal-mart today to pick it up.

 

I think every single one of us has done something similar at one time or another. I hear my dad's advice in my ears every single time I think about using a screwdriver as a prybar, a ratchet as a hammer, etc... "Use the right tool for the right job, Andrew." Every time I don't listen to that advice I usually end up asking where the band-aids are.

 

Jim, I am glad you are going to be ok. Thanks for the reminder. I shocked the hell out of myself repairing a light. I was to lazy to through the breaker for it.

 

I like to cook. I can't tell you how often I have come close to lopping off half of a finger while in a hurry. Fingers bleed like crazy at only the slightest cut.

My rule is, "Never use a dull knife, but be very careful." A dull knife can cause even more damage.

Glad to hear that you are OK.

 

Nighteyez, glad you're OK.

I've had those type of accidents. Luckily, I still have all 9 of my fingers.

My dad, who worked at some job where he was operating a machine that cuts
cardboard, went to clear a small piece of scrap under a very sharp and very
large blade.

He wasn't quick enough, and lost a finger.

He said it hurt. I believed him.

 

Mine hurt when it first happened, and a couple of times when they were pulling the bandages off and on to try and stop the bleeding. However, after it was stitched up it has not hurt. Hopefully it will stay that way.

 

Ah Jim, it's no big deal. That's why God gave you ten fingers. Just joking, but pain is a good teacher. You'll prob become the knife police now enforcing safety rules and using your own experience as evidence. When I was about ten, I borrowed my dad's pocket knife. He warned me to be carefull because it was very sharp. But, five minutes later I was bleeding. I had a long flap of skin hanging off the left pinky fingertip. I bandaged it back in place and it grew back, but I still have a good scar. Join the club. :-) Jag

 

Did the peppers make it to the grill?

Haaa, just kidding Jim. Glad your OK. I hope you took those vicadons BEFORE the pain started. It's tough playing catch up with pain.

It wasn't your nose picker, was it? It's amazing how much we need those digits, and don't realize just how much we "count on them" until they're wrapped up in gauze.

Keep us posted on how your doing.

Tim

 

No Tim it was the nose picker, that would be my right index finger

 

Well, we all have our preference for mining tools. I take my "pick" of the litter, depending on carefully evaluated criteria, like untrimmed yet smooth edged fingure nails. But that's just me.

Judging by your sense of humor, it appears you're apparently on the road to recovery Jim.

I hope all else is going well too.
Take care, Tim

 

The finger is healing quite well. The stitches have been removed, and I don't have the gauze or ace bandage looking stuff on it anymore, just a plain old bandage. The finger is a bit stiff from not moving much, and a bit sensitive at the tip, but it is doing ok.

 

Too bad it wasn't the "social finger". A nice purple, swollen, stiff middle finger could really come in handy on the freeways our there on the big city side of the mountain. By the time the receiving driver got over the shock of the sight of that nasty looking thing, and figured out that you had just flipped him off, you'd be long gone.