Knife Safety Class

[yud]

Right now I am putting together a knife safety program for kids.  Does anyone have any tips for doing such a thing? 

Also does any one have any horror stories about being mutilated by lacks knife safety?

Been going through this thread but Rico-2 is even funnier now http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,66259.0.html

[Fortytwo]

One good thing would be to point out the not so obvious (unless you think about it) correlation between sharp knives and safe handling. Like how with a sharp knife you'll be using your fine motor skills and have much better handling of your knife. There's also the point that a sharp knife leaves cleaner cuts that heals better but that might not be the lesson you want to teach  . Handling is of course important (always passing the handle to others etc.). I don't know exactly what setting you'll be doing this in (will they bring their own knife? have one supplied?) and how much time you have but maybe some sort of comparison between a sharp and a dull knife would be possible? How about basic sharpening?

Someone linked a picture of a try-stick here some time ago, I hadn't heard of them before but that should be a good lesson once basic safety has been taught.

[Fortytwo]

Oh, and please try to instil the notion of the knife as a tool rather than increasingly common idea that the knife is first and foremost a weapon. Yes, a knife might be used as a weapon but for every time it is used as such there are thousands of totally legitimate usages. Oh, and despite how we might see them around here I think kids would do better not to look at them as toys either.

[Kev D]

Once thing I'd say to make sure is in there is safe cleaning of a knife. It is amazing how many people cut themselves not really thinking about it when cleaning a knife, it's how I got my first deep cut when I was a kid. I came close to closing a blade on my fingers a time or two, but got a really deep cut that needed stitches while cleaning a knife.

We all have the occasional slips, well I know I do. My last two were with the can opener on a vic pioneer while swapping scales on a swissschamp (within minutes of each other  ), so knife safety isn't just with the blades, the other tools on a sak can give just as nasty a cut. And lets not forget all the times we've pinched ourselves with multi's.

[yud]

Right now a lot is yet to be determined I am writing up the first draft.  Something That we would like to do is you come pay a fee and you get to go home with a knife.  My plan at the moment is to go into some common types of knives (liner lock, lock back, and slipjoints) and talk about how each of them works and the pitfalls (mainly I want to impress on them the a SAK/slipjoints looks friendly but you have to handle it right) of each.  Then handling, passing, cutting, etc.  Then caring for a knife which certainly covers having a sharp knife as well as oiling and cleaning. 

I like the idea of a comparison between sharp and dull.  I had also thought of showing the power of backsprings with a baby carrot but then realized if some oune had shown me that I would have to try it which is counter productive.
 

[yud]

Oh, and please try to instil the notion of the knife as a tool rather than increasingly common idea that the knife is first and foremost a weapon. Yes, a knife might be used as a weapon but for every time it is used as such there are thousands of totally legitimate usages. Oh, and despite how we might see them around here I think kids would do better not to look at them as toys either.

Completely agree, that is one part of Forged in Fire that annoys me given how many kids tell me they watch it.

 

Once thing I'd say to make sure is in there is safe cleaning of a knife. It is amazing how many people cut themselves not really thinking about it when cleaning a knife, it's how I got my first deep cut when I was a kid. I came close to closing a blade on my fingers a time or two, but got a really deep cut that needed stitches while cleaning a knife.

We all have the occasional slips, well I know I do. My last two were with the can opener on a vic pioneer while swapping scales on a swissschamp (within minutes of each other  ), so knife safety isn't just with the blades, the other tools on a sak can give just as nasty a cut. And lets not forget all the times we've pinched ourselves with multi's.

1+

[Aloha]

If you should drop your knife, LET IT FALL TO THE GROUND, never attempt to catch it.   

One should not be in a hurry when working with a knife. 

Dave Caterbury talks about the blood zone.  I've seen people using a knife while holding the object on their thigh.  Also its important to be away of those around you.

Close the knife or sheath the knife when not in use.     

[Toolslinger]

Dave Canterbury recently posted a pair of videos that may help:

[irona]

I'd go over basic care of the knife like sharpening and cleaning, to make the knife not only safer but also make sure it's taken care for and not abused. Also, kids are inevitably going to try throwing the knife at a tree or something, so I'd emphasize to not do that, or at the very least make sure there's nobody behind their target before they throw the knife. Always carve away from your self, show them how to properly close the knife (depending on the age, if they have good motor skills, show them how to close it one handed). Show a cut test on a piece of steak with fabric over it to represent how bad a knife can cut a leg or arm (make sure to save the steak for later). I don't have any particularly gruesome stories aside from when I sliced my finger on my birthday with my great grandpa's dull pocket knife and had to get 4 stitches. I've been pretty lucky, when I used to be really in to throwing knives when I was really young I had at least a couple knives each day bounce off the target and fly back at my face, narrowly missing my head by only a few inches.
I think one thing to include is how to maintain carbon steel, or how to make sure the blade doesn't rust, so that if the kid draws blood it's at least not from a rusty blade. Good luck!

[Mechanickal]

I was 11 and cut myself within 10min after getting my first SAK as a gift.

