I was freehand cutting plastic ridge vent and the long bladed knife slipped. I didn’t realize I was cut right away, but the blood stream was noticeable. This was one of the few times I could put my college degree in biology and knowledge of anatomy to use on the job site. I could see the tendon through the wound moving when I moved my fingers — kind of like a physiology live demonstration.

Luckily the tendon wasn’t severed, but seeing the chunk of hanging flesh, I knew a butterfly bandage wasn’t going to close the hole. I didn’t have a bandage up on the roof to cover my arm and sop up the blood so I used my scissors (I keep scissors in my toolbelt for cutting flashing tape and housewrap) to cut the arm of my long-sleeve T shirt off, and I bound it over the cut with some housewrap tape.

The urgent care physician was great. She clipped off the 1-in. square chunk of arm that was held barely attached and asked if I fainted at the sight of needles. Being used to the large needles used when I donate blood, the one she was holding looked harmless.

After numbing the area I watched her efficiently place 9 sutures to close the wound shut. Luckily there was enough loose skin in my forearm to stretch over the hole.

Now I have to go wash blood off the roof before it leaves a stain.