| Pocketknives can be very handy tools, but they can | | | | thickest part of the blade on top (dull side), snapping it |
| be dangerous, too. Therefore, it's essential that you | | | | completely open until it locks in place. |
| know how to handle a knife safely -- and it's essential | | | | When you close the blade, again grip the base of the |
| that you teach pocketknife safety to anybody who's | | | | pocketknife with your left hand, with the knife itself |
| going to be using one, especially children. | | | | facing sharp side up, pointed end out, on the right side |
| Pocketknives are ubiquitous as tools, so much so that | | | | of your left palm. With your right thumb and forefinger, |
| it can be difficult to remember to be safe with them, | | | | grasp the thick bottom of the open blade (dull side), |
| even for adults. Nonetheless, they are very sharp, and | | | | and push upward until the blade itself is at right angles |
| can be dangerous and even deadly if not handled | | | | with the bottom of the case. Move your thumb and |
| properly. | | | | forefinger to the groove at the back of the blade, and |
| There are several things you need to know when | | | | snap it closed, taking care to keep your thumb and |
| you're using a pocketknife so that you keep yourself | | | | fingers away from the casing itself when the knife |
| and others around you safe. | | | | closes so that you won't get pinched or cut. |
| Opening and closing a pocketknife | | | | Safely using your pocketknife |
| Unlike other types of knives, pocketknives are opened | | | | When you're using a pocketknife, make sure that |
| and closed. This makes them safe when they're | | | | anybody in your close proximity is aware that you |
| closed, since you can simply slip them into a pocket | | | | have the knife open so that they won't get hurt. For |
| without fear of being stuck, but it also means there's | | | | safest use, make sure you have at least an arm's |
| an extra element of care that needs to be taken | | | | length of space between you and the next person |
| when you open and close them. | | | | when you're using the knife, so that you're not going to |
| It can be difficult to open and close pocketknives, | | | | put anybody in danger. |
| especially if they have "hard" opening and closing | | | | When you use the knife, hold the knife by its handle, |
| mechanisms. Nonetheless, take care when you open | | | | blade down, and use the knife with the knife's cutting |
| or close them so that you don't cut yourself or | | | | edge facing away from you, cutting away from your |
| someone else. | | | | body. |
| To open the blade, hold the bottom of the pocketknife | | | | Handing a pocketknife to someone else |
| mechanism in your left hand, with the knife's hinge on | | | | When you pass a pocketknife onto someone else, the |
| the right side of your palm and the sharp point of the | | | | safest way to do it is to close the pocketknife first; if |
| blade nearest your thumb, with the blade itself on top. | | | | you do decide to pass the pocketknife with the blade |
| Grip the pocketknife case tightly with your left hand. | | | | open, hold the knife by its blade, cutting edge down, |
| With your right thumb and forefinger, grasp the groove | | | | and pass it so that the person taking the knife will take |
| at the back of the blade and pull it up and out, until | | | | it by its handle. Make sure the other person tells you |
| you're sure it's not going to snap back into place. Then, | | | | he or she has the knife before you let go. |
| let go of the grooved part of the blade and grasp the | | | | |