Wasp kit has other uses.

Turns out a mandoline slicer gets dangerous about two slices before it looks like it should.

Much ouch.  Very blood.  Missing a small chunk of skin from my right thumb (shouldn't be any permanent damage).

Contain blood.  Get Joy to take over dinner prep (I don't think I'll be wanting actual food this evening).  Grab Band-Aids and Neosporin and patch up the thumb (after plenty of washing, of course).

Explain approximately what I'd intended to toss in the pot.  Start feeling awfully wibbly-wobbly.  Shocky, even.  Well, I do have a propensity for fainting after blood-related incidents (note, total blood loss in this case was maybe 1 cc; quite inconsequential in terms of blood volume; it must be a psychological thing).

Grab the blood-pressure gadget.  Way low, and falling.  Second or third measurement is something below 60/50, and I'm really not feeling well.  Fumble EDC first-aid kit out of cargo pocket; extract epinephrine inhaler; try to remember instructions; prime; take two puffs (adding up to somewhat less than one Epi-Pen worth).

Blood pressure starts coming back up.  After a few minutes, it's up in "if only it would stay there, I wouldn't need the pills" territory.

Thumb still hurts, and it'll be bandaged for a few days.  Typing is more awkward than usual.  Methinks I'll need to wear gloves for gardening (which, yes, some planting really does need to happen Soon).

Well, I got some practice with the inhaler.  Being as how I don't normally carry a blood-pressure machine around with me, I should probably be a little more definite about recognizing the symptoms, and break out the inhaler before I get quite so wobbly.

Comments

[Ellen Fox]

Cut-resistant gloves. Ask me how I know.