Sick cow, sharp knife and the ER !

[Lesknife]

Well guys I can be thankful it wasn’t worse and I’m sorry, no pictures. But yesterday I was helping my son with a sick cow he has been doctoring for a few weeks. She developed an abscess on both sides of her neck after some antibiotic injections. We had her in the working chute and I had prepared the site by shaving the hair with my 830 marksman S35vn blade and applied disinfectant to lance the abscess. The marksman was plenty sharp and shaved the hair right off. Then I had my Buck 055 scary sharp for lancing the abscess and was disinfecting it. I was trying to be careful as I changed hands but somehow the 55 snagged or stuck to my glove and I lost my grip, it dropped and stuck my inner mid-thigh on my right leg and dropped on down to the ground . Ouch ! I immediately grasped the wound and blood came streaming through my jeans. My son looked over and saw my grimace, came over to check and saw the blood running on down my jeans. As I pulled my jeans down to get a look it was obvious it needed medical attention ASAP. He loaded me into my pickup and applied some tissue to pack and stop the bleeding and we headed to town. After arriving at the ER they pack ice on the wound and after 15 minutes or so it stopped bleeding. Then it didn’t look so bad only about 3/8ths inch wide and about 5/8ths deep. The doctor said it missed the femoral artery but nicked a smaller vessel and used some super glue stuff on the wound and monitored it for a few hours to make sure there wasn’t any internal bleeding. I was good to go and they released me to go home.
I feel a bit stupid for miss handling a sharp knife and wounding myself. You can’t be to carful with sharps of any kind as they aren’t forgiving and it’s done. I think I’m going to put a texture on all my smooth handles for a better grip now as I remember thinking how it was slippery using gloves and disinfectant. Like I say I was trying to be careful but a slippery knife handle is dangerous! I’m glad it wasn’t a larger heavier knife or it could have been much worse.

 

[pjsjr]

Quite a story and ordeal! Glad it wasn't worse. Thanks for relating it to us. The part about slick handles is timely with hunting season upon us.

 

[David Martin]

Thanks for sharing your story Les. Hope you heal up. The cow too. DM

 

[jbmonkey]

scary there, Sir. glad you're gonna be okay.

 

[David Martin]

Les, this time of year there is flies. So, watch her so, you don't get a bigger problem. DM

 

[jbmonkey]

its bot fly season too isnt it?

 

[Lesknife]

its bot fly season too isnt it?

Yes and we have treated the all the calves and bulls. We still need to get the rest of the cows done though, we ran out of time that weekend as some had to return to work. I think next week some of the family are coming over to help out. It’s been a hectic time the last few months trying to cover everything.

 

[Lesknife]

Les, this time of year there is flies. So, watch her so, you get a bigger problem. DM

Yes we have been treating with a systematic feed supplement in the herd and she was treated for flies and parasites 3 weeks ago when we first took her to the veterinarian. She had a puncture wound on the right rear hoof that turned to hoof rot that is usually treated with a round of antibiotics. That’s a problem we have in this area that’s far to common. One of the bulls had it about 2 months ago but has completely healed and doing very well.

As for my knives I’m thinking of making a clampdown jig that I can use a thread file or checkering tool to put some slip resistant texture on the smooth handles.

 

[jbmonkey]

Les sounds like y'all are way on top of it all. lot of hard work there. good job taking care of those animals, Sir.

 

[Tecate]

What a chain of events. I'm glad you survived it and are able to tell the story.

 

[Lesknife]

Thank you all for the kind words and encouragement. It has been a challenge this summer with my ex wife passing on July 1 and my son stepped up to take on the ranch. He is learning, trying to take care of everything and working hard. Land, cattle and hay operations along with settling the estate. I’m very proud of him and my three girls and their husbands. I couldn’t have asked for better! I’m sure glad he was there to help me get to a doctor. As for me I’m a bit rusty, it’s been almost 10 years since I was working it but it’s coming back. I’m more of a consultant than anything.
My son Landon is enjoying the new September botm 830 marksman and he put it right to work. He loves the easy flip open and close and super sharp 20cv blade. He said he can tell a difference after cutting several large round hay bale twine wraps. That nylon twine is tough and dirty and will dull an ordinary blade in short time. He still has my old 110 slim pro as a backup in his pickup just in case. Tomorrow we’re headed to down state Oklahoma to look at a used hay swather that would definitely be an upgrade from the old pull behind swather.

 

[jbmonkey]

Thank you all for the kind words and encouragement. It has been a challenge this summer with my ex wife passing on July 1 and my son stepped up to take on the ranch. He is learning, trying to take care of everything and working hard. Land, cattle and hay operations along with settling the estate. I’m very proud of him and my three girls and their husbands. I couldn’t have asked for better! I’m sure glad he was there to help me get to a doctor. As for me I’m a bit rusty, it’s been almost 10 years since I was working it but it’s coming back. I’m more of a consultant than anything.
My son Landon is enjoying the new September botm 830 marksman and he put it right to work. He loves the easy flip open and close and super sharp 20cv blade. He said he can tell a difference after cutting several large round hay bale twine wraps. That nylon twine is tough and dirty and will dull an ordinary blade in short time. He still has my old 110 slim pro as a backup in his pickup just in case. Tomorrow we’re headed to down state Oklahoma to look at a used hay swather that would definitely be an upgrade from the old pull behind swather.

sorry on your families loss. tough time for all.

sounds like ya got a great family. aint afraid of hard work and getting it all done. youre a man who raised them right. thats something to be very proud of.

 

[MolokaiRider]

Thanks for sharing your story.

Glad your doing ok. I bet that knife is back to clean and sharp!

 

[GPyro]

Good God.
.....Somehow this whole thread escaped me.
Man accidents happen so fast...... And we all think, "nah, I'm smarter than that".
I hope all is well Les.
Give as all a response and let us know how your doing please.
Thanks!

 

[Alberta Ed]

We keep Quikclot on hand in the first aid kit.

 

[Lesknife]

Good God.
.....Somehow this whole thread escaped me.
Man accidents happen so fast...... And we all think, "nah, I'm smarter than that".
I hope all is well Les.
Give as all a response and let us know how your doing please.
Thanks!

I’m doing fine now, thanks, it’s pretty much healed and only a fading bruise now and probably be gone by Sunday. It wasn’t as bad as we first thought it was. My son was concerned it had nicked my femur artery as much blood was gushing out. I held pressure on it till we got to the ER and they took over. They too were a bit concerned but after icing it about 10 minutes it slowed down and doc said it was most likely a smaller vessel rather than the artery but very close. Another 5 minutes and thankfully it had stopped bleeding without pressure. They kept monitoring it for a few hours to make sure it wasn’t bleeding inside and swelling. Then they put some super glue bandage on it and released me to go home. Off work for two days taking it easy so it wouldn’t tear open. Then back at it. Lol

 

[GPyro]

Cool.
Thanks.
Things can happen fast. Glad your OK.
Take care!