Safety Tip - Don't hold a flashlight in your mouth

[jsweka]

What should have been a lovely morning in the deer woods for me turned into a trip to the Emergency Room.

I was getting set up before daylight this morning and saw a dead tree branch I wanted to get out of the way for a shooting lane.  I placed my mini-mag flashlight in my mouth to hold like I've done thousands of times before to have both hands free.   I pulled on the branch and when it snapped, I ended up hitting myself right in the mouth which then pushed the flashlight into the back of my throat.  My first reaction was " Holy crap, that really didn't just happen".  But then the pain set in and the taste of blood filled my mouth.  

I spit a couple mouth fulls on the nice tracking snow we had this morning and then texted my bro-in-law who I was hunting with.  I wasn't exactly in the mood for a long text so I just texted "I need help".  I needed him to take a look inside my mouth to assess the damage because I obviously couldn't look inside my own mouth without a mirror.  Then I started to gag on the blood.  My bro-in-law heard me gagging and was thinking the worst - like I stuck myself with a broadhead or something.  I could speak fine and explained what happened.  He looked inside and said I better get to a doctor.

So off we went to the ER.  The doc took a look and then went to get another doc to get another opinion on what to do.  They decided there probably wasn't a need to put in any stitches and it had stopped bleeding by then.  So I thought they'd just let me go.  However, the doc thought it would be a good idea if they did a CT scan to make sure I didn't do any damage to my carotid artery.  That scared me a bit and I started thinking I could have killed myself with a mini-mag flashlight.      :eek:     The CT scan results turned out OK with just some signs of swelling so I was released with a antibiotic prescription just to avoid any chance of infection.

I got a nasty cut in the back of my throat, some bruising, and swelling, but I'll be fine and it could have turned out much worse.  I'll be on a liquid/soft diet for a while.

The irony of all this is that I had a head light in my pocket, but was in too much of a rush to dig it out.  I won't make that mistake again.

[stickem1]

Dang! Glad you are ok. I'm guilty of doing that at times too. Maybe we will all think twice now...

[Ric O'Shay]

Oops!
   :eek:

[huntnmuleys]

sometimes its the crazy little things that get a guy. good lesson and glad your ok!

[Jayrod]

Dang john glad to hear your okay...heal up brother and get back out there try those lights that clip on bill of your hat I love mine

[Keith Zimmerman]

Glad u are OK.  Could have been a lot worse.  Lucky it wasnt a knife of something.

[kennym]

Wow John!! Glad you're OK brother!!

You aren't gonna let Roy know bout this are ya?    :D

[nineworlds9]

[goingoldskool]

Just goes to show how fast things can get ugly!
Glad to hear you're on the mend!

Rodd

[ChuckC]

wow. . . . just, wow. . . .

Glad you are OK and it wasn't any more serious than it turned out to be.

Thanks for the heads up.
CHuckC

[jsweka]

Originally posted by kennym:

You aren't gonna let Roy know bout this are ya?     :D  

Heck no!  He'll never let me forget this bungle. Of course, I wouldn't doubt he finds out from another old dude from the mid west  

I was back out in the woods again tonight, so it's not slowing me down.  It just feels like a BAD sore throat when I swallow.

Just another life lesson I thought I'd share so others don't make the same dumb mistake.  Moral of the story....Don't put anything in your mouth you don't intend to eat.

[kennym]

another old dude from the mid west [Wink]

Hey, I ain't tellin him nuthin!  

[KyRidgeRunner]

Wow... I can't count the times I've done that!   Though I want be doing it again.

[Stumpkiller]

I work at a sewage treatment plant and our chief electrician told me that holding a flashlight in his mouth was one of the habits he stopped right away when he started.      

But I probably won't give it up.  I keep a few of the old Bic pen tips to scratch in my ears because nothing else does as well.  

When I'm out gathering eggs or tying down a tarp there is just no better place to stick a flashlight.

[monkeyball]

Geez John, pulled hamstrings....flashlights jammed down your throat. Been a good year huh buddy !   I am glad things were not worse and you were still able to sneak out with your bow for a night hunt.

  A few years ago a guy over in the Shade area was taking a tree stand out of the woods. He tripped on a tree root and really messed up his neck when he went down. Actually a life changing experience for him.

  Be careful buddy and tell Monkey Boy I said hi.

                          Good Hunting,
                                              Craig

[Mudd]

I'm glad you weren't hurt any worse.

It's those little things that we've always done and haven't ever been a problem before....until they are the problem.

Experience can be a very difficult and painful teacher.

I pray your injury heals completely without any complications.

God bless,Mudd

[Sam McMichael]

Sorry to hear about your injury but am glad you have no long term injuries. I imagine most of us are guilty of doing this same thing. Something to consider.

[joe ashton]

life can turn on a dime!

[chall]

Glad your ok, I think ill stop doing that myself.

[maineac]

Geez, seems like my flashlight is in my mouth almost as much as it is in my hand.  I'll have to pick up a headlamp for more regular use.  Glad you are ok.