Probably shouldn't have done that Power tool Edition
People who are inattentive really shouldn't use power tools. At least, not without safety goggles, helmets, thick work gloves, knee pads, and any other type of body armor they can find.
The other day while working at the gym, I had to put the side baskets in the basketball court up at the end of the night. This requires the use of a power tool that looks like a super sized grinder and a ratchet put together. Being only 5'2" I have learned I have to stand on a chair to reach the lug nut to turn the baskets. Theoretically, I can reach without the chair, but in doing so as I have to stand on my tip toes, this had almost resulted in the machine coming off the lug nut and falling onto my head because I can't put it securely enough into the nut. I finally learned after one too many close calls this is not a wise idea. So, now I stand on a chair.
So as I customarily do, I got a chair, stood on it and then started putting up the basket. There were only two down instead of four tonight so that was a bonus. First basket up no problem. On to the second one. The tool when it runs makes a very high pitched noise and having sensitive hearing, I often have to block my ears or turn my head. Tonight I chose to turn my head. When I did that, the powerful air force coming from the slats in the tool was blowing in my face uncomfortably so. That's when I decided I would duck my head down between my arms to lessen the sound and avoid the powerful air.
Yeah, probably shouldn't have done that.
The next thing I know as I am continuing to power the tool to put the basket up, is that there is a SEARING pain coming from my head. All I could think was "What the hell?" Then I realize that the slats where the wind was coming was also where the fan was and the power of the wind had grabbed my long hair and then twisted it nicely into the fan blades which then pulled my hair from my head.
Thankfully, I process super quickly so once I felt the pain I realized I needed to let go of the button controlling the power tool. When I did, the pulling stopped. I knew it must have looked bad as one of the teen aged boys in the gym loudly proclaimed "OH WOW!". Yeah, if you've impressed a teen-aged boy, well, that can't be good. The coach with him asked if I need help. No no....I'm okay, I say horrified that anyone saw this. I was able to reverse the fan to get my hair unstuck and safely get the basket all the way up and get myself safely down. I gingerly put my hand to my head and am relieved there is no blood. The amount of pain associated with a hair pull is rather astonishing. Believe me I know it could have been a lot worse for sure! I think thankfully because I process quickly and act quickly it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I proceeded to put some ice on my head and then finish up my shift for the night. Once I was home, I took some Tylenol and iced my scalp some more and thought to myself, well there's a lesson learned. Guess I know never to do that again. Now, anyone got a weave I can borrow....I seem to have a bit of a bald spot.