Should Zip Ties (Cable Ties) Have a Warning Label?

[Cynette]

Originally Posted by Alivia

...a team member thought it would be funny to put a zip tie on my wrist.
REAL TIGHT.
It was not fun, especially since it took a couple of minutes to get something to get it off!!

I also saw this happen at IRI, so fast, and then there was a zip tie around a wrist, turning pink, turning white, turning blue-purple as we all scrambled to dig for a tool to cut it off safely.

Somehow it just reinforced my perception that horseplay is never a good thing.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Cynette

... and then there was a zip tie around a wrist, turning pink, turning white, turning blue-purple as we all scrambled to dig for a tool to cut it off safely. ...

Bandage scissors are a good thing to have in the toolbox. Most drugstores have 'em in stock and they're usually about $5. Or if someone on your team has a nurse or EMT in the family there might be some extras available.

And Cynette is right, horseplay is never a good thing.

[Uberbots]

You can reverse zip ties by lifting the little locking mechanism in there... i have gotten out of many of messes this way

[Blue_Mist]

Originally Posted by Uberbots

You can reverse zip ties by lifting the little locking mechanism in there... i have gotten out of many of messes this way

This usually requires a really small screwdriver or the suchlike. However, I must say that one of my favorite tools of all time (during Robotics or not, though I must say it is getting closer and closer to no difference) is the ubiquitous paper clip. I keep a large sharpened one (zip tie opener!) and many others of various sizes with me wherever I go. And yes, I have a fixation on trying to reuse zip ties whenever I can.

[AdamC]

I think it's preposterous to put warning labels on zipties. As always, responsible use of tools is imperative in FIRST, and zipties are no different. Needless to say, we've made more than our share of ziptie chains, ziptie art, and ziptie pen rings. However, ziptying your finger and cutting off circulation is a very stupid idea.
Also, ziptie reuse is rather hard in FIRST, since you have to cut your zipties to length. However, for anybody with a fixation for ziptie removal (like me, since I don't like breaking zipties when pulling them apart), use the tip of a knife, or micro screwdriver.