Saving a hunters life

[stoneramhunter]

I have spent many years in the back country hunting sheep and over the years I've become confident in my survival skills. And to that point I like to pass on one tip that may save your life or someone else's.
Of course we all know that we should have basic survival skills when venturing into the back country how to treat a wound or deal with blood loss perhaps hypothermia and dehydration. My tip is that all hunters in the back country should know how to do CPR your hunting partner may have hypothermia or cardiac arrest or or trauma that stopped their heart knowing CPR may save their lives in fact it might be yours whose life is saved. Take a short course and learn it anyone can do it. As Note- the survival rate from cardiac arrest without medical intervention (defibrillator) is quite low but a few do survive .Administering CPR might be enough to save a life in the mountains

[albravo2]

I'd add that a bunch of baby aspirin should be in everyone's pack too. Super light and it can be a game changer during a cardiac event.

[stoneramhunter]

I'd add that a bunch of baby aspirin should be in everyone's pack too. Super light and it can be a game changer during a cardiac event.

Absolutely good idea they are in my pack as well.

[Ride Red]

I'd add that a bunch of baby aspirin should be in everyone's pack too. Super light and it can be a game changer during a cardiac event.

Aspirin 81mg is what is recommended.

[RICKADY]

Yes we should all be able to perform a few basic life survival skills,
no matter what we are doing,
more so deep in the bush,
ya never know!

[stoneramhunter]

i corrected my thread I should have said cardiac arrest instead of heart attack and added the note that the survival rate is low but some have had survived with cpr intervention albeit low you have nothing to loose. In regards to hypothermic cardiac arrest CPR can and has been administered for 6 hours before heart started with no neurological damage. so yes definitely works for hypothermia

[campking]

Thank you for starting this thread it is important people take the course it may save a life!
I for one can attest to it working having had the heart attack being brought back followed by a 6 bypass surgery.
Carry the 81 mg aspirin it may save your life or someone else's.

[adriaticum]

Benadryl too.

[Arctic Lake]

Great Thread !
Arctic Lake

[longrifle]

A great thread indeed srh! My contribution would be to suggest carrying an epi pen as well...The only issue that I've heard about is that you may have to have it prescribed by a doc before you can purchase one. I haven't researched to confirm yet.


'rifle

[GEF]

You can get an epi pen from your drug store.They do have a shelf life.

[Camp Cook]

Many trips are ruined by people getting cramps = take potassium with you

[stoneramhunter]

Thanks for the responses and pm for "Saving a hunters life". Id also like to add to hunters in the back country take the short course 1-3 hrs called "Stop The Bleed" it can save your own life or that of your partners when no help is nearby . You can find the site on google . I believe that they may do it as a zoom because of covid but in class courses are either free or up to 20.00 for the appx 90 min. well worth it for a deep knife cut, axe cut or animal attack should it happen. You'll learn how to stem the blood loss with very little resources. Enjoy the mountains.

[stinkyduck]

We saved a hunters life once. Snowing heavy all day, I was working at Walhachin looking to the south wishing i could be up there. was late November. Went home from work too late to hunt and close to 18 inches of snow, was many years ago. Call came in from some friends that a hunter from Van. island was late and missing, above Walhachin. Was after 9 Pm. Two groups headed up looking for him. We went to the last place he was left, called on radio and fired a shot gun. Nothing. Spread out looking in the dark snowy night, i figured we must head down hill. Once we chained his buddies truck up, and dropped down below snowed in trees, we stopped and fired again. Finally this time, lost dude calls on his little frs radio. Head back westward to where he thought he heard the shots, We find him crouched up tightly under a big tree and would not budge till we could touch him. He was very cold and only wearing some polar fleece camo tops and bottoms. He was only 500 yards from where they dropped him off, Yet never heard the shot gun shot in the dark and snowed in trees. That guy wold have died that night. He could not and DID NOT light a fire. We took him back to the pub in Savona and drank beer on him till just past midnight. He finally came down stairs and said have a beer on him. I said Ha buddy you been buying them since we got here. He spent An hour in a hot bath. BRING A LIGHTER.

[Treed]

If you are planning on fly in hunts or trips where access is really difficult, wilderness first aid would be a great idea. I’d like to do it one day, for work I have to keep my industrial first aid current. I’ve taken the course at least 5 or 6 times and never feel it’s a waste of time.

