Cell Phones: A Safety Device?

[Billc]

Roy, funny post.

Glenn, if you almost turned over 2 or 3 times you need to be going slower. Slow and easy is the only way to go on unfamiliar land.

Bob, I'm with you. When I am on the tractor I have ear plugs in my ears and ear muffs (don't know exactly what they are called, but you wear them when you are shooting) over my ears. My dad had been a pilot for 50 years and can't hear a thing. I do my best to save my hearing.

Anyway, I always have a cell phone with me. I welded a little clip to my right ROPs support brace and hang my phone there. It is just above one of my water bottle holders. I leave the cell on. I can never hear it ring, but text appears on the screen telling me someone called.

The cell phone is important for safety I guess, but I carry it for a different reason. When I move a really big rock, or drag an extra large tree, etc. you can bet my brother will get a phone call and hear some bragging!!! What does he say about my calls? I wouldn't know, I don't take out my ear plugs....don't care what he says, I just want to brag!

 

[texasjohn]

Cell phone always with me.

In shirt pocket, sideways, usually rather tight fit... it's a Razr, small, light.

Wrapped in zip-loc bag.. reduces slip-out problem, also keeps sweat/rain away from expensive phone.

 

[knute_m]

I almost never go out on the tractor, or into the woods with a chainsaw (or gun) without some type of communications.

We moved about a year ago to a place that doesn't have good cell phone coverage.

So, we bought a pair of Midland FRS (Family Radio Service) walkie-talkies with rechargeable batttery packs. I almost always have one with me, and the other one is in the kitchen. They have privacy codes, so you don't hear anyone else if they might be using the same channel. My tractor has a nice plastic tool box mounted right behind the seat -- and that is where I keep it. I know that ours has at least a one mile range in our mountains and hollows.

Knute

 

[Tollster]

I don't think a cell phone can be depended upon in rural areas, but does that prevent me from carrying it, no. I see it as another option should I get into trouble. Others might see a more macho option as a pocket knife. As you can always cut off extremidies should they become pinned. I carry both, when I ride my motorcycle, hike, or bushhog. I also turn it off, so I am not bothered with needless calls. Sure my wife may complain, that she could not get in touch with me, but when I'm busy, I'm busy! If ya want to gab, come on over and talk to me face to face, while your at it, bring some sweet tea! I never liked phones, as a matted of fact it took me a year to get one in the house. Some things ya can live without, but the I figured I better install one if I have an emergency, same rings ( Hehehee) true for the cell phone.
Its simple, but I don't depend on it, but like any tool, it may get me out of a pinch...literally (Heheee).
To each his own, but keep your options open.

 

[Soundguy]

. I see it as another option should I get into trouble. Others might see a more macho option as a pocket knife. As you can always cut off extremidies should they become pinned. I carry both, .

I always put my cell phone as well as wallet in my tractor tool box. They are there if i need them.. otherwise they are safe.

On at least one occasion I have been seen standing on top of my tractor canopy out in the middle of a half mowed field.. just to get some cell reception, making a call to the wife or a friend to come get me or bring me a fuel filter / set of wrenches.. etc!!

Soundguy

 

[Doc_Bob]

Always carry the cell when on the tractor.
Always wear my seat belt.
Always have ROPS up and locked.
Always wear hearing and eye protection.
Bob

 

[markct]

I usually have mine with me. Where to carry it when on the tractor is a problem I've never really solved. In my shirt pocket, it falls out everytime I bend over. When I clip it on my belt, turning and geting off and on, it seems to slip off. Hanging it by a strap from a lever, like the throttle it bangs around.
Once I was hauling fill to a site where a foundation was to be built. There was a guy on an industrial tractor doing the spreading. On my last load of the day, he stopped me. He had at sometime dropped his cell phone, and had evidently covered it up. I used mine to call his number, and we walked around over the area to see if we could hear it ringing. We never did. Either there was to much dirt over it or it had been smashed. Since then, I always worry about doing something simular when I'm on my tractor.
ErnieB

yea i managed to bale mine into a hay bale once, had the baler plug up and had all the covers open and some tools out, called my father for some advice and then got it workin again closed up the covers and started baling and realized i didnt have my phone, opened up the last couple bales and found it, just barely missed the knife too!

 

[Iowachild]

What's a cell phone?

 

[firemanpat2910]

How long will it take for the 2 phones I planted last year to grow?
I have had a phone since back in the day when it was the size of a brick,with the size of the new ones I think its easier to lose them now.
I was planting some deer plots last year and was harrin the plot first weekend and phone dissapeared. went back a couple of weeks later to plant the seeds and planted the new replacement phone. The cute girl at Altell says " you dont learn real fast, Do you?". Since phone insurance only lets you get 2 phones a year I have been very careful since then.

