Safety Notice

Scouts and adults need to wear leather work gloves when working with rope, spars, and timbers at the 2007 Crosswinds Pioneering Camporee.

Reason is to prevent:

1. Rope burns
2. Wood splinters
3. Rope fiber splinters

Rope Fiber Splinters

1. rope fiber splinters are very tiny, almost microscopic. They are not visible when imbedded in the skin.
2. gotten in fingers when coiling or pulling manila rope through hands, independent of rope tension
3. rope fiber splinters enter the skin and break off without pain
4. they do not cause any short term discomfort or pain
5. the skin tends to close over the splinter
6. typically, after about 18 to 24 hours, there is pain and discomfort as the affected area becomes sensitive to touch
7. use of the affected hand may be impaired
8. there may be redness or swelling
9. treatment is to strongly squeeze the affected area until the splinter and puss are ejected from the skin. Alternatively, a sterile needle may be used to open the skin prior to squeezing out the splinter. Soaking your hand in warm water may facilitate splinter removal. Clean out the area and apply standard first aid practices.