What Was The Worst Injury?

Danger is all around us. DON'T TAKE SHORTCUTS around machinery.

In my opinion, one of the primary values of this discussion board is the sharing of stories of accidents and close calls in order to caution others and, hopefully, prevent mishaps. Let me give an example. Recently, there have been posts about exploding batteries, fortunately with no serious injuries resulting. Several people responded, sharing similar experiences and offering tips on safe battery handling and inspection/maintenance of the charging system. Personally, my awareness of the battery hazard is increased, and I have altered the way I handle batteries and work around them as a result. To give another example, there have been many posts about the dangers of hand cranking, along with reports of mishaps that occurred. This stresses the importance of safety and correct technique. One can view this as gruesome, gory, and inappropriate, but I prefer to ask how the mishap could have been prevented, and learn from it. Another series of posts that come to mind have to do with the question of pinning the drawbar or allowing it to swivel. The wise responses from experienced operators may spare someone more than a bad hair day.

Farming and operating dangerous machinery is not for the squeamish. The hazards and risks are significant. Accidents do happen. One of the highest values of this forum is the rich community of seasoned veterans who have a wealth of information to share. I am grateful for them. Much of this information is in the form of safety tips. Their sharing and advice has been immeasurable, undoubtedly having spared many other YT folks the misfortunes that they once experienced. The "Been there, done that, don't make the mistake I made" dialog has no equal.

To repeat tlak's comment, it is a necessary evil to remind ourselves and each other of the dangers we face and our need to be careful. This was the intent of my message.

Your original message was worded in such a way that I have just stayed away from this thread. While I agree with the intent you express in this followup message, your first one seemed to just open up a can of worms - "Hey, just how gory & ugly a mess have you made of things? I want to hear all about it?"

My uncle backed over his 2 year old child's head with the farm truck. They drove him to the hospital with a caved in head, dead, themselves. I can think of nothing worse than that. I really don't want to talk about it, either. (If anyone else does, maybe do some soul-searching on the direction of your life?)

A classmate of mine was converted to be left-handed. His right hand they dumped in the grove in little flakes, along with the rest of the silage in the wagon. He was 4 at the time.

My neighbor years ago had a buck saw come off a tractor & slice off his leg. He bled to death while his young son was trying to hold his belt around his dad's stump.

To me these are gory stories, and I don't see the value of discussing them in this discussion area. It seemed like you are more after shock value, than educational value. I took it as you wanted the bad details.

Now, we could talk about how dangerous buck saws are, and if you have a home-made one be sure the arbor nut screws on so that it always tightens itself. Really bad things can happen if it does not....

Or we can talk about how dangerous any machinery is when kids are around.

I see good value in that.

But I don't see value in just discussing what the 'worst injury' ever was. Yuk.

--->Paul

I split a tractor today working by myself, nobody else on the mountain. When it comes to the separation, I've heard enough stories to know to take it slow and easy. And I don't assume the hydraulic jacks are going to hold it up and never have a problem while I'm under the tractor.

Shoot, if I go through the trouble to repair it, I sure want to be around to drive it later.

That has been one of my biggest fears since then that I will hit one of my own kids that runs out of nowhere wanting to ride with me in a tractor or combine. Years and years ago (1974?) a neighbor where I grew up hit his daughter when the rear of a 6 bottom plow swung around while driving up his lane. She broke several bones and had to learn to walk again afterwards. A farm is a great place to grow up but it can be damn dangerous.

Get rid of this post, please. It's obviously some ambulance chaser posted this to get evidence for some groundless lawsuit.
good luck
sod