About 2 weeks ago I replaced the U-joints on the driveshaft of my truck. In
the process of pounding out the old bearing cups (for lack of a suitable
hydraulic press), I got hit in the cheek by a pice of metal. I wiped up the
blood and didn't think much of it until today, when I had my teeth cleaned and
X-rayed. The dentist wanted to know how I got the piece of metal buried in my
cheek - he was initially worried that the hygenist might have broken off one
of those pointy implements. At that point I decided that I was very wise (and
fortunate) for having been smart enough to wear my safety glasses. I could
easily have ended up with the sliver buried in my eye. WEAR YOUR SAFETY
GLASSES (and check your smoke detectors - ask tnt).

5 responses total.

This is pretty scary, it could have hit your aorta (I mean the large blod
vessel going up on the side of your neck).

I think you're thinking of the jugular vein, which runs down the side
of the neck and returns blood from the brain.  The aorta is a large
artery that constitutes the main outflow of blood from the heart;
seeing as it is buried in your chest cavity, it's somewhat unlikely
that it would be hit by a flying metal sliver.

But yes, Fred is right -- always wear your safety glasses.

Well, may be wrong name, I meant the one going up to your brain at the side,
may be closer to your throat than to your neck.

I had it dug out this morning. It couldn't have gone in deep enough to hit a
major blood vessel. Anyway, if it had, I could have put a tourniquet around my
neck, right?

They say, pushing your palm on it hard works better, but there isn't
much time.

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