This one's going to leave a scar.....

  It took me a couple of tries to figure out how to open the safety caps on child-proof medicine bottles. Push down and turn seemed to be a pretty simple process, and truthfully, after  three or four practice rounds, it was easy. But there is a new challenge in town, one that could easily cause both injury and  bodily harm.

   The plastic molded packaging looks very attractive on display in the stores. Colorful labels and pictures help identify the products securely and safely wrapped in the molded plastic. and without question, when you get home you can be pretty sure that all the contents are intact and that no one has tampered with or ripped open the package to remove any of the pieces or parts. In fact, even when you get the plastic wrapped package home, sometimes they are still almost impossible to open. My favorite is the package that contains the rainbow of color ink cartridges for the computer printer.
   It is instant fear when the warning appears on the computer screen indicating “low ink”. True, the price of individual replacements is significant, and economically it makes sense to buy the package that contains all the color cartridges. You can save a dollar or two, but the trade off... is the struggle to open the package.
   Armed with a pair of scissors, a utility knife and an assortment of other potential surgical-type tools, the challenge begins. And, it is not just computer ink that offers up this battle.    A number of companies have taken up the practice in the name of safety, theft and who knows what else. Christmas decorations, packages containing multiple items and even certain food products now use the tightly sealed plastic wrapping as well.

   I am sure this has happened to no one else, but usually, by the time I have opened the package, I have several puncture wounds and scratches from the sharp plastic edges,  have injured myself with the knife or scissors as they slide across the smooth surface and have at least one or two cuts with blood flow (almost as painful as a paper cut). And, in my rush to get the cartridges into the computer, I have now managed to smeared blood on some of the computer paper.

   I recently purchased two new flashlights. Yes, they too were tightly sealed in the plastic packaging. At that moment I hoped the power would not go out so that I wouldn't need  quick access to them.
   And as difficult as it is to get the items out of the package, it is equally as challenging to stuff the plastic scraps into the trash bag, even tearing the bag on occasion,  unless in frustration you chopped it up into tiny little pieces.. The plastic seem to develop a mind of their own and fight back. I can see the headline now.... 'Man stabbed to death while attempting to open package of new flashlights.'

   I think I understand why items are packaged this way. It keeps them clean, secure, and almost tamper- free. I do wonder how much extra the plastic costs and its effect upon the environment and the land fills. 
   But for now, and probably well into the future, I will deal with the plastic packaging and to be sure, I will have a few an extra band aids close at hand.

   PS. I solved the problem with the printer ink. I purchased a new printer and the replacement ink cartridges come in easy open packaging!  :)