TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATERUS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 11.19 DATE: May 8, 2011
SUBJECT: IT ONLY TAKES ONE FINGER OR THUMB, BUT
When operating a voice radio it only takes one finger or one thumb to press the Push-To-Talk switch unless you are using a foot operated switch, but it's nice to have all of them.
To keep all of your fingers and thumbs, you might want to keep them away from the cutting or pressing parts of power tools. Most of use who use power tools are careful, but it only takes one mistake, to make you learn to start writing with the other hand.
Did you notice the hand that gets the most abuse is the hand that you right with, except when hammering nails? That's because it's the same hand that you do most of your work with.
If you are working on a piece of equipment that could start by itself, the best thing to do is disable it in some way. If it's an electric motor, unplug it from the power source or remove any fuses that it's connected to. If it's a gasoline powered device such as a lawnmower, or chainsaw, remove the spark plug wire, and the spark plug.
Just because a gasoline engine isn't running, doesn't mean that it can't start with just a simple turn of the crank shaft. If all of the conditions are right to start a gasoline, it's possible that a simple turn of the crank shaft might start it running. If you're cleaning the grass from under a lawnmower and the conditions are right, the engine just might start, and BINGO, you are learning to write with the other hand.
Think safety any time you are working on any kind of power equipment. It's easier to use your fingers and thumbs when you have them all. If you are a CW operator, you may have to start sending Morse Code with your left foot.
(Idea for this bulletin from Dave Wright, N8NWV)
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV