| Hunting can provide opportunities for many types of | | | | who are able to assist you, ask for their help in |
| injuries. Being prepared is your best defense against | | | | applying pressure to a wound. If the bleeding is |
| disabling injuries or even life-threatening accidents. | | | | profuse and the wound in located on an arm or leg, |
| Knowing some basic first aid and using common | | | | you can use your belt or a section of rope to wrap |
| sense when in the wild can save both life and limb. | | | | around the limb and secure tightly to restrict blood |
| CPR | | | | flow to the injured area and slow the bleeding. This is |
| If you don't know CPR, learn it. Call your local | | | | called a tourniquet. |
| hospital, EMS, or fire department to find out when | | | | Call for help! After you have controlled breathing and |
| and where you can attend a community CPR class. | | | | provided an initial round of CPR, call for help and then |
| You never know when you may need to perform | | | | continue CPR until rescue workers arrive. Performing |
| CPR on a friend, family member, or even a stranger. | | | | CPR can be exhausting. If others are available to |
| A few hours of your time could save a life someday. | | | | help, perform two-person CPR or trade off tasks |
| Many CPR classes offer basic first aid classes as well. | | | | frequently to prevent rescuer exhaustion. |
| Check with your local provider to see if this option is | | | | If you or another hunter falls from a tree stand or |
| available before registering for a class. | | | | other elevated area, do NOT move until you are sure |
| Safety Rules during A Crisis | | | | there have been no spinal injuries. Moving a person |
| The first rule of safety during a crisis may sound | | | | who has spinal injuries can cause shattered bone to |
| selfish but it is important. Take care of yourself first. | | | | cut through the spinal cord and result in paralysis. Ask |
| Check the scene of an accident for unsafe conditions. | | | | the fall victim to move their fingers and toes only. If |
| Make the area safe for yourself and bystanders | | | | they are unable to, they have injured their spinal |
| before beginning first aid. The reasoning behind this | | | | column and need special care in moving. If they are |
| rule is that if you become injured or incapacitated, | | | | breathing and not bleeding profusely, leave them in |
| you can't help anyone else. If you become injured, | | | | the position they are in and get help. |
| rescue workers arriving on the scene will then have | | | | If they are able to move fingers and toes, gently |
| you as an added victim to care for. Seconds make a | | | | turn them over onto their back if they are not |
| difference in a crisis, but take a few beforehand to | | | | already positioned so. Try to turn them as if they |
| ensure that you will be able to provide the help that | | | | were a log; keep the head, legs and torso aligned and |
| is needed. | | | | stiff as you roll them. This will prevent any |
| Basic First Aid | | | | compression on the spinal cord should the vertebra |
| Healthcare personnel are taught the ABC's of first aid: | | | | protecting the cord be compromised. |
| Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. Your first concern | | | | Some falls and spinal injuries that affect the neck |
| is whether the accident victim has a clear airway. If | | | | area can result in a person not being able to breathe |
| the mouth or throat is blocked by blood, water, or | | | | on their own. If this happens, you must provide |
| objects, tend to this matter first. Next, see if the | | | | rescue breathing for them until help arrives. |
| victim is breathing or is in danger of ceasing to | | | | Using firearm safety and common sense like avoiding |
| breathe. The brain and vital organs cannot last long | | | | aggressive animals can go a long way to prevent |
| without oxygen. Provide rescue breathing if | | | | hunting accidents. Educate yourself, hunt with others, |
| necessary. | | | | and always tell someone where you will be hunting |
| Then, check for a heart beat and any injuries that | | | | and when you will return. Keeping safe in the woods |
| may be seeping blood. Apply pressure to any areas | | | | is everyone's responsibility. Be sure to do your part. |
| that are bleeding with a clean cloth if possible. Don't | | | | Want to find out about deer hunting tips and cougar |
| be afraid to press hard! If there are others present | | | | hunting? Get tips from the Hunting Info website. |