On August 31, 1916, while flying at my fav spot I was suddenly and totally reminded what the consequences are for not staying focused and concentrated with what you are doing. I installed the 6s lipo in my 1400 Hellcat and wanting to start the takeoff roll 10 yards away, I picked up the bird cradeling it in my right arm with the propellor facing me. What happened next took only seconds but will stay with me my entire life. When I picked up both the bird and Spektrum 9 and assuming the throttle safety was on, I bumped the Tx throttle control to or neat wot. In the time it takes for this to register to my brain I let go and the bird fell to the ground. Knowing I just inflicted some injury to my arm, I looked at it and saw a giant and deep gash to the inside of my arm at the elbow. Instantly I knew this was really bad since I could see blood forcefully streaming out. I had severed my artery, cut the muscle and nerves. Only then I also was aware of my other oversight, I was flying alone on a cul de sac to new construction with no one around. I franticly thought I had to either use my cellphone or walk out approx. 1/4 mile to the main street to flag down help. With my left hand acting as pressure bandage over the wound and not being able to stop the flow of blood due to its size, I knew I could not free the hand to use the phone, so I started to walk the 1/4 mile. Now that the in itial shock was over, I became aware that my life literally depended on me summoning help, and consciously began to slow my breathing and not panic and hoping I would not pass out before. I reached the end of the street and was waving my arm, which now along with the front of me was covered with blood. The second vehicle stopped and yelled for him to call 911 and to find a turniquit. I knew then that I has a chance, and proceeded to lay down on some grass and elevate my arm to mitigate bleeding.
The paramedics arrived amd proceeded to do their thing. The said I was going UC Davis Med Center, and knew it had to be bad since they were the foremost level 1 trauma center and only the badly injured would go. My mind was in a fog the whole way but remembered the whole way they were attemting to start an IV but could not find a vein due to my low blood pressure. Wheeled into the ER an army of professionals began assessing and working on me, and an oxygen mask was placed over face then lights out.
After 3 1/2 hours of surgery involving 3 different surgeons, I awoke in the ICU and learned that I needed to have a 3" section of artery grafted since it was pretty much mutilated. 31/2 days in the ICU while the surgeons were monitoring adequate blood flow in my arm and hand. One of my vascular surgeons who was also an avid rc pilot noted to me that he only flew electric and not gas, and explained to him the accident was from an electric 6s setup turning a 17" blade, he was pretty surprised. The doctors explained to me the importance of monitoring proper circulation in the hand and arm, and immediately come back to the ER if anything happens, then proceeded to release me after 5 days.
It wasnt until the second night that I truly thought of the consequences of what happened. The doctors instructions were imprinted in my mind, and sometime in the middle of the night I woke up and noticed my arm and hand was completely numb. I jumped out of bed and was ready to go to the ER when coming down the stairs I started noticing a tingling in my hand, and greatfully acknowledged my arm and hand just fell asleep. It was that occurrence that I truly knew the depth of possibilites of becoming disabled, and thinking what like would be like without the use of my arm and hand.
I write this in hopes of enlightening oithers in this hobby we love will take adequate precautions and practice accepted methods in handling our birds. In retrospect I had learned some very bad and dangerous habits and only now have taken a full recourse in learning pre-emptive handling techniques. I got back to the filed a couple weeks after, and while having full use of my arm and hands will likey have numbness from my elbow to the wrist forever. I saved the old broken prop to that Hellcat and plaqued it to the hanger refer. noting that date. IF YOU HAVE A THROTTLE SAFETY SWITCH ON YOUR RADIO, USE IT AND CONFIRM IT IS IN USE AND PRACTICE SAFETY TECHNIQUES so we can enjoy our hobby forever.
The paramedics arrived amd proceeded to do their thing. The said I was going UC Davis Med Center, and knew it had to be bad since they were the foremost level 1 trauma center and only the badly injured would go. My mind was in a fog the whole way but remembered the whole way they were attemting to start an IV but could not find a vein due to my low blood pressure. Wheeled into the ER an army of professionals began assessing and working on me, and an oxygen mask was placed over face then lights out.
After 3 1/2 hours of surgery involving 3 different surgeons, I awoke in the ICU and learned that I needed to have a 3" section of artery grafted since it was pretty much mutilated. 31/2 days in the ICU while the surgeons were monitoring adequate blood flow in my arm and hand. One of my vascular surgeons who was also an avid rc pilot noted to me that he only flew electric and not gas, and explained to him the accident was from an electric 6s setup turning a 17" blade, he was pretty surprised. The doctors explained to me the importance of monitoring proper circulation in the hand and arm, and immediately come back to the ER if anything happens, then proceeded to release me after 5 days.
It wasnt until the second night that I truly thought of the consequences of what happened. The doctors instructions were imprinted in my mind, and sometime in the middle of the night I woke up and noticed my arm and hand was completely numb. I jumped out of bed and was ready to go to the ER when coming down the stairs I started noticing a tingling in my hand, and greatfully acknowledged my arm and hand just fell asleep. It was that occurrence that I truly knew the depth of possibilites of becoming disabled, and thinking what like would be like without the use of my arm and hand.
I write this in hopes of enlightening oithers in this hobby we love will take adequate precautions and practice accepted methods in handling our birds. In retrospect I had learned some very bad and dangerous habits and only now have taken a full recourse in learning pre-emptive handling techniques. I got back to the filed a couple weeks after, and while having full use of my arm and hands will likey have numbness from my elbow to the wrist forever. I saved the old broken prop to that Hellcat and plaqued it to the hanger refer. noting that date. IF YOU HAVE A THROTTLE SAFETY SWITCH ON YOUR RADIO, USE IT AND CONFIRM IT IS IN USE AND PRACTICE SAFETY TECHNIQUES so we can enjoy our hobby forever.
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