Great advise here. I hope it heals quickly.
We all need to be reminded from time to time that these tools are capable of making us very uncomfortable for a while or worse when we get a little complacent.
I did plenty of "self mutililation"
in my youth
. A couple of dumb incidents where stitches were necessary and a side of a fingertip that is numb.
After that stunt with my fingertip and the appropriate amount of thought, I decided to take on the mindset of firearm handling that was ingrained by father and uncle at a very, very early age whenever I have an exposed blade around.
I was plinking with .22's just about every weekend at age 4 under very serious supervision. Every move made or more often moves about to be made with that rifle under any condition was scrutinized and corrected on the spot when needed. The result of that instruction was 46 years of shooting without one hint of mishandling. To this day, I still remember the talks stressing that there are no "accidents" possible with a firearm when it is handled correctly.
In adult hindsight I now understand why they took on such a serious tone when they were teaching me, but then I did not really understand why these kind and quiet men were so serious and strict at that time. To this day, if I accepted a firearm from my dad without checking the chamber my 80 year old dad might just bend me over his knee, give me an embarrassing whack across my rear end and say " I taught you better than that"
.
Anyway back to knives; it may sound odd, but I have not nicked myself ever since I took on the same mindset when I had a knife around me. Three rules work for me.
1. Know where the edge of a blade (or blade) is at all times. If it is not in your hands it is someplace stable and you can reach it easily. Focus on where that edge is when you lay a knife down. That eliminates the chance of what I did two times unsuccessfully. (Reaching quickly for a knife while not looking and slicing a finger to the bone
)
2. Cut only when you "have a target". Focus on and control that puppy at all times when it is in your hand.
3. Make sure any thing that you do not want cut, especially the personal fleshy stuff, is not in the path of the knife. That path needs to consider blade length, force, gravity, and some portion of the length of the appendage holding the knife. Watch out for fleshy things (especially kids, dogs, cats or goats) that may be below a knife. (force and gravity part) I am sure most of us would rather cut our selves on purpose than harm a precious fleshy thing. Trouble is we only get that choice in hindsight after the precious fleshy thing has been hurt.
The whole thing may sound nerdy or stupid, but it now comes naturally and it works for me. YMMV.