Figure 1: The hands are often the site of accidental knife cuts.

Figure 2: Basic first aid for knife cuts. A: Always have a wound first-aid kit handy. 1: Allow the cut to bleed freely for a few seconds. 2 and 3: Apply direct pressure with fingers or clean gauze. 4. Disinfect with an alcohol swab. 5. Apply antiseptic. 6. Close wound with an adhesive dressing.

Figure 3: Cutting small trees with a knife.

Figure 4: Cutting small limbs safely with a sturdy knife and baton.

Figure 5: A deepening channel cut circumferentially around a small branch or stick makes it easy to break.

Cleve Cheney gives some tips on safety in the use of a knife – one of the hunter’s most useful but also most dangerous tools.

It goes without saying that knives are potentially deadly weapons and can inflict serious or fatal injury by accident or by design. Many accidents with knives are caused by recklessness or ineptness and a good hunter should learn how to use knives safely and effectively. The hands (see Figure 1), upper legs and abdomen are the parts of the body most commonly injured in knife accidents, which usually occur when the object being worked on with the knife, or the knife itself, slips and cuts or impales itself into a body part. In a hunting or survival situation, a knife injury can have serious consequences.

Some basic rules when working with a knife include the following:
• Always, if practically possible, try and work with a clean knife and clean hands. In the event of an accidental cut there is less chance of the wound becoming infected.
• Don’t run with a knife when the blade is exposed.
• Always try and work in such a way that knife strokes are directed away from your body.
• Don’t play the fool with knives.
• Always have a first-aid kit handy.

Accidental knife injuries usually result in one of two types of cuts – a slice or a puncture wound. A slice is when a flap of skin is cut and a puncture is when the point of the knife imbeds itself. If you cut yourself, allow the wound to bleed freely for 5 to 10 seconds to help flush out any contaminating matter. Don’t suck the wound, as your mouth is full of bacteria. Now apply firm pressure to the wound with a first-aid dressing or a clean handkerchief – or, if you have nothing else, your fingers. If you have clean water or an antiseptic such as Betadine, you can clean and disinfect the wound. If you have neither antiseptic nor clean water, then apply an adhesive dressing and have the cut cleaned and disinfected at the earliest opportunity by someone qualified to do so. If you imbed a knife into your hand or leg, don’t remove it. Strap it in place as it acts as a plug. If you remove it, severe bleeding may result. Get to a doctor or paramedic as soon as possible. If you do cut yourself accidentally with a knife, then apply the basic first-aid treatment shown in Figure 2.

Working safely – cutting down small trees with a knife
If you need to cut down a small green tree, up to wrist thickness, to use for some purpose, bend the tree with one hand and then make a cut with the knife at a downwards angle of about 30 to 45 degrees. When the cut is almost through, hold the tree firmly as it becomes difficult to cut through if it breaks. See Figure 3. A tree of thicker diameter may have to be bent back and forth a few times before it can be held down with one hand for cutting.

Working safely – “limbing” with a knife
If you have to cut small limbs off a branch or tree trunk, work safely by working from behind the branch as shown in Figure 4 and use a short, thick branch as a baton to either hammer down on the top of the blade or force the blade downward to cut/chop off the limb. The knife used with the baton must be sturdy enough to withstand abuse, otherwise the blade might bend or break. Folding knives are usually not strong enough to be used in this fashion.

Working safely – cutting through a stick
One technique for cutting through a stick is to carve a shallow channel circumferentially around it and then deepening the channel until it is about half to two-thirds way through. The stick can then be easily broken by bending it, after which the ends can be trimmed neatly. See Figure 5.

Working safely – peeling a stick
In the bush or in a survival situation the hunter may find it necessary to remove the outer bark from a stick to manufacture arrows or some other implement or tool. Peeled sticks dry out more quickly and become lighter and tougher than unpeeled ones. Heavy knots may have to be removed and here again the baton becomes a useful accessory. Peelings are also useful tinder for making a fire. When peeling a stick, keep the thumb well away from the knife blade and direct strokes safely away from the body. See Figure 6. When sitting down while peeling or carving a piece of wood, make sure the blade is directed well away from the femoral artery which runs down the inside of the thigh. See Figure 7. A sharp knife could sever this artery and the injury could be fatal.

In the next article we will continue looking at how to work safely with a knife.

Figure 6: When peeling a stick, keep the thumb away from the knife blade and direct strokes away from the body.
	Figure 7: When sitting down while carving or shaving a piece of wood, make sure the blade strokes are directed well away from the legs. If the knife should slip in the above photo there is a danger of it severing the femoral artery which is a life-threatening injury.

Updated: Monday, June 22, 2009 2:37 PM