Where do you draw the line........

[KevinP73]

between high risk behaviour/occupation and your family's security?
Just wondering.......

[legion]

Considering that I am a desk jockey--a cubicle dweller, I really have never had to consider this question.

My next-door neighbor is a cop. There's a world of difference in potential occupational hazards. Still, a cop is a lot safer than a drug dealer or a lobster fisherman...

[Rikao4]

With the right insurance policy , you could have both.
Rika

[onewhippedpuppy]

Is a drug dealer really considered a high-risk "occupation"?

[M.D. Holloway]

The right money can buy plenty of security - risk and reward go hand and hand.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

This was perhaps more appropriate of a question when I was flying junky cargo planes in IMC in the Pacific northwest for a living, but to answer the question, "I'd have quit anytime if my wife ever said she couldn't stand worrying anymore". Fortunately I flew with her several times in my CFI days prior to doing that and I've included her in anything I do (including riding motorcycles and racing cars). She knows I enjoy life, but I won't do anything overtly stupid that would cost her a husband. I'm grateful for her understanding. As such, if she ever said "quit it", I would.

[Zef]

Family first.

[billyboy]

Originally Posted by legion

Considering that I am a desk jockey--a cubicle dweller, I really have never had to consider this question.

My next-door neighbor is a cop. There's a world of difference in potential occupational hazards. Still, a cop is a lot safer than a drug dealer or a lobster fisherman...

That's kinda funny to me, I got a degree in college for criminal justice and was a cop for a while about 30 years ago. Quit that for the better money in commercial fishing, crabs and deep sea trawling. Had one boat sink out from under me in 1991. I was out about 30 miles at the time. Guess that I'm an adrenaline junky! I think my kids never inherited the "Danger Will Robinson" gene either, oldest daughter is a cop, son is a Navy submariner, and the youngest is in process of becoming a prison guard.

[Dixie]

Just today I suffered a paper cut...

[Moses]

Before the days of AZT and other HIV meds I had two separate needle stick injuries from patients with AIDS. I was lucky and I've remained HIV negative. Even during the long six month wait for testing I never considered quitting.

My hobbies probably put me at greater risk. I ski, scuba dive (even cave dives) and I tend to travel to very remote places in very small airplanes. I drive my car very fast at the track with very little skill with which to moderate risk. As a kid I raced dirt bikes. I survived far too many crashes. (I wasn't a very good rider.)

I have a wife and three kids that I would hate to leave prematurely, but I won't stop living because I'm afraid of dying.

[Jandrews]

Wow, Moses....can you tell us how that happens? Two separate needle sticks from infected people...wow! That seems like something that would happen to a street cop more than a doc, so I am just curious.

And I agree with your assessment not to stop living because you are afraid of dying - well said.

JA

[MT930]

Back Country Flying, ATV's, Horses, P-Cars, Skiing, Snowmobiles

I would not give up any of my activities. I am more careful as I age. I live for that stuff!

I have good insurance, the family will be provided for
I will not however go more than 4 rungs up a ladder.

You could never leave the house and still have a heart attack at the kitchen table, happened to a young guy I knew that never engaged in any thing risky.

[Wickd89]

Is engineering hazardous? ;-)

[MRM]

I don't know. I've been a big city prosecutor and then defended insurance companies against ordganized fraud rings and I've had my name in the phone book the whole time. I had an adjuster get attacked by the Russian mafia and bomb threats called into his claims office, but no one has ever bothered me. I just don't worry about it. Odds are far greater that fatty foods or a car accident will do you in than almost anything else. I wear my seat belt, drive the speed limit most of the time and don't drive after drinking. That's my risk reduction strategy. Fatty foods? Mmmmmm.....ribs.......

[Moses]

Originally Posted by Jandrews

Wow, Moses....can you tell us how that happens? Two separate needle sticks from infected people...wow!
JA

I trained in New York (Brooklyn) and 10-15% of our patients were HIV+ (No treatment at that time). Needlestick injuries are really common. Generally from working too fast, having a bad assistant or poor technique. Both injuries were my fault.

The first was a car accident victim with massive internal bleeding. I was throwing stitches as fast as I could. The suction just couldn't keep up. I was using the first two fingers of my left hand to compress and retract and throwing sutures between my fingers. I stuck myself.

Similar situation the second time. Severe hemorrhage during a Cesarean. I'm more careful these days. Believe it of not, there are a lot of surgeons who have bloody index fingers after most of their operations. They either use their left index as a pin cushion or routinely grab surgical needles with their fingers rather than instruments. Bad technique. A friend of mine died during his final year of training at our hospital. He was a year ahead of me. He died from AIDS acquired during surgery. He was a wonderful man, but a sloppy surgeon.

[nostatic]

i'm well insured...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by Wickd89

Is engineering hazardous? ;-)

Architecture sure as hell is. At least to one's mental health and certainly their financial health.

[Sapporo Guy]

ouch, literal meaning of risk here.

How about the more economical type? ie, go out on your own vs. cubicle life style?

[Tim Hancock]

As I age, I still enjoy all my favorite hobbies (motocross, snowmobiles, skiing, ATV's, street bikes, fast cars, flying, kayaking etc etc), I just do them less and am a bit more careful when getting near the edge.

While I would like skydiving, I have always avoided activities that require trust in someone elses skills in prepping the equipment (packing parachutes).

[Jandrews]

Interesting and scary depiction, Moses....wow. Sad story about your friend who died from AIDS from trying to help people...stay safe out there, and thanks for all you do.


JA