No PJHAA.......Serious Consequences

My husband is a 'Safety Consultant'.  Even when he was not working professionally in this capacity, he is always thinking about identifying and preventing loss of any kind.  Living with a man who, for the last 26 or so years has had this mindset has trained me to spot potential dangers as well.

At least, you'd think it would.

And to be fair, I probably do think more in these terms than your average person, but I've proven to myself that I do not think 'safety' and 'hazard ID' enough.

This past weekend, I was living alone on my property a half hour from town, without a vehicle.  Yet, when I decided I needed some fresh air in the back entry to dispell some of the 'doggie odors' that had accumulated after letting my 3 dogs live there during our recent cold snap, I failed to STOP and  THINK. 

When the window did not just slide open, I 'tapped' on it, hoping to dislodge some of the ice that was holding it closed.

The ancient, paper thin glass broke under my fist, cutting a 2 inch gash in the side of my hand.

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

A 'Pre-Job Hazard Awareness Assessment' would have had me at least pulling my sleeve down over my hand - or pulling on a pair of gloves.

Either action would have saved me.

As it was, I rushed upstairs to the sink, intent on stopping the bleeding.  Once I was sure that had been accomplished, I hauled our huge first aid bag up onto a table top and wrestled one-handed (left handed) with the sticky zippers, pulled out steri strips, sterile pad, and a 'wrap'.

Actually, I was rather impressed with my left-handed steri-strip job - and even the wrap job!   I decided that although the cut was obviously quite deep and would need stitches, it could wait until morning.  Vinj would have come for me, I know that, but by the time I was taken care of and brought home again, it would have been well after midnight before Vinj was home - and I knew he had an early day in the morning.

Instead, he came for me first thing in the morning and I went to the ER then.  (Tenth ER visit in 2 months for this family).   The doctor complimented me on my steri-strip job (having 4 boys and 1 girl intent on keeping up with her brothers has its long-range benefits).  Then he proceded to torture me......sticking 3 needles into the cut first, then after the freezing took affect, he took a scrub brush to it!  It didn't hurt, but just the thought of what he was doing kind of freaked me out!

Three deep stitches later, and some serious instructions regarding the antibiotic he was putting me on, the doc turned me over to a nurse to 'dress' the wound.

So, now I'm at home with one hand nearly useless for a time.  I can't even get it wet until Thursday!

Thankfully, my hubby came home yesterday so I'm no longer without a vehicle and I'm not completely reliant on my left hand.

I'm also so very thankful the cut was not an inch or two further down......THAT would have been an ugly, sad mess for one of my loved ones to discover.   Kind of  hammers home the reality that I really need to 'think twice, act once' when I am alone out here.

Photos will be on my "week in photos" post (Or whatever I decide to call that weekly post)   Yes, I have photos - but only post-stitches photos - taken by Jim.