I have just come home from the Accident and Emergency department with 15 stitches in one finger plus a minor broken bone and 2 sutures in another finger. The pain killer is beginning to wear off!!!
What was I doing? Having a great fly with my trainer on a warm still summer afternoon(Southern Hemisphere) The plane landed and was refueled. I restarted the motor, the plane was securely held by its metal restraining clamp. I was doing all the right stuff. The motor was just a little off song, have to adjust the needle valve slightly, finger in to the invisible prop whizzing at around at about 12000 rpm. Bang the motor stops, blood is flying in all directions, all over the plane and me, that was the end of the flying for a while.

I was excited at getting the plane into the air again, probably a bit tired, it was lunch time, I FORGOT TO THINK AND WATCH WHAT I WAS DOING AND TAKE ENOUGH CARE!!

Remember propellers are very dangerous, modern props are very hard and sharp, even with the sharp edges sanded off slightly. YOU DO NOT GET A SECOND CHANCE!!!. Bang it is all over. Accidents are a combination of errors, I was thinking on the way out to the flying field that I should paint the tips of the prop a bright colour to make them stand out, but I didn't do it. I know the prop is spinning close to fingers, stay behind it, be careful, did'nt remember to do this or think it was necessary to do this for a minor simple adjustment..........

I didn't chop the end off my finger, the Doctor did some good sewing and my finger should heal up fine with no lasting damage, it could have be a lot worse, but also I could not have done it in the first place!

Is glow fuel a good antiseptic?