Operating flashlight with broken arm

Ok so i had a little motorcyle accident at 1 mile per hour in my backyard and broke my right arm on Saturday. :shakehead I also severely sprained my left wrist. I'm out of action for a few months by the looks of it, but i'll find out shortly when i see the specialist who will decide if surgery and steelwork will be required. :thumbsup:

Anyway i've had to deal with something i never thought about. When trying to use any pressure with my fingers with either hand i find it almost impossible. I can't even turn off a kitchen tap properly. My sprained hand is a lot better and i should be fine in a day or two so this will make things easier.

However operating my flashlights this past week has been quite hard and impossible for some of them. The lights that i havn't been able to use successfully are my Quark Tacticals, Klarus ST20 and Preon 2. They have tailswitches and some are quite stiff. I have not been able to use any twisty lights like my od school minimags or even my fenix E01 at all - too painful.

The lights which are the easiest to use are my Fenix TK41 and Zebralight. Even though it's a lot larger, the TK41 is much easier to use due to the way you hold it and also because of the soft side switches. Thank goodness for my Zebralight SC51... that has been a godsend and i am living with this light close by every night. It's small, easy to hold and you don't need much pressure to operate the soft electronic switch.

Anyway, these are just my observations as someone without much use of my limbs

cheers

Ever see that movie(or read the book) called "My Left Foot"?

Edited to add: Sorry, I could have at least wished you a speedy recovery earlier. Get well soon.

Your description of the accident made me laugh, but I know... it ain't funny. Looks like your SC51 will be your best friend until your wrist gets better. Hopefully you don't need too much light and won't need to change the battery too often. I wish you a prompt recovery, preferably without implanted hardware (not pleasant from what I hear.)

Yeah the side button on ZL lights are nice to have when only have one hand free.

I hope you get well soon.

Maybe a tactical light with a cigar type hold. Solarforce L2T? Good for one-handed light-up. Sorry to hear of your accident, and hope you get well soon.

That's where I thank God for my modded mags. Side switch and I can stuff it under my bum arm when I pee the dogs at night.
Just had surgery on my left elbow to free a pinched nerve, so I'm limited also.

Feel better!

Rich

Welcome to my club

My left arm from the shoulder down was paralysed in a motorbike crash 8 years ago.

It does make torch selection a bit tricky, although i have absolutely no problems at all with the ones i currently run.
Fenix
TK70
TK35
TK21

Zebralight
SC600
H600

Oddly enough the smallest torches i own (Fenix LD01) are the trickiest, i ended up giving my stainless steel version to my Mrs as it was just too tight.


For changing batteries, depending on how tight the threads are i either put the torch between me legs and clamp it with my knees, or if it's really tight i use my feet.
You get more grip with trainers than barefoot though :thumbsup:

Luckily the tail switches in these lights aren't too stiff, over the years though i've found i've had to utilise whatever i have around for some things.
From teeth to carving my plast into a rounded point when i broke my paralysed arm in a mountain bike crash.

How recessed is the switch?
If it's a rubber switch try using your big back teeth.
If the switch stands proud of the case try puching it down on the floor, table etc.
If it's recessed then use anything you have around that's the right diameter, something like a eye drop container or AA battery stood on end should do it, if it falls over when pushed down then wedge the battery between your feet :thumbsup:



Cheers
Mark