It Had To Happen

[Bob Hintze]

Well it happened today. I had my first mental lapse that resulted in injury. Was coming out of the attic (10 foot ceilings.) My foot was on my little giant and as I put my weight on it, the ladder kicked out. I fell 10 feet to the garage floor (lack of focus.) I was able to right myself enough to land on my feet. Fell to the left and jammed my shoulder. Turns out when I went to catch myself, I ripped my hand on the attic molding.

Needless to say, after 4 stiches, bandages and a tetanus shot, I went on to my afternoon job. Tonight, I am sore as anything, BUT, I have 3 jobs tomorrow, 2 Friday, and 1 each Sat and Sun...no rest for the weary. First time in 5 years that I got hurt...

Has it happened to you? 

[Jeff Moore]

Bob,

Good to hear that you are not more injured than you are. Falling 10 ft isn't much when you are 10 years old
but later in life it take sooooooo much longer to heal. Thursday morning you will find out how sore you really are.

I have not fallen yet.....knock on head oops wood
however I have imbedded a long mesquite thorn into my head.
Thought I had just tried to knock myself out and didn't know
the thorn was still in there untill brushing hair and found it.

Wishing you speedy healing

Jeff

[Bob Hintze]

Thanks Jeff. Once I got rolling today I felt fine, vicodin helped too. I think where I got the tetanus shot is sorest. 

[Bob Hintze]

Jeff,
BTW, for caring you get a Karma...welcome to the family
Bob

[Jeff Moore]

Bob,
Thanks for the Karma. In this day and age every little thing can help.

Jeff

[Robert Jones]

Bob,
First let me say that I am glad it wasn't more serious.  And having that much work should make you feel somewhat better:)  One time when getting into a crawl space, I noticed a piece of rebar sticking out but figured I would just get around it.  Well I got distracted and and it caught me about top thigh(front) and ripped a hole through my overalls, carhartts, bit of boxer and some skin.  I was about 38 at the time and the closeness to "other" things scared the crap out of me.  I have hit my head on numerous roofing nails in the attic.  Cut my hand wide open on a furnace cover that was a bit warped. Always impresses the clients.

Hope your not to sore tomorrow.

Rob

[Will Handley]

Ouch!

[Dominic Maricic]

Bob,
First let me say that I am glad it wasn't more serious.  And having that much work should make you feel somewhat better:)  One time when getting into a crawl space, I noticed a piece of rebar sticking out but figured I would just get around it.  Well I got distracted and and it caught me about top thigh(front) and ripped a hole through my overalls, carhartts, bit of boxer and some skin.  I was about 38 at the time and the closeness to "other" things scared the crap out of me.  I have hit my head on numerous roofing nails in the attic.  Cut my hand wide open on a furnace cover that was a bit warped. Always impresses the clients.

Hope your not to sore tomorrow.

Rob

Hmm, sounds like you might have come onto a new product line. Protective 'cups' for home inspectors for use in crawlspaces

Bob, glad you're doing okay.

[Mark Wahl]

Guess we all have to say......oooouuuucccchhhh......

[Bob Hintze]

I'm still feeling somewhat sore but the healing process has begun. This was an eye opener...stay focused, especially when you're in positions that can hurt. I too have had the attic nail in the head and the 'crap under a home' scrapes...nothing compared to falling 10 feet onto concrete hoping you'll land right or the rebar messing with 'the family'. The pain killers have actually helped too! 
Thanks for your concern, it helps as well.

[John Adrian Sopher]

Jokes aside, we should all be vigilant when climbing on ladders.  About 2 years ago, a very close friend of the family fell out of his attic and hit his head on the floor.  He spent the next month in IC then passed.

It doesn't take much of a fall.

This reminds me of another story, when I was in the Navy, a sub was going into the floating dry-dock.  While they were lifting the dry-dock, the sub fell off its blocks. 

From then on their motto was, slow is fast, stop is slow.  Something like that.  lol

[Bob Hintze]

John,
I totally agree. Focus, focus, focus. That's why I'm surprised it happened to me. I'm so vigilant...so now I know, it can happen to the best of us. Thanks for sharing.
Bob

[Jay Markanich]

Bob - did you play #13 on your Power Ball?

