Safety and Hunting
Author: By a. aguilar
Date: Wednesday 24th of February 2010
Url: http://www.huntingworldtop100.com/hunting-articles.html
Many of the accidents suffered during the hunt are not caused by the gun, but by falls or slips, things that can happen to anyone on the field. If you compare it to sports like water skiing or motorcycling, hunting is somewhat harmless, but this relative safety can lead us into a false sense of security.
Many of us do not think about the worst scenario. If you only go out during the day, it is important to carry a first aid kit with you, at the very least a small one which you can keep inside your pocket. Many of us do not adequately prepare when going into the field.
You should never go out to hunt just by yourself; a partner can be the difference between life and death. Similarly, it is advisable to take a first aid course, or hone our skills in them if necessary, to get a head start to injury. Another also very advisable thing to do is to always to carry a cell phone or radio plus a GPS.
In an emergency, a whistle is very important, because if you need to shout in a panic, you can get tired very fast. Be sure to buy a plastic one, because if it is cold and the whistle is metallic your lips can be stuck to it. And remember: three beeps are the universal emergency call.
The decision of whether a sprain or a broken bone requires immediate medical aid is a matter of opinion. If there is an obvious deformity somewhere in the body, especially in a bone that supports the body's weight, that's just the end of the fun. On the flip side, if the fractured bone is in a hand, and you still have several days of hunting or fishing ahead, you cam probably bandage the injury and use your other hand. Of course, this is a decision that has consequences; as time goes by, one or two hours later, you may begin to notice swelling, and the pain can become excruciating; this is a clear signal to get aid. The thing to remember is that if the accident causes any deformity in the affected area, you should seek medical help immediately.
You do not need a lot of drugs and pills to be ready. A shirt can be an effective, if makeshift, bandage. Carry aspirins, some anti-inflammatory, a signaling flare, etc; just basic stuff.
Some people tend to clean the bottom of blinds. This involves cutting bushes and can be dangerous. Suppose that you cut the shrubs that are below the blinds. As much as you want to clean them, there will be tipped trunks (branches that are removed) that you cannot cut. If you fall from the blinds you run the risk of being pierced by these "mini-stakes" (to call it something), causing some serious injury and even risking death. On the contrary, if you leave the bushes untouched they can cushion the blow in the case you fall, so keep this in mind.