Post by LawrenceCoBowhunter on Nov 13, 2006 14:49:30 GMT -5
By BRIAN MULHERIN
Daily News Staff Writer
Although thousands of hunters have plans to head to deer camps and taverns after hunting Wednesday, some of them are destined to end up elsewhere — the emergency room.
Already this year, Memorial Medical Center has treated a couple of hunters for cuts suffered while gutting deer and has patched up at least two who fell from tree stands.
But rifle season brings even more danger of injury than archery season and not just because of bullets flying. Rifle hunters who aren’t as active as they once were often overdo it in their quest to bring home the big buck.
So while people in orange are thrilled for the arrival of the rifle opener, it can be a long day for people in blue scrubs.
“Usually, you come to work on the (deer opener, Nov.) 15th thinking, ‘Oh boy,’” said Ruth Sommerfeldt, a registered nurse who runs MMC’s emergency department. “You always come through the door at seven in the morning with a certain amount of trepidation.
“Typically, the first patient is a laceration from gutting his deer or her deer,” she said. “We’ve had some heart attacks in the past and we’ve had, that I recall, one gunshot wound.”
Among the things that may not show up in hunting-related statistics are the bad backs, sprained ankles and other bumps and bruises.
If you’re not able to shovel your own snow or mow your own lawn, should you try to drag a deer for several hundred yards?
“A lot of people are anxious to get out there and hunt,” Sommerfeldt said. “There’s a large temptation to physically do more than you’re able.
“If you’re having physical difficulties with mild to moderate activities, you probably should be checked over (before going hunting).”
It’s not just physical activity that can bring on injury — just seeing the buck of a lifetime brings on intense activity within your body.
One study found that a hunter’s heart rate can nearly double just from seeing a buck come into range, according to a press release from Spectrum Health.
Many of these deaths could be avoided by following some simple guidelines, according to Kevin Wolschleger, M.D., a cardiologist at the Spectrum Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center in Grand Rapids.
“First and foremost, know yourself. The hunters most at risk are those who are couch potatoes all year and then head into the woods for deer season. If you are not active, you need to take that into account as you prepare for the season and this pertains to both men and women,” said Wolschleger, who also is a member of the cardiology group, West Michigan Heart
Wolschleger, an avid hunter, said many factors increase heart attack risks during deer season.
“First, this is a male-dominated sport and men have a higher rate of heart disease than women. Second, consider the extra weight of carrying a gun, pack and heavy clothing. Add this to the fact that cold tends to restrict blood flow and that most heart attacks occur in the early morning hours. It’s not surprising you read of middle-aged and older men dying in the woods.”
According to Wolschleger, hunters should evaluate their health risks before hunting season and know if they are at risk for heart disease.
“Do you have a parent or sibling who developed heart disease before age 55 or had a heart attack before that age? Do you have high blood pressure or cholesterol? Are you a smoker or diabetic? Having just one of these factors increases your risk of heart disease,” Wolschleger said.
Not every hunter who has chest pains is having a heart attack, but many of them do.
“There are people who struggle with cardiac issues and hunting,” she said. “We’re probably going to see a few people with chest pains. We’ve had people die pre-hospital, too.”
Wolschleger doesn’t advise patients to give up a sport they love, he just asked them to be smarter about doing it.
“There is a lot to be gained by generations of families hunting together. Be smart in your preparations and in the woods, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when hunting.”
