Head update!
I've got a headache. This shouldn't be surprising, right??
Sooo...here's what happened.
I was kneeling on the floor at the bottom of a piece we're making (shelves), attempting to persuade something to fit with the gentle tapping and easing.
My Boss was attempting to make the same piece fit with brute force.
I looked up to check the shelves above me were secure - they were.
And then he kicked the side of the unit, the sash clamp
(42 inches, 3 kg, steel) fell off above me (I hadn't even registered he'd put one on), dropped about 4 feet and hit me on the head with one of its jaws.
He didn't notice. I just sat back on the floor and stuck my hand on my head. I didn't really think it had done much damage. But when I looked at my hand there was a bit of blood.
Then he came around the corner and said "What fell off?"
So I said: "A sash clamp. Onto my head."
And he said "Oh...OH GOD THERE'S BLOOD!"
And then entered into a cycle of apologising and panicking. Whilst I was saying "It's fine, it's not much blood, I'm okay. Don't worry."
I went to wash my hands, because I was filthy, and I told him to get an antiseptic wipe to hold on it (with the thought that I/he (me being the only first aider) would clean it up and it'd be fine.
As I was washing my hands my hair was rather red though...which is reasonably dramatic, as I'm blonde. And then he started poking about in my hair and was all "Oh, God, it's like...10mm. You might need a stitch. Actually...it's a bit longer. Oh, God, you'll have to go to hospital and get checked up on. And we don't have the van....Oh God..."
And, I think all writers do this - my first thought was 'yay! research/experience!'
So I got some paper towel, changed out of my overalls, and waited as he called a cab to A&E. He was so apologetic! Poor bloke.
I have a hole in my head the width of a jaw - about 2cm, apparently. Although estimations went from 10mm to 30mm from people who looked at it.
The first guy in triage said I might get away with it being glued, so sent me upstairs to the walking-wounded bit of A&E, and I got called really quickly, because I only needed a nurse, not a doctor, and sat down in a little room. He had a look at it and said "No way, too big for glue. I need to pull those edges together. Stitches for you."
And then I guess it took about half an hour or so of washing, aneasthatising, more washing, flushing, stitching etc. He couldn't get the aneasthetic needle into my scalp - he said I have incredibly tough skin! But it's fine, as they can just inject it right into the wound, for the main part. It just goes everywhere, the place looked like a battle zone. Diluted blood running in every direction, all my hair pink and matted, all the cloth they put over my shoulder and down my front as soaked - choas!
The last stitch he put in without any anaesthetic. He said he could re-aneasthatise that bit, but I couldn't see the point - jabbed a lot with a needle for that, or jabbed twice with a needle for the stitch?? the weirdest bit was how hard he had to pull the stitches to close them.
Anyway, sent back on my way about 2 hours after it happened! Albeit a bit bloodied and icky looking.
Had to rinse my hair with plain water last night, and it's horrible! I want to wash it, but don't know when I'm allowed...I shall call my docs, who have to take the stitches out.
Stitches out in 7-10 days.
Sooo...here's what happened.
I was kneeling on the floor at the bottom of a piece we're making (shelves), attempting to persuade something to fit with the gentle tapping and easing.
My Boss was attempting to make the same piece fit with brute force.
I looked up to check the shelves above me were secure - they were.
And then he kicked the side of the unit, the sash clamp
(42 inches, 3 kg, steel) fell off above me (I hadn't even registered he'd put one on), dropped about 4 feet and hit me on the head with one of its jaws.
He didn't notice. I just sat back on the floor and stuck my hand on my head. I didn't really think it had done much damage. But when I looked at my hand there was a bit of blood.
Then he came around the corner and said "What fell off?"
So I said: "A sash clamp. Onto my head."
And he said "Oh...OH GOD THERE'S BLOOD!"
And then entered into a cycle of apologising and panicking. Whilst I was saying "It's fine, it's not much blood, I'm okay. Don't worry."
I went to wash my hands, because I was filthy, and I told him to get an antiseptic wipe to hold on it (with the thought that I/he (me being the only first aider) would clean it up and it'd be fine.
As I was washing my hands my hair was rather red though...which is reasonably dramatic, as I'm blonde. And then he started poking about in my hair and was all "Oh, God, it's like...10mm. You might need a stitch. Actually...it's a bit longer. Oh, God, you'll have to go to hospital and get checked up on. And we don't have the van....Oh God..."
And, I think all writers do this - my first thought was 'yay! research/experience!'
So I got some paper towel, changed out of my overalls, and waited as he called a cab to A&E. He was so apologetic! Poor bloke.
I have a hole in my head the width of a jaw - about 2cm, apparently. Although estimations went from 10mm to 30mm from people who looked at it.
The first guy in triage said I might get away with it being glued, so sent me upstairs to the walking-wounded bit of A&E, and I got called really quickly, because I only needed a nurse, not a doctor, and sat down in a little room. He had a look at it and said "No way, too big for glue. I need to pull those edges together. Stitches for you."
And then I guess it took about half an hour or so of washing, aneasthatising, more washing, flushing, stitching etc. He couldn't get the aneasthetic needle into my scalp - he said I have incredibly tough skin! But it's fine, as they can just inject it right into the wound, for the main part. It just goes everywhere, the place looked like a battle zone. Diluted blood running in every direction, all my hair pink and matted, all the cloth they put over my shoulder and down my front as soaked - choas!
The last stitch he put in without any anaesthetic. He said he could re-aneasthatise that bit, but I couldn't see the point - jabbed a lot with a needle for that, or jabbed twice with a needle for the stitch?? the weirdest bit was how hard he had to pull the stitches to close them.
Anyway, sent back on my way about 2 hours after it happened! Albeit a bit bloodied and icky looking.
Had to rinse my hair with plain water last night, and it's horrible! I want to wash it, but don't know when I'm allowed...I shall call my docs, who have to take the stitches out.
Stitches out in 7-10 days.