Lesson learned, never cut myself on a SAK again after that.

There isn't a better learning school

[Smashie]

I've just been through this module as part of my leader training for the Scouts.

Obviously the laws will be different 

http://scouts.org.uk/media/552410/Victorinox-Knife-Safety-Factsheet.pdf

[Fortytwo]

What age are you looking at working with? Will you have to start by pointing out that a knife is sharp (you probably should regardless, my girlfriend cut herself a couple of times when we moved in together and she got to use sharp knives for the first time)? What notions about knives will they have when they show up? If you picked a fairly sheltered city kid at 10 it might not be impossible that (s)he has used a knife as a weapon in a video game but never actually held one

[ColoSwiss]

You might check with the local Boy Scout council and see if they have any safety/training info on knives. Also the local Fire and Rescue might have some info.

[Marc_in_NS]

Basic safety rule when handling any sharps...
NEVER CUT TOWARDS YOUR THUMB, ALWAYS CUT TOWARDS YOUR CHUM

[VICMAN]

I am so glad to hear that you are putting together a knife safety program for kids.

I grew up in the 1950's and getting a knife was a big deal.  My dad taught me that a knife is a handy tool and not a toy to be played with. He told me to treat it with respect and to always keep it clean and sharp. He taught me how to handle it safely and how to recognize a quality knife when buying one.

I have literally carried a pocket knife every day since I was 8 years old. Back then you could carry a pocket knife in school, but I knew to never take it out of my pocket at school and not to clown around with it.

The only time I ever flew on a commercial airline was before the ban on knives and I actually had a Leatherman Super Tool and a Victorinox Swisschamp in my pockets and they let me take them on board the plane.

By teaching them knife safety you will be giving them a lifetime of enjoying the handiest tool a person can carry. I use mine every day.

Thank you for helping to educate the younger generation about proper knife safety!

[Vinjints]

Thirded Scout training. Look up the whittling chip and it's all laid out. Add in your own splash to talk about styles, springs, locks, fixed, etc.


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[alexTOOL]

https://www.google.es/search?q=knife+safety++instructions&espv=2&biw=1821&bih=896&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjYvaWJxe3RAhUBK8AKHQMXApYQ_AUIBigB&dpr=0.75#imgrc=_

[Gerhard Gerber]

Once thing I'd say to make sure is in there is safe cleaning of a knife. It is amazing how many people cut themselves not really thinking about it when cleaning a knife, it's how I got my first deep cut when I was a kid. I came close to closing a blade on my fingers a time or two, but got a really deep cut that needed stitches while cleaning a knife.

+1

[Kev D]

Basic safety rule when handling any sharps...
NEVER CUT TOWARDS YOUR THUMB, ALWAYS CUT TOWARDS YOUR CHUM

We still use that saying to all our apprentices that now show up with zero knife skills.

[abhiram]

For kids, the plastic knives from Klecker is awesome:



One plastic multitool from Victorinox

[abhiram]

My son cuts playdoh using these which I correct if done the wrong way

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[yud]

Thanks everyone for your help, the scouts approach was very helpful.

What age are you looking at working with? Will you have to start by pointing out that a knife is sharp (you probably should regardless, my girlfriend cut herself a couple of times when we moved in together and she got to use sharp knives for the first time)? What notions about knives will they have when they show up? If you picked a fairly sheltered city kid at 10 it might not be impossible that (s)he has used a knife as a weapon in a video game but never actually held one

Actually have taken to just saying that (this is sharp) since I started making knives, in large part because it may or may not have an edge when I hand it to someone.  I am thinking 7-13 but I don't know it will be interesting to see how it goes.  Given the part of Delaware I am in it could be an city kid or one that has grown up in a marsh.

For kids, the plastic knives from Klecker is awesome:
(Image removed from quote.)
(Image removed from quote.)

One plastic multitool from Victorinox
(Image removed from quote.)

Good idea I was thinking about wooden knife kits.

[Grant Lamontagne]

This is maybe something not to show them, but it does make a very effective demonstration.  If you put a plain edge blade in your hand, edge down and apply pressure it won't cut.  Then take it off your hand and do a gentle draw cut on virtually anything else and show them how quickly it slices through everything else.

Def

[Grathr]

Looks like you have most covered.
A couple of basic rules I teach my son when whittling (5 years old)
1. When you use the knife, you only use the knife. No walking, no talking, no goofing around. Full concentration. Put the knife down if you get bored or want to do something else.
2. If you feel the need to whipe your nose or scratch your self. Put the knife down first! Then scratch or whipe. Then continue whitling. (This takes a little practice and close watching by an adult before it becomes a routine for young kids)

[Aloha]

Maybe something else to consider as well.  Knowing how to treat a cut.  They well eventually get one and freaking out is never a good thing.  Pressure and elevation.  Simple to remember.  Then follow all cleaning and bandaging needed.   

[Etherealicer]

DON'T LICK THE BLADE

Yeah sounds funny... until a kid does it after cutting some food. Talking from experience here, the result isa lot of blood and vomiting (due to the swallowed blood). It is also the kind of injury you cant just fix.