[mpotzold]

We saved a hunters life once. Snowing heavy all day, I was working at Walhachin looking to the south wishing i could be up there. was late November. Went home from work too late to hunt and close to 18 inches of snow, was many years ago. Call came in from some friends that a hunter from Van. island was late and missing, above Walhachin. Was after 9 Pm. Two groups headed up looking for him. We went to the last place he was left, called on radio and fired a shot gun. Nothing. Spread out looking in the dark snowy night, i figured we must head down hill. Once we chained his buddies truck up, and dropped down below snowed in trees, we stopped and fired again. Finally this time, lost dude calls on his little frs radio. Head back westward to where he thought he heard the shots, We find him crouched up tightly under a big tree and would not budge till we could touch him. He was very cold and only wearing some polar fleece camo tops and bottoms. He was only 500 yards from where they dropped him off, Yet never heard the shot gun shot in the dark and snowed in trees. That guy wold have died that night. He could not and DID NOT light a fire. We took him back to the pub in Savona and drank beer on him till just past midnight. He finally came down stairs and said have a beer on him. I said Ha buddy you been buying them since we got here. He spent An hour in a hot bath. BRING A LIGHTER.

Recently a RCMP officer managed to rescue a hunter who had fallen into a water-filled muddy hole in a wooded area & was stuck at the side of a rural Nova Scotia trail

- the hunter was underdressed and didn't have water, food or a compass, adding "had (RCMP) members not located him as quickly as they did, the outcome would have been tragic."

https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/n-s-mountie-heard-help-me-and-pulled-hunter-from-muddy-hole-off-rural-trail-1.6137475 (https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/n-s-mountie-heard-help-me-and-pulled-hunter-from-muddy-hole-off-rural-trail-1.6137475)

[Ron.C]

Reminds me of a Jim Shockey video I watched some time ago (I beleive it was the Professionals series)

A client was being filmed on an Island bear hunt when he suffered a cardiac incident after shooting his bear.

Guides kept him stable (for some time) until a CF SAR team was able to airlift him out. Even then, one of the guys on the ground had to guide the aircraft in to lower a SAR tech, ceiling was very low.

Very good show (episode) if you can find it and shows real life how quick a good situation can turn bad.


Always have a means of communications.
Have a means to start a fire/make a shelter.
Get training in buddy/self first aid.
Remain Calm

[markt308]

Reminds me of a Jim Shockey video I watched some time ago (I beleive it was the Professionals series)

A client was being filmed on an Island bear hunt when he suffered a cardiac incident after shooting his bear.

Guides kept him stable (for some time) until a CF SAR team was able to airlift him out. Even then, one of the guys on the ground had to guide the aircraft in to lower a SAR tech, ceiling was very low.

Very good show (episode) if you can find it and shows real life how quick a good situation can turn bad.


Always have a means of communications.
Have a means to start a fire/make a shelter.
Get training in buddy/self first aid.
Remain Calm

The guide used to frequent this site. Pretty sure he goes by "Bruin"

[srupp]

yup..the SHOCKEY episode massive jammer..well presented real life emergency

heart attack with no allergies to ASA products..2 x 81 mg ASA CHEWED...

DANGEROUS BLEEDING..
P...POSITION patient..laying down..lessens hearts need to pump vigorously.
P..direct pressure over wound
P..pressure point above wound en route to heart.

elevate the injured part of possible.
LEAVE IMPALED OBJECTS IN THE BODY..IE KNIFE..ETC caused the wound block the bleed
as a PARAMEDIC..stopping dangerous bleeds was my FORTE
keeP patient still..warm

get professional medical help notified ASAP..earliest available time..
steven

[Bugle M In]

Well, having had to try and save my dads life recently (not successful), knowing proper cpr is important and knowing what to expect (like potentially breaking ribs), is a must to do it right, and needs to be learned in a class, imo.
Yes, Eli pen and Benadryl, heavy bandages (not just the little small first aid kit).
Truth is, there is 3 main factors we are at risk of while out in the middle of nowhere.
First being, cardiac arrest or stroke etc.
Second can be a fall that results in broken bones or concussion.
Third is I guess a predator attack.
If you are truly in the middle of no where, or even requires a few hours to get to a vehicle, you are really up against the wall, as many of these issues require immediate medical attention potentially.
I guess a SAT phone.
Sometimes there is no other way to get help or get someone to help they need.
Even with that, it may not be soon enough.
It certainly is a risk we take for granted when we go.
Also, I like the idea of the gps that track your hunting partners location as well as your own like the garmin rhino versions do.
I know of one individual who didn’t show back up at camp and the hunting partners didn’t really know where to start to find him.
May have been too late anyways?
But I do know there were a few times over the years when someone like my dad did not show up on time, and the minutes feel like hours, and if the radio is off or dead, it can get stressful real quick!
Those lightweight blankets are a must also, just in case the person can’t move or be moved.

