Chainsaw Injuries

These powerful tools can result in dangerous injuries from several different mechanisms.

The AddToAny Share Buttons plugin is not activated

By Marven Ewen, MD
Medical Director

chainsaw injuries

Overview

Recently, I was considering renting a chainsaw to trim one of the trees in my yard. I should say I briefly considered it, until the thought of holding a running chainsaw while perched high on a poorly balanced ladder leaned against a tree, triggered memories of some of the ER patients I have seen injured in such misadventures.

Chainsaws are effective tools when used safely by experienced tradesmen, but potential for severe injury cannot be overstated.

Most chainsaws run their chainblades about 60mph. That means that on the average gas powered saw with a 16-20 inch arm, the blade teeth rotate around the device 20 or so times per second. A severe injury can happen in less than a second.

Mechanisms of Injury

One of the most common causes of chainsaw injuries are related to kickback. This is when the saw gets pinched by what it is cutting or encounters something very hard. The business end of the saw is then violently thrown back at the operator.

So you can imagine the possible injuries I have seen. When that saw kicks back, it is going to go in the opposite direction - instead of down and forward, it flies up and back ... right towards the operator’s face.

It only takes the briefest contact to cut through tissue and even bone. This is likely to be even worse if the operator is cutting a branch overhead or also falls from the tree.

Another phenomenon occurs when the saw is pulled forward, as was the case when a patient was thrown out of a tree when the chain was pinched and stopped by the weight of the branch he was cutting. The sudden violent change in torque caused him to lose balance and fall to the ground.

I have also seen a man sustain a deep laceration on the thigh of his leg when his saw cut through the branch quicker than he expected. Due to momentum, the saw then arched down and cut deeply into his leg.

Assessment & Treatment Considerations

When dispatched to a chainsaw injury consider that, in addition to deep lacerations, there may be amputations and blunt trauma from falling. Treat life-threatening hemorrhage immediately if present, and treat for shock. Mangled body parts and amputations can be distracting.

Remember to take C-spine precautions if there is a possibility of C-spine injury, and complete a secondary looking for other injuries. Rinse amputations with sterile water then wrap in dry sterile gauze, place in a bag, and put bag on ice for transport with patient. Do not put amputations directly on ice or ice water.

More from The Allied Times

POEMS Syndrome

 POEMS SyndromeThe rare blood disorder named for its symptoms.By Jenny Ewen, BA, NREMTEditor-In-ChiefPOEMS syndrome is a  rare blood disorder suspected to affect up to 5000 people in the USA, primarily men who are in later adulthood (around age 50). This syndrome damages the nerves and organs due to an increased number of abnormal plasma cells with…

Meet AMT: Dr. Ewen

Meet AMT: Dr. Ewen We interview our staff members for details on their EMS journey.When/why did you first become interested in becoming a doctor/working in the medical field? At the time I started to think about going to medical school I was an undergraduate with a major in psychology. I was interested in a career…

Meet AMT: Shannon Z.

Meet AMT: Shannon Z. We interview our staff members for details on their EMS journey.When/why did you first become interested in becoming an EMT/working in EMS?  Throughout my entire career spanning 30+ years, I have had many positions that required a safety background including OSHA, Workers Comp, Safety Committee Chair, Accident Investigations, etc. Being involved…

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome

 Alice in Wonderland SyndromeDistorted vision and perception suspected to be related to migraines – and thought to have inspired Lewis Carroll’s famous novel.By Jenny Ewen, BA, NREMTEditor-In-ChiefA 20-year-old man lies curled up in the fetal position on a bed in a hospital room. The neurologist asks the patient questions but all he can do is…

Just A Small Wound

Just A Small Wound An ER visit for a minor hand wound that turned into emergency surgery.By Marven Ewen, MDMedical DirectorIt was  an otherwise unremarkable afternoon in the ER, when a 26-year-old patient was brought in with an industrial injury. He had been working with an extremely high pressure hydraulic line that had a pinhole…

Can You Drink Too Much Water?

Can You Drink Too Much Water? With all the concern about hydrating enough, is it possible to overhydrate?By Mariah Xzena Briones, RMTCertification SpecialistAs the summer heat intensifies, staying hydrated becomes even more crucial for our health and well-being. While we are often reminded to drink enough water to avoid dehydration, it’s essential to strike a…

Are you ready to start saving lives?