When woodworking, it is essential that you are safety conscious and take cautionary measures. But accidents when woodworking cannot be struck out; this is why as a woodworker, you should know how to prevent these accidents, and even when they happen, know how to treat the injuries. This write-up offers a guide on how to prevent and treat woodwork injuries.

Missing Digit

The art of woodworking uses tools that can lead to severe actions and injuries such as amputation of fingers, hands, or even toes in a woodshop. Missing digit is one of the most severe injuries a woodworker is prone to; tools like an electric miter saw, table saws, and jigsaws are likely to cause this injury.

Improper positioning of saws and improper positioning of woods increase the chances of blades of saws getting stuck, exposing you to a higher risk of injuries. The preventive measure to apply when you are using any of these tools include:

• Clamp woods

If you are using a saw when woodworking, the preventive move is to ensure that the woods you are cutting are secured with clamps to prevent accidental movement. Clamps make it easier for you to saw using both hands. Also, check the wood for debris because the presence of debris in wood increases the chances of injury.

• Adjust and secure guides

If you are using a table saw, adjust the guides properly and when the wood reaches the edge of the table, make use of your push stick to put it back in position. Also, ensure that the blade of your table saw is at the suitable height of the wood and that the stop switch is easily accessible.

• First Aid

In your woodshop or workshop, ensure a there is first aid box filled with materials for treating accidents and injuries like cuts, bruises, punctures, or bleeding.

If injuries have already occurred despite preventive measures, here are tips for treatment of injuries

• Try and stop the bleeding and call emergency services.
• If it is an amputation, pack the wound with cotton gauze and try to find the amputated part.
• Once you notice the amputated part, wrap it in cotton gauze and put ice to help preserve the tissue and leave room for reattachment.

Puncture, Cut or Skewer Wounds

This type of injury often occurs in your woodshop when using tools, screwdrivers, nail guns, chisels, and wood splinters. The preventive measures you can take to prevent these injuries include:

• Participate in woodworking only when you are wearing protective clothing
• Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes
• Point tools away from yourself

Treatment of cuts and scrapes

You should have a first aid box to treat minor cuts and scrapes as a woodworker. All you need to treat for minor cuts and scrapes is to apply alcohol or peroxide and apply a steric-strips or band-aids.

You should seek medical attention immediately for deeper cuts that are more than a quarter of an inch deep with consistent bleeding despite applying pressure. If it wounds your face or sensitive area, self-treatment is not advised; instead, visit a doctor for adequate medical attention.

Treatment of puncture wounds

Use a cotton gauze to stop bleeding; once bleeding stops, clean your wound with peroxide or alcohol to disinfect it and kill bacteria. Once the wound is cleaned, reapply cotton gauze and wrap the wound with a bandage.