Knife safety

From GPWiki

Knives are an important tool for your trips in the outdoors. Used properly, knives can be the tools that build other tools along with a myriad of other uses. Used improperly, knives can harm yourself or others and cause an emergency when you are far from home. Knife safety is an important aspect of going prepared into the outdoors. Following these simple rules can greatly reduce the risk of being injured by your knife.

All Knives

• Maintain the sharpness and cleanliness of the blade. A sharp blade will cut more easily than a dull one, meaning that you are less likely to force the blade and potentially injure yourself. A clean blade will be less likely to rust and deteriorate.
• Cut away from your body and do not leave limbs in the possible path of the blade. If the blade gets caught, a person's automatic reaction is to push harder, at which point it can slip and cut into your body or slice across a limb if the limb is in the path of the blade. NEVER try to cut into an object that is sitting on your leg. That is a good way to have a hole in your thigh.
• Do not throw your knife in the outdoors (assuming you did not take a bag full of throwing knives on your trip). A throwing weapon that is equally or more effective can be easily and quickly made. A knife is a valuable tool that is not easily replaced.
• Do not place the blade in a fire or other high heat source. Modern knives are made from tempered steel that can be ruined and weakened when heated.
• Do not use a knife for any task for which it was not intended. A digging tool can easily be made from a stick, a log can be used to pry, etc.

Folding Knives

• Keep the knife closed when it is not in use. The handle offers natural protection for the blade when it is closed, keeping the blade sharp and clean. Also, the knife is less likely to cause an accident if the blade is not deployed. *Keep the knife closed when handing it to another person. Make sure they have a secure grasp on the knife before letting go. A good method is the Boy Scout method of saying "thank you" when you are the recipient and have a good grip on the knife.

Fixed Blades

• Keep the knife in its sheath when not in use, reducing the risk of injury or loss of the knife.
• Hand the knife to someone while it is in its sheath or handle first if the sheath is not available. Having the recipient grasp the blade increases their risk of injury.
• Make sure the sheath securely holds the knife. Place the knife in the sheath and turn it upside down. Shake it, making sure it will not fall on your feet if dropped. Knowing that your sheath is not secure before a trip is better than finding it out in the middle of a trip when it drops tip down on your foot. Modify the sheath or replace it with a secure one if the knife does not securely hold.

Most importantly, be careful!