scott spencer
08-27-2005, 4:39 AM
I got one of those rude awakenings this afternoon b/c I failed to clear all the cutoff pieces out of the way sufficiently. I was trimming 3/8" flat oak door panels to length on a crosscutting sled this p.m., when a 2"x7" piece of cutoff caught the blade and launched. It broke into two pieces coming off the blade and a 2"x4" piece ricocheted off my bare upper arm and shoulder, flew nearly 40' at an angle and hit my 6 year old playing in the front yard. My back was to the driveway where the kids aren't allow to stand while I'm cutting. She was ~ 25' off axis and was in what I would have thought was a safe place, but she still got a little mark on her arm when it hit her. A sympathy band aid helped us both through that experience.
I was really lucky for sure. I have an obvious 2"x4" red rectangle on my arm that's outlined with small spots of broken skin that'll likely be bruised tomorrow, but will be good as new in a couple of days. Had that piece hit me with an edge or a corner, it would have left a nasty gouge and broken skin that would have undoubtedly needed some emergency care.
A combination of stupidity, guilt, and vulnerability left me feeling a little sick about the whole thing. It was my fault, it was avoidable, and it was a very inexpensive lesson and reminder. In addition to upsetting my daughter, what bothers me most is that this is the same type of thing that causes most amputations or serious injuries...I just lucked out.
I was really lucky for sure. I have an obvious 2"x4" red rectangle on my arm that's outlined with small spots of broken skin that'll likely be bruised tomorrow, but will be good as new in a couple of days. Had that piece hit me with an edge or a corner, it would have left a nasty gouge and broken skin that would have undoubtedly needed some emergency care.
A combination of stupidity, guilt, and vulnerability left me feeling a little sick about the whole thing. It was my fault, it was avoidable, and it was a very inexpensive lesson and reminder. In addition to upsetting my daughter, what bothers me most is that this is the same type of thing that causes most amputations or serious injuries...I just lucked out.