RONNIE HARNESS

City employee Ronnie Harness, 30, was severely shocked last Thursday morning about 10:00 on location at Mannford High School, Utilities Superintendent Butch Adkins said Monday.

Harness was hooking up the electric to the new portion of the high school when a 7500 volt charge was sent through his body. The charge entered the back of Harness' head and was released through his right hand, Adkins said.

"He was attempting to connect a wire to the power switch near the transformer and he caught the back of his head in the switch," Adkins said.

Witnesses said he leaned over the bucket and said something to the people on the ground and when he leaned back up, caught the back of his head on the switch.

"It looks like he was closer to the switch than he thought," Adkins stated.

Harness was knocked unconscious and stayed in the bucket and was then transported by Life Flight to Hillcrest Hospital. He arrived at the hospital conscious, but incoherent.

"He told me later that he could remember hearing the helicopter blades on the flight to Tulsa," Adkins said.

Emergency surgery was administered to his arm to relieve the pressure from the charge and to get circulation back into his hand. Adkins says he has a large hole burned in his scalp and a hole in the palm of his hand.

It will take a few weeks for Harness' arm to get back to normal and there was no muscle damage, according to doctors. He will require several skin graphs and the first was scheduled for Tuesday morning.

In a nutshell, he was 'pretty bored.' He doesn't like game shows or soaps, so he spent a good deal of his time reading while recuperating from an October 22 electrical accident.

City employee Ronnie Harness was in the bucket at the old bus barn getting things ready to switch power over to the old gymnasium when he hit an electrified fuse holder. It sent an electrical dosage of about 7.600 volts, which entered into his head and went through his right arm and hand.

"There is no way of knowing how many amps of power actually traveled through his body," said W.P. "Butch" Adkins, Mannford's Superintendent of Public Works.

He was life-flighted to the Hillcrest Hospital's Alexander Burn Center where he spent two days in their intensive care unit.

"I didn't even know it," Harness said.

His initial diagnosis was a concussion due to electrical shock. From the emergency room, he spent two hours in surgery. Two surgeons worked on him, one repairing his hand and the other working on his head.

Harness does not remember anything about the accident but does remember trying to make a joke while on his way up in the bucket.

"Employee Jack Norris brought me down from the bucket. I really appreciate that. Everyone's been great. I've never had so many flowers and cards," he said.

Harness spent two weeks in the hospital.

"If you ever get burned, the Alexander Burn Center is the place to go. They baby you 24 hours. I was very impressed," he said.

He underwent approximately seven or eight surgeries, including skin grafts where skin from his right leg was grafted to his head, arm and hand. After his leg healed, therapy was started every day for about a three week period.

At one point, his arm was attached to his upper hip. Surgery followed to remove a balloon that was placed earlier in his head and his hand was also worked on again.

"The worst was the surgery on the hand. It was painfully grueling," said Harness. "On Christmas morning, my whole face was swollen up."

The extent and long term effects of the damage Harness suffered from the accident are actually unknown. There is a possibility he could develop cataracts and there is also the possibility he could suffer seizures.

"My eyes are more sensitive to light now," Harness said.

He was faced with being off work for six to eight months, according to his doctors.

But he's been a complete surprise to them all with his rapid healing and recovery, although it will be about eight to 10 months before he will get the full use of his hand back.

"They are amazed I am responding so fast," Harness said. He still faces more surgeries.

"I had to show the doctors just what I could do and prove to them I could use my right hand on a limited basis before they would release me to go back to work," he said.

It's created changes: lots of them.

Harness never had to use his left hand much before. Now he has to use it all the time. By the time it is all said and done, he should be completely ambidexterous.

His wife, Pat, who works for Napa Auto Parts, was with him all the time.

"She was right in there. She took me to all the doctor and therapy appointments in Tulsa. Wherever we had to go, she went too. She listened to the doctors along with me," he said. "It's created more of a bond between me and Pat and the boys. It's taught me to slow down and not get so excited too easily -- life is too short."

Sons Cody and Clay were 12 in December and according to Harness, they were really quiet and on their best behavior.

"It has been rough and Pat's held up well. I'm proud of her considering the tough load: cooking, cleaning, running to doctors and therapy, plus working outside the home," he said.

Even J.R., the famly pet, made changes. He wasn't so excitable and was more gentle in his playing with Harness.

When he wanted lap-time, J.R. would go to Harness' uninjured side, but didn't just jump-up. He waited for an invitation.

"He kept me a lot of company, too," Harness said. "We started watching cartoons in the afternoons."

Harness is on light duty, which includes reading meters, checking rural area charts, checking the lift stations, and running for parts, among various other duties.

"They're keeping me pretty busy. I'm glad. I was ready to go back to work as soon as I got out of the hospital," Harness said. "I did feel sorry for the guys working the ice storm and I'm glad to be back. I miss working for the City."

Harness continued going to his Army National Guard drills and should be able to resume his volunteer duties on the Mannford Ambulance and the Mannford Volunteer Fire Department at a later time.

"My therapist says I'm doing very well," Harness said. He still goes to therapy three times a week and every two weeks, he sees his doctors. This is all worked around Pat's work schedule.

Pat, a Certified First Responder, will be returning to Emergency Medical Technician schooling in Drumright, on Monday.

Through the Oklahoma Army National Guard, Harness recently received the Order of St. Maurice Award through his display of honor, integrity and duty. The award was presented to him on January 16 at the Dining Inn in Stillwater at a formal dinner affair.

He also received, for the second time, the Oklahoma commendation Medal from the National Guard. That award was presented on November 14, in Sapulpa by his Battalion Commander.

He received a letter from President Ronald Reagan.

The accident has brought his entire family closer together and the boys are back to their onery selves.

He returned to work on Monday, January 25.

It was his birthday.