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The cooler autumn weather seems to be upon us.
Soon we will be facing the frigid temperatures of winter. Hunters
should be aware of the dangers of hunting
during any weather, but
especially during the winter months.
Your body's normal temperature is 98.6 degrees
Fahrenheit. Your body's regulatory mechanisms try hard to maintain that
temperature at all times, which in turn helps you to remain sharp to
bag that buck.
There are steps that you should take to help your
body do its job properly. First, as part of your preparation for
hunting, you should obtain a physical from your family doctor. Nothing
can ruin a good hunting trip faster than poor health.
Listed below are some precautions and tips for
hunters, compiled from Field and Stream magazine, Quest Diagnostics,
Survival IQ Handbook and the Web site www.essortment.com.
The following are some general health precautions:
• Take an
emergency first aid kit
with you, so that you are prepared for any
cold, wet or windy weather conditions that might arise.
• Avoid
overexertion and sweating. Sweating increases heat loss through
evaporation.
• Carry a
cellular phone or radio to remain in contact with others if an
emergency arises. A Global Positioning
System (GPS) unit may also be
helpful if you become lost.
• A wristwatch
will help you plan when it's time to head back before nightfall.
• Carry a
flashlight and whistle in the event you become lost.
• Matches or a
lighter will help to build a fire that may be needed if you become
stranded in the woods.
Nutrition tips for a safe hunting experience
include the following:
• Eat plenty of
food to help maintain your body heat. Carry high-calorie foods, such as
candy bars and trail mix.
• Drink plenty of
water. Carry extra water with you, and drink it when needed, at least
hourly.
• Avoid caffeine
and nicotine, which can cause narrowing of the blood vessels, resulting
in a cold hands and feet. Caffeine is also a diuretic, which dehydrates
the body.
• Do not drink
alcoholic beverages. Alcohol interferes with the body's ability to
regulate body temperature and gives a false sense of warmth.
Clothing tips for hunting include the following:
• Wear hunting
gear rated for the weather you expect to encounter. Dress in
layers.
When hiking to your tree stand or hunting spot, dress lightly to
minimize sweating. After arrival at your hunting spot, add the heavier
clothing. Maintaining warmth without sweating is your goal.
• Wear
loose-fitting hunting clothing. Tight
clothing and footgear restricts blood
circulation and invites cold injuries. The dead air between loose
layers of clothing acts as extra insulation.
• Wear socks that
retain warmth and keep moisture away from your skin.
• Keep clothing
clean. Clothing matted with dirt and grease loses much of its
insulation value.
• Remaining dry
is the key to preventing cold injuries.
Remember that hypothermia can set in even in
50-degree weather. Just by dropping your internal body temperature to
95 degrees can cause you to become hypothermic, inducing impaired
judgment. Your body's initial symptom is shivering.
To treat hypothermia, immediate re-warming of the
entire body is essential. Return to camp or a warm environment
immediately. If an altered level of consciousness is noticed, seek
emergency medical services immediately.
Mount Nittany Medical Center is offering a free
hunters' health screening from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday on the ground
floor, Conference Rooms 1, 2 and 3. You must have a current
Pennsylvania hunting license to participate.
The screening offers tetanus boosters, hearing
tests, EKGs, cholesterol screenings, blood glucose screenings, body
mass index screenings and vision screenings. This is, however, no
substitution for a regular check-up from your family doctor.
Rich A. Kelley is the prehospital clinical
supervisor in the department of prehospital services at Mount Nittany
Medical Center.
--CentreDaily.com
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