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Do you have an emergence plan? I don't.

4K views 45 replies 34 participants last post by  timbit2006 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I was out in the shop after I got out of work and I got to thinking. That's a scary thought in itself. Anyway, I was thinking what would happen if I got hurt out here. My shop is a detached building outback. My wife and son are in the house watching TV, cooking dinner, playing video games, whatever. What if I got hurt and needed help? How could I let them know? I could install an intercom system but what if I was on the floor bleeding and couldn't reach it? Or I fell and couldn't get up. I am extremely careful and I realize I am alone out there by myself but I wonder, what if…. What are your plans just in case?
 
#9 ·
I can imagine a lot of nasty injuries in the shop, but very few shop related injuries that would completely incapacitate me…unless I was doing something stupid like using my neck as a push stick etc…Barring freak accidents or "regular" stuff like heart attacks etc, the majority of shop injuries will involve the extremities, which, although serious, shouldn't immediately prevent me from seeking help.
I keep a small tube of eye anesthetic at home that I "stole" from the ER where I work; having had an eye injury once I know that it is very difficult to drive with one eye while your other eye is spasming from pain. I also have a blood pressure cuff that I keep at home; makes a great, easy tourniquet if I was to have a serious cut/amputation.
 
#12 ·
I have always been safety conscious and made up Triangle signs that say. BE SAFE THINK TWICE
I laid them out in a triangle with the BE SAFE In the top and THINK on the left side coming up from the bottom to the top And TWICE coming from the top just under the BE SAFE downward to the bottom. So the message is to
BE SAFE THINK TWICE. It take a micro millionth of a second to have a thought wave so take two.
My wife is handicapped so she is not able to respond so I have a RED Light that I can activate from the shop to turn on plus an a video intercom so she can see what I'm doing anytime she wants.
I'm not able to go to the shop and take a nap but I just hope I don't ever have to use it. But it's nice to know when dinner is done.
 
#15 ·
"unless I was doing something stupid like using my neck as a push stick". HA! That made me laugh pretty hard. Funny thing is, when I was an EMT, it wouldn't surprise me when people did stuff like that. Unfortunately for me, I was conditioned by my grandpa Chuck to ignore most all injuries when I'm working around heavy equipment. He used to say "that splinter won't hurt as bad as losing your hand on the saw your operating" So, I usually don't even realize I'm bleeding until the wife yells at me for smearing blood on my shirt… or the countertops… or the cat. I do realize why she gets upset… My emergency plan involves my cell phone. It's usually playing music too, so I know right where to find it. I don't worry about heart attacks yet as I'm a young guy.
- Rich
 
#16 ·
I have an emergency plan to some degree. I have some combat first aid kits (I've been military for 27+) that are equipped with very large pressure bandages, stuff for eye injuries, and even sucking chest wounds around my shop (though with the difficulties I have finding one of the one thousand pencils I have in the shop, I'm not sure I could find the first aid kits). You do have me thinking now about how to let someone know to come help if say I am unable to get to either my cell (I'm usually playing music with it son not in my pocket) or the land line phone I have in my shop (cordless actually, but its the house phone).
 
#18 ·
This is a valid concern. Since my shop is in the basement and my wife is usually upstairs, I assume I could yell out if necessary.

Last summer, my wife had to be away from home for several weeks. I was particularly worried about emergencies when she was gone. I made a point of keeping a cell phone in my pocket with the numbers of a couple of friends on the speed dial.
 
#19 ·
What about one of those wireless doorbells? They have range extenders, kind of make your own alert, could be just like my mom's Med-alert except only it only alert's the house, so if no one is home…. better have a cell phone. My sister in law used to use one to get my brothers attention when he was down in his basement workshop.
 
#20 ·
I spend a lot of time ensuring our jobsites at work have a response plan, mine in my own shop is a little weak…

Shop is in the loft of the barn, so about 800 feet from the house. I do have a phone wired in, as well as a cordless with an intercom system, complete first aid kit (enough for 12 people), blanket, fire extinguisher, and bandaids at both ends of the shop.

Still, as you say, if something happened to me, I would probably miss dinner too.
My wife might check on me after a few hours, might be too late by then.
 
#22 ·
First aid kit in the shop. Fire extinguishers….

Um you just cut yourself in half with a saw, well you really weren't being careful then, were you?
You cut off all 10 fingers? Probably shoulda stopped faster lol.

In reality though, most shop injuries will not incapacitate you, just make you bleed alot. Unless you pass out at the sight of blood or go into shock really easily.
 
#23 ·
Even aneurisms and heart attacks have warning signs. If you don't feel good, listen to your body and get some help. 1+ on fire extinguishers and first aid kits.
If I am working on a ladder my wife always worries. She will hear a bang, and come out to see if I am okay. I always tell her "Be worried if I stop making noise."
 
#24 · (Edited by Moderator)
I wear my Bluetooth single ear-hook and have voice speed dial with a single button push (that could be a finger, knuckle, corner of the table, etc.). I also have two extinguishers, one at the door and one at the far end of the shop.

I am thinking about adding a loose hanging tourniquet at an easy location to get to. One never knows if you have only seconds to respond before passing out. Have not done that yet, but really cannot think of a reason not to.
 
#26 ·
When I was home farming with my dad I had an accident in a filed that was 4 miles from home. I was loading the harrows onto back of implement, ONE bounced BACK as I threw ui up onto the equipment, the Tooth WENT THREW my hand ! I got onto the tractor, drove 4 miles home, showed them what happened then passed OUT when mom poured peroxide on the wound to clean it.
What I am saying a person is capable of doing some heroic things while in shock.
I have no emergency plan ! (My shop is 15 ft from house.
 
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