Care when collecting fuel for your wood burning stove
As one with a fair amount of experience with rural and suburban life, as well as basic medical care, I am here to caution those who collect their own wood for a household wood burning stove. I love stoves. I love the heat they provide and the huge slice they take out of your monthly heating bill. And I’m a big fan of the exercise they provide as well and the benefit that exercise can have on typically sedentary Americans.
But that’s the problem. Those people who rouse themselves to get out into the woods every fall to chop down wood for next winter are sedentary. And while the benefits and advantages of the wood stove call, the dangers of heart attack, accident, and cuts and scrapes only whisper. These can be mild, such as sprains, painful, involving pulled backs and broken bones, or life threatening in the case of heart attach and stroke. Those who go need to follow these guidelines.
Always bring a buddy. Whether an unwilling child, wife, or friend, never go wooding alone—and for goodness sake never use a chainsaw by yourself. Always have a phone to call for help, and make sure the person who comes with you knows where you are and can explain it to an emergency operator. Stretching, while perhaps sounding adolescent, can make the difference between a month of agony afterwards, or a pleasant day out. Also, have a first aid kit with you—one stocked with aspirin (especially for the 50+ year olders out there), splints, wound sanitizer, and bandages. Think ahead, plan ahead, and have help available.
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