PSA, Chainsaws: super dangerous (don't view if squeamish)

I love running a saw but in my day to day conversations, if a chainsaw comes into discussion, it is common for me to say something about how dangerous they are. When I see how so many people unsafely people use saws, or treat them so nonchalantly, I have sometimes mused about how it's a wonder there isn't more carnage than there is. Because I try to be careful but... the unexpected has caused some near misses over the years. But, maybe there is plenty of carnage and we just don't hear about it unless we are an EMT or doctor.

I will post below a pic of a young cousin of a cousin's arm from an accident. Click away if you don't want to see something pretty shocking. No death was involved, just a bad injury. Maybe he's lucky to live through it. Lucky that someone was with him and that a tourniquet was applied, else, he could've bled out.

Unexpected things happen working with trees, that is a huge addition of risk. I do not know exactly how this happened. I was told that the story is that he and another guy were working a side job to remove a tree. Somehow, a limb he was not cutting on crashed into him, knocking his arm into the saw. No idea if that is the true story of what happened. Was told he is about 20, so, no idea if had experience with a saw.

BTW, I carry a clot sponge and gauze with me, try to have it with me all the time.

The pic is a bit of a shock because he got so mangled, flesh is no match for a chainsaw, but nobody died. Click away if you don't wanna see but if you do, it might help to remind you of the danger...
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(don't know if this dot, dot, dot will work to push it down!)
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I've seen a nasty 'bite' IRL before. I'd never describe myself as inherently safe, nor 'slapdash' in regards to danger. I reside somewhere in the grey area between. Someone living a low risk life would likely say that I live dangerously. Contrastingly, others would accuse me of being a 'ninny' at times. Never been a gambler with money, but I have regularly bet with my life throughout my journey. The older I get, the less willing I am to 'lay it down'.

 

YIKES!! Glad he is ok. Tourniquets and direct pressure saves lives!!

 

Safety reminders are ALWAYS appreciated!!

I hope he's able to recover most of the function of his arm.

 

I am glad he will survive but
Lucky he didn’t cut his arm right off
I was told this when I had just started cutting
A knife cuts a chainsaw tears
Found this on Amazon

 

Thanks!

Looks like a nice item to have in your saw box.

 

After my cousin's husband had a accident with his saw. Lost an eye and has prosthetic cheek bone. I never run my saw without ppe. Which includes glasses and a faceshield. Even it's a single cut. I was thinking do they make a cutting jacket or sleeves?

 

Awesome post, Yawner!

In the fire academy, the new recruits get an entire week of chainsaw training. On day 1, you learn to completely disassemble and reassemble them. Day 2, you learn to start and run them. Day 3, you begin cutting things. Day 4, you learn to cut more challenging items in difficult terrain. Day 5, you cut more challenging items, with different chains, in difficult terrain, under stress etc… Saws are not to be taken lightly. Sometimes the most experienced saw users are the ones who end up getting hurt, because they get way too comfortable running chainsaws. I know I certainly have to check myself once in a while.



Sorry if you’ve heard this rant from me before:

Here is the tourniquet that I always carry when I cut, IN MY POCKET - not in the house or my truck. We also carry dozens of these on every rig at work. It’s a CAT tourniquet. It’s the industry standard. The CAT tourney is used by the military and most police and EMS agencies. You can actually get them on Amazon. They are pretty pricey, but what’s your life worth to you? DO NOT BUY CHEAP TOURNIQUETS. They will break when you tighten them down. We see broken, knock off tourniquets on calls sometimes, that are usually placed by citizens - who mean well - but don’t actually help at all.

And remember, when you place a tourniquet - if it doesn’t hurt more than your injury, you don’t have it tight enough.

Here is one of my personal CAT tourneys. I keep it in a ready position, so that I can infold it easily and place it with one hand (and my teeth).

Fold it so that you just have to pull the red tab to unfold the entire thing easily, slide it over your appendage, well above the injury (not on a joint) and tighten with one hand. If the injury is just below your elbow, for example - place the tourney well above the elbow.

Remember, the last thing you want to do in an emergency, is have to get your tourniquet out of the packaging, and figure out how to use it. They don’t need to be kept completely sterile. They are the medical equivalent of a roll bar in an off road vehicle. They are the last and most effective resort. When you need it, you need it right the f now.

And finally, you can have a well placed tourniquet on for up to 8 hours with little to no permanent damage, so don’t be afraid to use it!

Sorry for the rant, but it comes directly from my heart, and I’m clearly very passionate about the topic

Love you all, Cash

 

Chainsaw jacket with cut protection - Doyles Garden Machinery

 

This thread made me wonder if something like a 'short' pole saw has ever been manufactured. A cross between a chainsaw and a polesaw, with the idea being getting the bar/chain away from the user. If for no other reason than for non-pro users to use a chainsaw-like device with more safety. Ideally, even for pro users, just a better mousetrap, safety-wise. It would probably have more limited use because you couldn't see like you can with a chainsaw, in that you're right on top of it.

 

You know something cash until you posted I never had thought about a tourniquet

 

Don't ever apologize for a "rant" like this. IMO this potentially life-saving information should be added here:
Personal Protection Equipment
I just ordered one right now. For a little over $30 bucks, WELL worth it.

 

I mentioned in the OP about a tourniquet and how it might have saved him, and you can see his in the photo!

In the OP, I also mentioned a clot sponge. I went to order a new one, mine might be 'expired' and they don't make it anymore, the same company has reverted to selling clot gauze.

 

Makes a guy think twice about what he is doing. Really shouldn't cut without someone around even though we all do. That is a nasty wound.

 

Yawner I am sorry I went back and reread your post and I see you did mention a tourniquet you did mention the clot sponge and when I looked that up that’s when I found the clot gauze in all my years of cutting I never thought to carry ether one with me
I am no different then the rest of you I have had close calls and still not smart enough to carry ether one of those two things guess I figure there isn’t much I can’t fix with a napkin from mc Donald’s or Burger King and some electrical tape
I have always wore steel toe boots with logger soles but I am just starting to buy proper Ppe
It’s a lot like roofing it’s not a matter of if it’s going to happen it’s a matter of when
Thank you for your post it really is a wake up call

 

Great post Cash!

 

Gnarly!! No tourniquet in my kit, but I do keep a roll of gorilla tape handy. I seem to remember hearing quick clot can be more dangerous than the wound itself.

 

That's worth investigating!

 

Scary stuff there.
Yes saws are very dangerous and need to be treated with respect. Dull,saws, tired operators, overconfidence all contributing factors. Accidents can and do happen when you least expect them even to experience users. All it takes is a split second.

One safety feature of a saw I'm adamant about using the chain brake. When walking with the saw running, brake on, when starting, brake on.

Please work safe out there FHC. I know from firsthand experience it does happen. Not from a chainsaw but using related OPE
Hydro Accident