Limb Kickback

[Magicman]

Two buddies and I were sawing firewood for a heart patient today.  Really, this was for his next years wood but I had a 20" red oak that really needed to come down.  It had a heavy lean and all of the limbs were on that one side.  Just the kind of tree that will keep you awake.

Down she went but the limbs kept it about 6' off of the ground.  We kept working and got it down to one 6" limb.  I really didn't realize just how much weight was on that limb and how much it it was bent.  I was paying more attention to not binding/pinching the bar and chain than what I should have been paying attention to.  Well, at least I didn't pinch the bar.

When I sawed through, that bent limb caught me squarely on the jaw.  The force propelled me 6-8 feet.  No, I didn't get up too quickly.  I guess that the limb also launched the chainsaw which hit my left shoulder.  Not the chain, but the saw head itself.  I could raise my arm OK then, but it's too sore now.

2" higher and I would have lost teeth.  2" lower and it would have hit in the neck.  As it is, I can hardly eat, and my old mug is sore and swollen.  As bad as it looks and feels, I am thankful that it wasn't worse.



The Magicman's Facelift

[beenthere]

Wow!
Shoulda left those whiskers grow, and hide that mess.
Glad you are so so!  Hope better soon.

[Dan_Shade]

yikes, I'm glad you weren't hurt any worse.

[thecfarm]

That's too bad.Things happen.Glad you are OK.

[doctorb]

If it's OK with you, I wouldn't mind a short break from being the team physician for the FF.  :D   Glad you didn't stick your chin out too far.   Doctorb

[Skiddah]

Scary experience, sorry you had to go through it.  You're right, it could be worse, but it's bad enough as is.  We walk a fine line everytime we work with trees.  It's easy to get a little too comfortable at times with something you do frequently, but if you worry too much, I guess nothing would get done.  I guess the best wisdom from this experience is that at least you're still around to be more careful the next time, right?

[Warbird]

6 - 8'?  That's impressive and scary!  This is proof you are a tough guy, eh?

Sure am glad you are okay.  I still owe you that cup of coffee and you ain't getting out of it. 

[Ron Scott]

Very lucky, that was a hard punch. Glad it was only a "wake up call" and you're ok.

[metalspinner]

That's a close call on a couple of fronts.  Glad you're OK and just a bit sore. 

You should have come up with a good story about defending the honor of Mrs. Magicman in a bar or something like that. "You should see the other guy." :D

[Magicman]

Thanks guys.  Maybe it's time for me to invest in a helmet system?

Chris even let's his Son wear his.

[SwampDonkey]

As Monty would say: "Just a flesh wound". ;D

Won't even notice in 6 months. ;)

[Reddog]

Thanks guys.  Maybe it's time for me to invest in a helmet system?

You still get the marks. Only thing that might help with that hard of blow is a hockey helmet and face shield.
Glad you are no worse for wear.

[metalspinner]

Chris even let's his Son wear his.

He turns into Luke Skywalker when the helmet goes on.

[WDH]

Lynn,

That was too close of a call.  Trees are dangerous creatures.

[Warbird]

Thanks guys.  Maybe it's time for me to invest in a helmet system?

Chris even let's his Son wear his.

This is what I wear:

http://www.stihlusa.com/apparel/protective-head-ear.html

It wouldn't have helped much with where you got hit but I'm very happy with that setup.

[Magicman]

Actually that is the one that I was looking at James.

The more I look back on my accident, the scarier it becomes.  There are so many "what if's".  One foot closer,?  A few inches higher, crushed skull.  A few inches lower, broken neck.  My feet landed 54" from where I was standing.

[Paul_H]

What if your parents never met?
It doesn't help to dwell on things,rather learn from the experience and move onward.What if's can lead to an unhealthy fear.

[Magicman]

Which is why I'm going to invest in a bit more head protection and keep on keeping on.  We've all gotta learn from ours and other's mistakes.

[Paul_H]

Remember that a helmet wouldn't have helped in this case and you could have just as easily have been implaled by a sharp limb when you landed on the ground or had your neck snapped like a twig by the limb.

[Holmes]

That is a scary accident,I hope you feel well soon. I took my first GOL class Saturday what an eye opening experience that was.The instructor told a lot of stories about injuries.We would all be better off with good safety equipment and to use it, and to invest in the GOL classes.  They are in investment in our future health and well worth it. Magicman I wish you a quick recovery.   Holmes

[jdtuttle]

wow close call. I have sawn firewood most of my life. When I bought my sawmill & started cutting more I took a chainsaw safety class. Even old dogs can learn new tricks ;) I wear a safety helmet, chaps & good boots whenever I saw. We don't mend as fast as we used to.
jim

[saltydog]

i am a one eyed logger thanks to a springpole. i was 19 years old  flipped up my screen on my helmet to pile some ceader post .flipping a post over a top dislodged a bent pole only 1 inch caught me in the center of my right eye .that was all it took tore my eye now im a one eyed logger. its dangerous out there. safty equipment only does so much.

[RSteiner]

Glad you didn't get hurt worse!

My neighbor cut down a large white pine one day on a bit of a side hill and the top of it hung out over a small drop off.  He had limbed out most of the tree as he cut one of the last branches on the down side of the tree he didn't see a branch that was down in the depression. 

The next thing he knew he was on his back on the ground a good 10 feet from the tree and his head hurt.   He never saw the tree roll and the branch caught him right across the cheek just under his eye.  The hit was hard enough to break the bone under his eye and fracture part of his jaw.

Randy

[nas]

They do fight back sometimes .  Glad your OK MM

Nick

[Magicman]

Thanks guys for the concern and advice.  It actually looks worse now cause it's black, blue, and green.  The rain has given me some down time.   ;)