Near miss with the flooring saw today, damn close

So I'm in the middle of ripping up some old oak hardwood for a refinish job, and I go to cut a straight line with my DeWalt circular saw. The blade binds on a knot and kicks back hard, nearly took my thumb off before I yanked it away. Been flooring for 3 years now and that's the closest I've come to a real injury, makes me think I need to slow down on these rush jobs. Saw a similar story in the Flooring Contractors Network group last week, guy lost part of his finger to a similar kickback. Anyone got tips on better blade guards or just better technique to avoid this crap? Watched a video by Hardwood Heroes on YouTube about safe saw handling, but still happened. TBH, I feel like an idiot for not clamping the board down better.

Screw those kickbacks, every flooring guy I know has a scar from one. The big box stores sell cheap blades that warp under pressure, blame them for half the accidents.

Man, that sucks. I had a near miss with a flooring nailer last year, pin almost went through my boot.

Flooring saws are death traps if you're rushing. Those DeWalt kickbacks have hospitalized more guys than you think.

Hate when that happens, had a board launch into the wall once. Check your rip fence every time.

Never run a saw without earplugs and goggles, saved my eyes on a LVP cut gone wrong.

Proud I invested in a Festool track saw after my first close call. Cuts perfect, no kickback ever.

Lol, near misses keep you alive in this trade. Just don't tell the wife, she'll make you quit.

These stories piss me off, why don't manufacturers make better safety features? Seen too many guys sidelined.

Insurance companies love hearing about this crap, jacks up your rates even if you don't get hurt.

Same here man, had a similar thing with vinyl plank, blade grabbed and I about lost a finger. Wear gloves with grip.

Feel you on that, buddy. My first year I ignored the safety switch on the saw, learned quick after a scare.