Interesting - yesterday, Friday the 13th, my wife had a doctor's appt (I had to take her, she is ill and cannot do for herself).  The office was room 313 and the combo for the door to the men's room was 1313.  No kidding.  I thought of you...

I fell 12 years ago from a second floor roof to a deck.  The ladder was set properly, but the deck wood was frozen, and I didn't think my weight would move it.  It did - slipped out straight back just as I put my weight on it.  I fell and shattered everything on the left side below the hip.  I was very lucky it wasn't my back.  I was running marathons at the time and that probably had me in good enough shape to half catch myself. 

Cast for 15 weeks, then another for 5 weeks more, then wraps, etc for a while.  The ankle is still swollen and purple.  Always hurts.  As I sit here it is throbbing.

I drove myself to the doctor, who sent me to the hospital.  He asked how I got there and I told him - truck, clutch, and so forth.  He said, "Doesn't it hurt?"  What a question!  I said, "Aren't you a doctor?!"  The lady in X-ray said she knew it hurt because even my feet were sweating.  I was drenched in sweat.  They put a soft cast on everything because I was so swollen, and the hard casts went on a week later.  My problem is that all pain killers make me sick.  I can only take aspirin.  I got tired of that after a couple of days, and took nothing.

I had to postpone my afternoon inspection - I called them from the X-ray room.  I did not miss another inspection.  Did some 70 inspections on crutches!  I went up and down stairs on my butt, and people were really nice to carry my things all around!  Finally I got a walking cast.

After that my kids never contested me.  They suddenly realized what a tough old bird Dad was...

[John Adrian Sopher]

I hear ya bout the pain.  My aunt slipped and fell on icy parking lot at her work.  Shattered her ankle and pops the good pills like they are candy.  She will have pins in her ankle for the rest of her life. 

Crazy part is, she she worked for the state insurance co.  You know, the people you go through to file an insurance claim if you work for the state.  Yeah, they screwed their own employee over too!  She never did get her full settlement.

[Bob Hintze]

Jay,
Now I do feel lucky. Thanks for sharing.
Bob

[Jay Markanich]

But Bob, but Bob!  Did or did you not play #13...?  Inquiring minds...

Okay, you know I'm kidding, but the next time you have a premonition like that, and it involves a power ball number, please call.  My number is on my website.

Okay, you know I'm kidding, but my number really is on my website and you can call anytime!

I am very glad you are in good shape after the fall.  Accidents really are a problem and you are so right, all it takes is a second of thinking of something else rather than concentrating on what is at hand.  So, Bob, keep on keeping on!

[Bob Hintze]

I didn't get a chance to play...but since no one matched all the numbers...play '13' on Wednesday, 2/18. Extended family was visiting, so had a Valentine's Day BBQ...was well into my 'nth' beer before I realized I didn't play Powerball...

[John Adrian Sopher]

After all my preaching about being safe on ladders, I ended up in the emergency room today for being on solid ground.    

Was helpin my neighbor kid push start his dirt bike (like he begs me to do 3 or 4 times a week).  Only this time he gassed it and took off right when it started.  I with my forward leaning position and momentum went south bound into the pavement.      The tussle with the ground removed unnecessary skin from my hand and some friendly gravel tried to take a road trip all the way into my knee cap.

Went in to get my tetanus shot and double check to see if everything I needed was still here.  Still here, and got an inspection Tuesday.  Figure if Jay can do it, I can do it.  lol   

Oh and the emergency room is now a second year tradition for Valentines day/weekend for me and my fiance!  She had to take me last year too.  lol   

[Anthony J. McCloskey]

Kudo's to you Jay,

I broke my ankle clean through and ripped the tendons on both sides. I was 16 and knew it hurt like a SOB, it hurt so much I couldn't even put pressure on it, I tried crawling home but that wasn't going to happen.

Eventually I got home, a friend found me, and I made it to the Doctor who then sent me to the Hospital. I now have a perminate metal plate and pins and they had to sew the tendons back together. Had a floating cast for 4 weeks because of the swelling and then finally a perminate cast for 5. I wasn't allowed to have a walking on it period... 9 weeks on crutches and I was poping Tylonal with Codien like they were Skittles for the first couple of weeks. That was my summer vacation that year!

[Jay Markanich]

You can do it John!

AJ - you can probably predict the weather with that stuff in there!