[Histonet] How to keep cryostating without getting frostbite?

[Andrea Grantham]

I cut little rectangular pieces of styrofoam from any of the cartons 
that are shipped in with cold or frozen items and "glue" them to each 
side of the knife holder with OCT. This provides a great area to rest 
my hands while having to manipulate a frozen section. The styrofoam 
doesn't get cold and it is a comfty place to put your hands and also 
a slide if you have to pick up multiple sections on one slide. The 
tissue and OCT doesn't thaw or the slide doesn't get too cold for 
another section to attach.
This excellent piece of advice came from Gayle Callis - thank you 
again Gayle!!!

PS: When I want to clean out the cryostat I just turn it off and take 
out the knife holder and when the OCT warms up the styrofoam comes 
off and can be reattached when the cryostat is all clean and ready to 
be turned back on.
I was reading where somebody suggested something to a manufacturer 
and the idea was not readily accepted and I likewise have made what I 
thought were excellent suggestions and was met with similar responses 
- this styrofoam thing was just one of them.

Andi




At 09:16 AM 11/21/2007, Monfils, Paul wrote:
>Just having your hands in the cold air isn't usually the problem. 
>Each tech, according to their particular style, usually rests their 
>hand on the knife holder in some manner for stability while picking 
>up the sections on the slides. The rate of extraction of heat by 
>contact with -20 degree metal is much greater than the rate by 
>simple exposure to -20 degree air. It is these points of repeated 
>contact between skin and metal that usually suffer from 
>frostbite.  I have tried various kinds of gloves and slip-on finger 
>protectors, but in the final analysis I find that bandaids carefully 
>applied to the specific points of contact provide enough insulation 
>to prevent skin damage.  I buy the extra wide ones.
>
> > ----------
> > From:         histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf 
> of jstaruk
> > Sent:         Tuesday, November 20, 2007 7:49 PM
> > To:   histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > Subject:      [Histonet] How to keep cryostating without getting frostbite?
> >
> > Hey all,
> >
> > Are there any tricks on how to keep your fingers from getting frostbite
> > while doing cryostat sectioning for 8 hours a day?  My poor techs who have
> > been cutting frozen sections for several straight days now are starting to
> > complain about these inhumane conditions!  Do all of you MOHS techs have
> > bleeding, chapped hands and numb fingertips?
> >
> > Thank you in advance for any suggestions and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
> >
> > Jim
> >
> > _____________________
> >      Jim Staruk
> > Mass Histology Service
> > www.masshistology.com
> >
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> > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
> >
> >
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.....................................................................
: Andrea Grantham, HT(ASCP)     Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy     :
: Sr. Research Specialist       University of Arizona               :
: (office:  AHSC 4212)          P.O. Box 245044                     :
: (voice:  520-626-4415)        Tucson, AZ  85724-5044    USA       :
: (FAX:  520-626-2097)          (email:  algranth <@t> u.arizona.edu)       :
:...................................................................:
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