URGENT U.P. Breaking News Bulletin – 3-17-18 – 7:05 a.m. ET
Hatchet accident in Alger County sends man to trauma center in Marquette to save his index finger – surgeons needed for hatchet job
By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433
(Eben, MI) – A 27-year-old Upper Peninsula man, who suffered an accidental but massive hatch wound to his middle finger, just may be lucky enough to keep that digit.
If he keeps that index finger, it may be due to the quick reaction by family members to slow or stop the bleeding, and carefully wrapped in gauze, keep pressure, and treated with ice.
The man was rushed by Alger Med ambulance to U.P. Health System – Marquette arriving at approximately 5:10 p.m. ET on Friday evening.
The incident happened just before 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 16, 2018 in Alger County, MI.
Emergency officials were paged to respond to 1216 ET Road in Mathias Township. ET Road is also known by other names including as the Eben-Trenary (ET) Road.
Trauma surgeons and other specialized experts were expected to asses the severity, chances to retain, and order surgery.
U.P. Breaking News does not have the victim’s name, or latest condition.
U.P. Breaking News is not aware of the outcome of the surgery. If you know please call us, or contact us privately through Facebook.
Those responding included Alger Med One, Rock River Township First Responders and Mathias Township First Responders.
Those rushing to the scene were told by a dispatcher that the 27 year-old man accidentally “hit himself in the finger with a hatchet.”
The injury involved a “hatchet to a finger – the finger is hanging… the hatchet was moving,” a dispatcher radioed to emergency officials now close to the scene.
A first responder on the scene kept Alger Med EMS fully informed about the injuries.
The victim “had a hatchet hit is left index finger,” the paramedics were told. “Family states there has been no separation.”
“Family was able to bandage it,” radioed a Rock River First Responder from the scene to Alger Med EMS – that was rushing to the home. “They looked at it – its dry right now – there is no blood coming through the bandages at this time.”
“I’m sitting with the patient holding pressure,” the first responder said.
The family “said its just a flap of skin that was laid open – there has been no amputation,” she said.
“It looks like a large piece of skin – they said they could see fatty tissue and the bone – from the knuckle up to the finger tip,” she told arriving paramedics. “They (family) had it wrapped, seems like bleed is controlled”
“He’s been alert, orientated – he has been tolerating all basic vitals very well.” the paramedic radioed Medical Control at the trauma center in Marquette, MI.
The ambulance was about 25 minutes from Marquette.
“The finger is wrapped with gauze” and the blood flow and swelling is being treated with a cold pack, the attending paramedic said.
Here is a file photo of a similar injury:
Upper Peninsula Breaking News by Greg Peterson 