[Camp Cook]

We carry a Delorme InReach se just have to hit SOS and a team is supposed to be on its way that is if you have sat reception

[wallz]

Great thread and great tips all around.

Just be careful with the asprin. Some are allergic, and I could die from asphyxiations quicker than the heart attack.

[adriaticum]

Good advice, but I took First Aid level 2 for my company and for 3 years I didn't get to do anything. (Not that that's a bad thing).
Everything I learned evaporated by now.
The question is how does one keep on top of these highly perishable skills?
I don't know the answer.
I still have to book and I could always ready it again.

[Kluachesi]

''The mark of a true hunter and bushman is when you stop to help someone in the bush, preventing further grave injury or death, even if it is someone you do not like.''

[Squamch]

Good advice, but I took First Aid level 2 for my company and for 3 years I didn't get to do anything. (Not that that's a bad thing).
Everything I learned evaporated by now.
The question is how does one keep on top of these highly perishable skills?
I don't know the answer.
I still have to book and I could always ready it again.

Work in an industry where you get to practice.

In the last 3 years I've seen a death from falling debris, although it was just injuries and paralysis when he left the site, and a couple broken legs. Besides the normal cuts, scrapes, shit in eyes, etc.

[tigrr]

I was a Industrial first aid attendant. Oh the stories I could not tell.
The worst is brain injuries and working on parents.

[scoutlt1]

Good advice, but I took First Aid level 2 for my company and for 3 years I didn't get to do anything. (Not that that's a bad thing).
Everything I learned evaporated by now.
The question is how does one keep on top of these highly perishable skills?
I don't know the answer.
I still have to book and I could always ready it again.

I've had my Level 2 for over 25 years. Double edged sword when you work in an industry/workplace that doesn't offer any (or at least minimal) "practice".

Things have changed at FA training schools in the last few years, but when I first got going on it I was able to "sit in" on random classes. Best to just keep your mouth shut, and plan on a class that involves lots of going through "scenarios". Srupp would likely be able to comment better, but the ambulance service used to (maybe still does??), allow "ride alongs" (needed at least a Level 2). No pay of course, and mostly graveyard shift, but if you can find a way it's a great learning experience.
I've found that WCB courses spend a lot of time on "paperwork" etc...but are a really good foundation for sure. My dad was an "A" ticket Industrial First Aid holder for over 30 years. He would "practice" on me and my brother at least 3 times a year. Definitely knew his shit, although there were times I hated being the "patient" :-).

Get really solid on the basics, because that is what will serve you best in the bush I think!

M.

[nelsonob1]

Benadryl- I was deep in on an elk hunt this year and had my first ever allergic reaction to an insect bite. Pumpkin head, throat closed, difficulty breathing. Not a fun 5k, 2400ft vertical 4hr climb out. Had to dump my quarter, rifle etc to make it. Brought a whole new perspective on packing an emergency med kit.

I carry T3s - hurt my back once bear hunting and without them it would have been hard to get back to truck.

Good thread.

[Arctic Lake]

Yes great thread ! I also had industrial first aid training , but have forgotten a lot of it as it was 25 years ago . Having said that with my recent health issue ( epididimytis) and my better half’s health scare I find myself looking at anatomy books again .

I stand to be corrected but even if CPR is not preformed to exact textbook standards it still could save a persons life .
Chest compressions and air into the lungs ( Disclaimer this is not medical advice ! ) .

Always Always have a list in you wallet or with your hunting license tags a current list of the medications you are on .
For you fellas that take Cialis , Viagra or other ED medication medical professional need to know this when treating .


I always found that the diabetic situations where the toughest to remember as to what was needed when those patients where in distress
Arctic Lake

[hawk-i]

I've done the Red Cross 5 day and 3 day courses in the past, however the last time was about 15 years ago so any certification has expired.

Treating gunshot wound was also covered, worth while to have when hunting.

[Deer_Slayer]

Thanks! Good post. Happy safe hunting to all.