Chain Saws

I have heard that people with PMs should avoid using chain saws. I assume this is because when operating a gas powered chain saw, your hand is close to the spark plug and ignition system energy can pass into your body. If that is the case, what about electric chain saws? Also, what ablut other gas powered tools like string trimmers and leaf blowers?

6 Comments

Power Tools & Pacemakers

by SMITTY - 2010-11-12 04:11:13

Hi LS,

You bring up something very interesting. Something I had never thought of even though I know it can affect a pacemaker. That is the vibration from power tools such as chain saws, lawn mowers, etc, affecting the our pacemakers if it has the rate response turned on. I can just imagine the surprise I would have if I was using my saw for couple of minutes and find my heart rate all of a sudden banging away at 100 BPM, or more and it most certainly could happen.

Over the months I recall seeing two or three of the members mention finding their heart rates increased when they were driving over rough, or washboard, roads. No matter the source though, if we do something shake our body a little and it lasts for a minute or so, it would speed up our heart rate whether is was needed or not.

I guess this is just another little tidbit of information about some of the things that can happen if we have a pacemaker with the rate response tuned, Info that could keep us from having call the Dr office and be told to come in for a pacemaker checkup, after which we would hear "your pacemaker is working fine just fine" which would be the truth.

Smitty

power tools

by LS - 2010-11-12 09:11:39

I've used electric leaf blowers & an electric hedge trimmer with no problems. I thought it had to do more with vibration causing the PM to possibly click in thinking it needs to be working?

Chain Saws & Pacemakers

by SMITTY - 2010-11-12 09:11:39

We are told to avoid using chain saws, working on auto engines while the engine is running and doing a lot of other things that we can safely do with a little caution.

You are correct it is the energy field created by the ignition system but not because this energy can be transmitted by the body to the pacemaker. The energy we are talking about does not need a conductor to get to the pacemaker. Think of that energy as a magnetic field that travels where ever it wants to. The protection for the pacemaker comes in the form of distance from the energy source to the pacemaker and thankfully 2 to 4 inches is all the distance we usually need.

So if you want to use a gasoline or electric powered saw, or any other household tool fell safe in doing so, If you were to ever have occasion to use an industrial size electric welder, there are some cautions for using that. Otherwise do pretty much whatever you want to and forget about that pacemaker. Do you recall the old Timex commercial "it can take a licking and keep on ticking" well that is your pacemaker.

Smitty

as always

by LS - 2010-11-13 10:11:53

Smitty has the best info. Always helpful for me. Thank you.
Next EP visit I need to "REMEMBER" to ask if my rate response is on or off!!!!
I'm thinking it might be on, because of those times when vibrations occur. Rides at the amusement parks, leaf blowing, etc. Though the amusement ride might have been that I was scared sh******!!! LOL
Thanks again Smitty.
Liz

Bingo

by Dwight - 2010-11-13 12:11:01

You hit the nail on the head Smitty. As for myself any problems I have around power equipment ALWAYS involves the amount of vibration by whatever tool I am using. Chain saws are the worse, some models of leaf blowers and weed eaters are really bad too. Along with being close to large speakers, large electrical motors, etc., basically being close to any device with excessive vibration. My rate response is very sensitive but I do not want to complain and have the settings changed because otherwise it seems to be fine tuned just right for me. Mine bulges out more than most I have seen and I'm sure that contributes to some of the problem I have learned to manage the situation whenever it arises by simply taking a break and letting things self adjust or just not use that tool, or move away from whatever is causing it. An inconvenience..??? yes it is.... worth it?? You betcha! I am very thankful to be able to be here and to share this info.
Dwight

Distance

by marsupial - 2010-11-28 11:11:42

From what i know distance from the pacemaker is the key......there is a basic fromula rXD2 or rate times distance squared...chain saws suck as they are held close to y our pacemeaker...weedeeaters and such are further away....wimpy eletric chain saws are ok it is the gas powered ones hat can cause issues
best wishes,
Marsupial

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