Ouch

[kevin_standlee]

This evening, we decided to collect up all of the cans and bottles and take them in to redeem before getting groceries. I carried the first box out to the van, put it in the back, and turned to go back for another.

And tripped over the railroad-coupler trailer-hitch.

And went sprawling, scraping my right arm badly on a concrete block.

I shouted in pain. Lisa came running out. I hastened to tell her that I was more or less okay. Nothing broke, just scraped. I got up. Bad scrape. I went inside and washed the cuts thoroughly and applied antibiotic ointment. Lisa got gauze to cover it and an Ace bandage for over that. Oddly enough, it didn't really hurt all that bad, but it looks nasty.

I try to look at the bright side. The reason I landed on the concrete block was that the block is there to cover the stub of a metal post located at that point. Scraping on the block is much better than impaling myself on the metal post. And I had a tetanus shot within the last year or so as part of my ongoing health care, so that's not a worry. It's still annoying.

I leave Oregon tomorrow a bit bruised and battered.

Comments

[tammylc.livejournal.com]

Ouch! Glad it was nothing more serious.

[howeird]

Should you be out there doing Cirque de Soliel acts without a net?

Glad you're mostly OK.

[mkillingworth.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, it usually looks and feels a *whole* lot worse the next day. I hope I'm wrong on this one.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Surprisingly, it doesn't seem any worse today than it was last night. Presumably scrubbing with lots of soap and hot water, then applying ointment liberally before bandaging made some difference. We stripped it all off this morning and I cleaned it thoroughly again while showering, and we repeated, with antibiotic and then A&D ointment before applying the wrapping again. I'll have to keep it covered, of course, until it heals.

[n5red.livejournal.com]

QLF?

Layers

[hazelchaz]

Well, clearly, the first layer of protection -- concrete so you don't land on the metal spike -- worked just fine.

Now you need to put something over the concrete. I suggest a wooden box. Or possibly something to turn it into a planter, so you can have a comfy bush growing on top.

Re: Layers

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Actually, one of the tasks on the past trip that didn't get done on account of I spent my 'spare' time repairing storm damage was pulling that spike (and several others) out. We can do it, but it takes a bunch of work. They were originally the anchors for the roof assembly protecting the trailer. As we've concluded we're going to have to go up to something more robust, we don't need the anchor points any more. Then we'll get rid of both the spikes and concrete blocks.