Safety question

[KeithC]

I have just recently had to start on blood thinners. Not a big deal, however I would like to know if any of you with a similar problem take any extra precautions against cuts?
Thanks
KeithC

[carlt]

KeithC,

I cut myself quite a bit, finally got some kevlar gloves. I'v e got in the habit to glove up, before cutting. Happy carving!

Carl

[idigjars]

I agree with Carlt. Kevlar gloves and try and think about how you are carving and keep your other hand as much out of the way as possible. Good luck and safe carving. Paul

[SlowMover]

I have been on blood thinners for longer than I have been carving. The obvious answer is to wear a glove and finger/thumb protectors. the other factors to consider are to THINK about what you are doing and practice good knife technique. I have never cut/stabbed myself while carving, but have stabbed myself when getting my Flexut gouges out of the toolroll or while putting them back in. THEY ARE JUST AS SHARP WHEN YOU AREN'T CARVING WITH THEM AS THEY ARE WHEN YOU USE THEM ON WOOD! Always remember to be careful, especially when you don't have a glove on, I have know people who cuthave themselves sharpening, and have even read here about a significant cut when unpacking a new tool when it arrived in the mail. Always think.

Now about bleeding while on blood thinners. i speak as a Physician Assistant of 28 years experience, the vast majority of it in surgery where we are keenly aware of bleeding while on blood thinner. The thing to remember is that the thinners DO NOT prevent you from clotting, they merely slow down the process. What this means in the face of an injury is that you have to hold firm pressure on the wound longer than if not on the medication. You DO NOT bleed any more, or any faster while on thinners, it just takes longer for the clot to form. A normal person (blood-wise) will form a clot that will stop bleeding on a minor wound in about 4-6 minutes with reasonable pressure. On thinners, the goal is to extend the clotting process for 2-3 times, so simple math says it takes 10-15 minutes to stop mild bleeding on thinners. This is a REALLY long time when you are holding a rag on a finger and staring at your hand...try it by staring at a clock for 15 minutes. I reccomend that if cut you note the time , and hold pressure for a minimum of 15 minutes by the clock (dont stare at the clock, watch TV or something and have the timer on the stove or microwave tell you when time is up).
Don't be afraid to carve while on blood thinners, just use reasonable care and common sense, and know how to take care of wounds properly.
Wishing you safe carving.

[Claude]

Great advice, particularly from SM. I wear a Kevlar glove and a leather thumb guard, and have still tried hard to train myself to always look where the blade will go when the wood breaks or knife slips. I also wear a leather welder's apron to slow down a knife or gouge much more than just the denim in my levies or cotton in my shirt will do when the tool slips. Another thing to remember: if you are using your biceps or shoulder muscles when using a knife, then you are carving wrong; wrist and hand muscles only!! Now, sometimes I need to press hard, so I place the wood on the workbench and then make the cut so when it slips, the workbench stops the knife, not my hand or leg. Look at the carving style of Gene Messer in one of his videos - he does it all with just hand and wrist muscles.

Claude

[Eddy-Smiles]

Keith... You have one more option if you're really concerned. There are at least two products on the market for quick coagulation of the blood, QR by Biolife and Celox. Both can be purchased directly from the manufacturer or in QR's case, even from some on-line drug stores. You might even ask your cardiologist or coumadin clinic if they have any samples. That's where I picked up my samples of QR. The best thing that you can do is really keep track of your coagulation time and know how long it takes. You'll be seeing your coumadin nurse on a regular basis and as long as she has you stabilized then anything short of slicing open a carotid or femoral artery should not be a problem with the direct pressure as recommened by Slowmover who sounds like a fast thinker! I've stuck myself a number of times and I'm still carving but I do lay my knife down when my numbers get out of line.

[Dougie]

I agree with all the previous posts. I have been on Coumadin for around 7 years and found that a cut takes a lot longer to heal also. I always wear a glove and thumb guard. Just be a little extra careful.
Doug

[KeithC]

Thanks to all of you. Your advice has been great. I will certainly follow your advice.
KeithC

[Whittled Thumb]

GLOVES! Your best friend. When you slice the corner of your finger nearly off, your gona bleed regardless of thin blood or not. Gloves are a must have anyway in this hobby

[Nomad]

Just an fyi addition, if you don't know already, they now make an in-home testing meter that checks coumadin levels. It takes a drop of blood to use, much like diabetes testers.