If you are mil, LEO, work any type of construction/manual labor jobs, etc, don’t wear a ring. Ring related injuries are far more common than people realize. My ER docs friends have told me it’s one of the most common and easily avoided injuries they see, especially in specific populations where potential for ring to catch on something, etc is high.
Preventing ring associated injuries: Think twice about wearing that ring
JSOM
Matthew J. Levy, DO, MSc, Kevin Gerold, DO, JD
Abstract
Law enforcement and military personnel, especially those engaged in tactical operations, routinely perform tasks in ways that place them at risk for serious hand and finger injuries. Ring avulsion is one type of injury that is especially devastating, potentially career-altering and easily preventable.
A ring avulsion occurs when a ring (often a wedding band or team ring) becomes snagged on a projection during a fall and the weight of the operator strips the soft tissues from the wearer’s finger, resulting in a severe laceration or amputation. These injuries require surgery, months of rehabilitation and may result in amputation or a permanent loss of sensation and fine motor control of the affected finger.
Simple prevention strategies, through policy, practice and engineering techniques, can eliminate these injuries. This article will review the mechanism for ring avulsion injuries and provide several prevention techniques.
I’m not allowed to wear my ring at work for safety & GMP reasons. I’m not a “jewelry” kind of guy at all but I do occasionally wear it when going out. Even then, I usually forget to put it on because I’m not used to wearing one. That also gives me a good excuse to my wife.
When I was a paramedic, or in the field with the mil, I put my wedding band on my watchband. I have seen too many people with degloving injuries or mangled fingers where wearing a ring was relevent to the injury.
I nearly lost a finger when my USMC ring got caught in a netted pallet during an unrep nearly 30 years ago. It literally flattened the bottom of the ring before I extracted it. I haven’t worn a ring since. I’ve been married 17 years and even my wife understands.
I had an older gentleman tell me once that a electrician had his ring on and a wire(s) came in contact with it and turned the ring into a glowing “ring of fire” due to the electric current flowing through it. Pretty scary thought.
When I was a surgery resident, a fellow surgery resident degloved his ring finger when his wedding ring caught on the bed edge hopping out of the bed of a pickup truck. He became an Internist, a fate worse than death IMHO. I’ve never worn a ring.
Typing and taking change from a cashier become more of a challenge. This wasn’t the result of wearing a ring, but at this point wearing a ring for me isn’t worth it. It drives my wife nuts. Protect your digits.
I have a friend who ripped his finger off when getting out of a semi. Grabbed onto the mirror then slipped off the step. He hit the ground and his finger was still hanging onto the mirror where his wedding band caught on a bolt.
I haven’t put my ring back on since then. It stays on my keys.
Any tips on getting a ring that is the least likely to get caught on stuff? My fiance is pretty much set on me getting a ring, so I told her whatever is cheap and plain. She was telling me about these cobalt rings, basically a rock cut & polished to your size, they’re damn near indestructible, but they are thicker than metal rings. After reading this thread and hearing stories from guys I used to work with (construction fields) would I be better off going with a plain metal band so it’d be thinner? My girlfriend is pretty good on not bothering me about spending money on gun & ammo related goodies, but this is like her one “big deal” issue. Any advice from the guys who do wear rings?
Machine shops and jewelry don’t mix. Getting a ring caught in a lathe can end up killing you. I work with a guy who normally wore his wedding band while working. Using a MIG welder, he grounded himself to the part through his ring, unintentionally. When he triggered the gun his wedding band melted around his finger. It was not a pretty sight.
Take off ring when you get to work, and put on a thin chain around your neck, obviously with clasp that would break away easy as well as the chain. Or better, put in the glove compartment of your car. There’s no ring that’s going to protect you I’m aware of and wearing something you think has less likelihood of catching on something will just give a false sense of security. Obviously different lines of work will have a higher or lower risk of such a thing happening. Google “ring avulsion” and show pics to fiance as to why you have no plans on wearing a ring at work.
If she gives you sh&%, then I’d consider that a marriage red flag personally… :stop:
Decades ago, when we got married, I told my wife that I loved her but wearing
a ring was too dangerous. She said she knew I loved her and had no problem with that. That kind of thing helps set the tone for a 30 year marriage.
Well, it says something important early in the relationship that your future wife cares more about your safety than showing the word 24/7 you’re married. If my fiance was to really have an issue with that, it would be a red flag to me. It’s not called “the worlds smallest handcuff” for nothing!
Secondary, but still important, i find a ring is not conducive to a sure grip on handguns either. You’re mileage may vary, but I don’t like it myself. Where flesh should meet gun, there’s a hard metal thing there that reduces grip.
I think another thing to think about is the material your ring is made of. Different metals, different hardnesses. Some crush & some shatter. Some can’t be cut off very easily. I’m not sure one material is better than another but depending on one’s hobbies or occupation, it may be something to think about. Of course, I’m not talking about getting your ring caught & ripping off your finger. Certainly the type of metal doesn’t matter. I’m speaking of less severe hazards or mishaps.
I’m also not a fan of having any stones in my ring. Just one more thing to lose.
I remember an Army poster in the hangers back in the 90’s that had a picture of a finger pealed from the bones that said somtihing like “Is your wedding band worth your finger?”. Most guys put their ring on their dog tags during preflight and while flying and yet we always seemed to have someone injure their fingers on an aircraft every couple of years.
