Of Injuries and Accidents

It's been a while since I've worked on school assignments and now that I have 1 to do, I feel the rust in my machinery. I've taken more than an hour trying to solve just ONE question and still there's no progress; hence the decision to do something else to temporarily keep my mind off work.

Was having a chat with Lay Hoon earlier about injuries (if you're reading this, GET WELL SOON!!!) and it prompted me to think back about my past accidents/mishaps.

I present to you, the TOP 5 MISHAPS IN JV'S LIFE!

5 : Victory 'tumble'

Most people will fall from their bicycles during a race or if he is learning how to cycle. For me, it was different. I completed the race (in my neighbourhood) safely but then I decided to celebrate by pumping my hands into the air (blame the Tour de France cyclists for this). What happened afterwards was hard to describe but let's just say it was a wild ride (for me and my bike.. separately)

NOTE: I had dinner right afterwards and I was desperately trying to hide the wound from my mom under the table. Of course, she found out and I had a scolding for pulling the stunt.

4 : Butter fingers

I was thirsty, needed a drink. Picked up a jar containing orange juice, dropped it and the glass smashed onto my feet. Minor wound but the orange juice + blood on the floor effect looked freaky. Got a nice scolding for not holding the jar properly.

3 : [not so] Thick skin

The scouts were cleaning up the den and I was assigned to clear the storage room. Climbed onto a table to put a folded tent into a shelf. Jumped down from the table without looking where I would land. Luck was on my side. There was a rake there with the sharp ends pointing upwards, resulting in 3 puncture wounds on the base of my right foot. To add on to that, it was a rusty rake. Had to limp to a clinic to get anti-tetanus jab.

2 : Leech Bait

It was the trap-making session during a training camp in Papan, Perak. While I was slicing a bamboo piece into half (using a parang of course), the bamboo in turn made a cut on my left hand. It hit a blood vessel and a red fountain emerged. I acted fast and pressed on the wound with my scarf. Not knowing what to do next, I just called to a friend nearby, leaving the frantic screaming to him. [Yes, if I recall correctly, he was more shocked than I was]

I was brought to a clinic and had 3 stitches to cover up the wound. That cost me RM1.00 (government clinic lar). I can still recall the constant itch caused by the stitches.

NOTE: We were making traps to kill leeches. Tjen Jhung, my Patrol Second, made good use of my blood as bait for our trap. Well done.

1 : "Superman"

We regularly see the man of steel stopping vehicles moving at high velocities with his bare hands. Somewhat impressive. I had the same idea, but the execution was poor.

This is a 5 year old kid on his way to kindergarten. His bus stopped just outside the kindergarten and he goes down from the bus. It is typical of young kids to cross the road IN FRONT of the bus as it's safer. It wasn't to be for the young boy. As he was crossing, the bus moved and just rammed into him, pushing him onto the road and consequently running over him. He would just escape a serious injury (or even death) as the wheels of the bus zoomed pass his sides. The bus did not even know what happened and made a turn at the junction until the kindergarten teacher rushed out and shouted at the driver to come back. The boy was sent to the hospital. He lives until now.

NOTE: The boy continued to follow the same school bus to school for the next 10 years, until Form 4 when he would ride a motorcycle to school instead.

Encore : See-Saw...... SEW

Sat on a see-saw, jumped off while it was still in motion, the board made good contact with my lips, and the doctor had to put 8 stitches to sew the wound. What a freak accident.

There you go, tragic part of my life. Until next time.