 

[willfick]

After I got pinned to the seat of my backhoe a few months ago, barely able to get my leg free with inspired and near miraculous use of the hoe, I was asked why I didn't have a cellphone. "I did," I said, "right over there in the shade, in the lunch box."
Lowes sells a cell phone holster with both a belt clip, for convenience, and a belt loop, that you needn't worry it'll fall off. I've got one now.
Wm

 

[turnkey4099]

I don't think a cell phone can be depended upon in rural areas, but does that prevent me from carrying it, no. I see it as another option should I get into trouble. Others might see a more macho option as a pocket knife. As you can always cut off extremidies should they become pinned. I carry both, when I ride my motorcycle, hike, or bushhog. I also turn it off, so I am not bothered with needless calls. Sure my wife may complain, that she could not get in touch with me, but when I'm busy, I'm busy! If ya want to gab, come on over and talk to me face to face, while your at it, bring some sweet tea! I never liked phones, as a matted of fact it took me a year to get one in the house. Some things ya can live without, but the I figured I better install one if I have an emergency, same rings ( Hehehee) true for the cell phone.
Its simple, but I don't depend on it, but like any tool, it may get me out of a pinch...literally (Heheee).
To each his own, but keep your options open.

I keep mine on my belt when I am out with teh chainsaw. I used to leave it in the PU but realized that if I needed it due to an accident it wouildn't do me any good way over there. I also used to leave it turned off until two months ago. Got home and wife said she had tried to call as she needed an urgent trip to the ER (Blood Sugar way out of bounds plus other Oncology problems). Had to get the neighbor to take her. Not a fun thing to find out when I got home. It stays turned on now. As we rarely use it and only a very few people even have the number I am not bothered by stupid, useless calls.

The problem I haven't solved is that the holster allows the buttons to be activated accidentally.

Harry K

 

[Defective]

The problem I haven't solved is that the holster allows the buttons to be activated accidentally.

I refuse to own any style but flip-phones. I can stuff my phone in my pocket & never worry about calling Hong Kong by accident.

 

[Soundguy]

My phone has a keypad lock.. works great.. I used to call lots of people I didn't know before I had the phone with the lock..

Soundguy

 

[GuglioLS]

In my area, there is quite a bit of low land where a cell phone simply cannot be used; no coverage. I wonder how many of people have that problem.

Bird

I too have no Cell Phone service at all anywhere on my property.

So what I did for a "Call for help" emergency plan was to install a set of air horns on the tractor - I guess it's better than nothing. Second If I am alone I carry one of those FRS 2 way radio's and check in every once in a while.

When I am doing any work that requires me to climb up our 35* hill (very steep). My wife and I use the "buddy system" - similar to SCUBA divers. I drive the tractor up the hill and the wife follows on the ATV (from a distance).

But as always, the best safety is preventing a dangerous situation, keep a clear head, and stay focused on what you are doing.

 

[BattalionChief]

TRUE STORY: My neighbor (two properties down the road) was riding his old Ford while shredding on his property. He had passed over a small tree with the shredder... The tree bent at the base and the upper part of the tree was under the shredder. I don't know all the reasons for my neighbor's actions but, he stopped and reversed, the end of tree (unbeknownst to him) had lifted and was sticking up between the front tire and middle of the tractor. He shifted and moved forward again. The end of the tree was like a spear. It entered the seat area as he moved forward and pierced him in the side. Before he could stop the tractor the "spear" had impaled him all the way through! He was pinned in his seat.. . He made a decision.. He put the tractor in reverse and removed himself from the spear. He then GOT OUT HIS CELL PHONE and called his wife just before he drifted into unconsciousness. There is NO DOUBT, he would have died in the field without his CELL PHONE. (he almost died as it was..) From my house windows I can see the field where this accident happen; a constant reminder for me to keep my cell phone while on the tractor.

w

 

[Soundguy]

Ironically.. pulling the spear out was probably more detrimental than leaving it there for fire rescue and the paramedics to view. in many deep impalement cases.. they cut the spear off and take you in impaled, and let the guys with the 8 year degrees xray you alot then they pull it out.. etc.

Still.. creepy story. I fell better and better every day that I mow with a larger tractor.. makes me feel safer knowing that I'm up high enough that there are steps under the running boards and hand rail that need to be used to climb up to the op platform..

Your friend make a good recovery? ( hope so )

Soundguy

 

[BattalionChief]

yes, my friend did recover... Still has that tractor.. It was close, he almost "bled out.".. Doctors said he "should have died."

And you are correct.. He should have left the spear impaled.. He didn't have the training to know that he should have left the spear in and waited.. I think he felt he was going to pull it out and head to the house.. he just didn't make it far from the tractor once he was free from the spear.
This point brings another facet of this story.. When he made his phone call to the wife, he was incoherent.. All she knew was that something was wrong. When the emergency crews arrived it took them a while to figure out what was wrong, there wasn't much external bleeding, and he was unconscious and couldn't tell them what happened.. They thought maybe he had an allergic reaction to a bug bite/sting... or a seizure.. they just didn't know.. they saw the little blood on his shirt but thought that it was from a "small laceration" maybe from falling off the tractor, etc.. I don't know all the details but this problem of "not knowing what happened" probably delayed a quick transport. In the end, he made it... lucky man..

Someone said it earlier in this thread; you have to pay attention while on a tractor.. not saying my friend wasn't, but stories like this just remind me to be vigilant..

wb

 

[3RRL]

BattalionChief,
Gruesome story...glad your friend made it. Identifying the "cause" is a major concern for treating the patient correctly. Very important out West when encountering snake bite victems to determine what species rattlesnake to administer the correct anti-venom.
Someone said it earlier in this thread; you have to pay attention while on a tractor.. not saying my friend wasn't, but stories like this just remind me to be vigilant..
How true, sometimes things happen eve if you are vigilant...(Murphy's Law)