Man At White House Suffers 'Life Threatening' Injury That May Require Finger Amputations

WASHINGTON -- A man was rushed away from the White House on Tuesday with what were classified as "life threatening" injuries after an incident involving his hand.

According to The Washington Post, a spokesman for the District of Columbia's Fire and Emergency Medical Services said the situation may result in the "possible amputation of one or two fingers."

An administration official tells Politico that "[t]here was a minor injury with a member of the residence staff -- an ambulance was called out of an abundance of caution."

This is a developing story ...

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[anoise]

11:19 AM on 02/27/2012

So... what ever happened? Why no follow up?

[George Global]

12:49 AM on 02/17/2012

In government, you expect their thumbs to be hidden, but seldom would the force be enough to threaten attachment...

[trron9]

01:30 PM on 02/16/2012

We all remember Jan Brewer and that wagging finger, could it be she visited the White House?

[jstanavgguy]

01:12 AM on 02/16/2012

Let me see if I understand this.

Someone who worked at the White House suffered an injury while working.

Considering that there is construction, landscaping, and food service work going on, hand injuries are rather common.

Now, while I never wish for someone to get hurt, just now is this news?

[Robin-B]

06:21 AM on 02/16/2012

Joe Biden has a hangnail I presume.

[Brace4impactz]

05:52 PM on 02/15/2012

Just give it time...a GOPer or tea partyer will claim that some kind of Muslim justice was meted out by the President to a staffer who was caught stealing.

[Heavenhound]

03:37 PM on 02/15/2012

A common workplace accident, only vaguely newsworthy because it happened at the White House. True story: I lived in DC as a kid, and one day while walking past the White House I was watching some workmen prune trees on the grounds. One of them fell and was knocked unconscious and cut his head open and was bleeding pretty badly. It never made the news. Working at the White House is like working at any other job; accidents happen.

[Jane Michaels]

02:08 PM on 02/15/2012

Somehow the term "abundance of caution" and "amputation of fingers" just don't go together. The news media should press hard on this story because something isn't right here.

[nonprofit]

01:36 PM on 02/15/2012

First let's all hope that the injured party recovers without any long term disabilities. Secondly let's all pray that the response given to Politco wasn't an attempt to cover up something as minor as a workplace accident. That would be quite disheartening and speak volumes toward the character of this administration. I really don't want anyone in a position of responsibility who'd attempt to white wash an incident like this.

[yozampj]

02:17 PM on 02/15/2012

Fascinating that you would immediately go to a) cover up, b) character of the administration, c) white wash. Take a deep breath.

[nonprofit]

05:13 PM on 02/15/2012

What I find fascinating is that your blind ideology affects your reading comprehension skills. First I suggested we have concern that the injured party is okay. Secondly I questioned why there are opposing statements in the article. Read on...

" According to The Washington Post, a spokesman for the District of Columbia's Fire and Emergency Medical Services said the situation may result in the "possible amputation of one or two fingers."
An administration official tells Politico that "[t]here was a minor injury with a member of the residence staff -- an ambulance was called out of an abundance of caution."

Now someone doesn't have all the information or perhaps they are hoping we won't question their contradiction. Does this statement above suggest to you a cover up, a misinformed spokesperson, or improper reporting of the news from a credible source? Since The Washington Post specifically named it source, and Politico didn't I'd submit their info is more accurate. So we can assume either the unnamed administration official is misinformed or lying.

Now you might find it acceptable for those who inhabit Washington to deceive the voters, I do not. Once again I'll repeat my original prayer that I hope these concerns are unwarranted. apparently you missed that part the first read.

[mousegrafx]

12:25 PM on 02/15/2012

Why is this being presented as a "breaking/developing news" story?? It sounds like just an accident that could happen in anyone's household, not a national emergency!!! Slow news day, indeed....

[Learical]

12:15 PM on 02/15/2012

What?

[almasearch]

11:59 AM on 02/15/2012

I don't mean to lessen the impact of someone losing one or two of their fingers (that would indeed be sad), but having to have these fingers amputated does NOT constitute "life-threatening". Life-affecting, yes. Life-threatening, no. So I'm still wondering how the story starts off with "life-threatening injury" in the headline and first paragraph to "minor injury" in the last paragraph....

[Donna Premdas-Auffant]

12:27 PM on 02/15/2012

Losing two fingers can't cause someone to bleed out?

[almasearch]

12:43 PM on 02/15/2012

Maybe if they were taking Coumarin! It doesn't sound like they lost two fingers - just sounds like they injured the finger(s) bad enough to possibly require them to be amputated. Maybe they got their hand stuck in a meat grinder or garbage disposal? A good pressure wrap should prevent "bleeding out".

[almasearch]

12:45 PM on 02/15/2012

and before you ask... yes, I am a doctor....

[TheAntiOkie]

08:44 AM on 03/02/2012

Tell me something - what is the possibility that something happened that caused the injured person to be 'stuck' where the injury occurred and in the time it took to get him out of the situation, the trauma of the ordeal had caused him to go into shock?  Could that be the life threatening part?

[bigbe]

11:28 AM on 02/15/2012

Want to bet it involved a cook and a meat slicer???

[Robin-B]

06:19 AM on 02/16/2012

10 to one it was the garbage disposal.

[burthurt]

11:14 AM on 02/15/2012

"Newsflash "Feburary 15 2012 , Huffington Post intern sent to first aid station on second floor after getting thier false nail stuck between the keys of the letters O and P. I repeat , O and P .We will have more of this breaking story with greater detail tommorow .

[nfischet]

11:01 AM on 02/15/2012

wow,another nail biting incident gone too far!

[pattyhar]

10:33 AM on 02/15/2012

Another case of media hype. Loss of 1 or 2 fingers is not life-threatening, unless the injured person has a severe clotting disease.!

[Donna Premdas-Auffant]

12:26 PM on 02/15/2012

Really, Doctor?