Hunters' Guide to Treating Medical Emergencies

by Brighton, Patrick

• ISBN13: 9780897326285
• ISBN10: 0897326288
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-11-10
• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press

Summary

From gun shot wounds to poison ivy, physician and outdoor athlete Dr. Patrick Brighton covers everything a hunter needs to know to stay well on the hunt. Emergency Medical Procedures for Hunters prepares you to: prevent illness and injury, recognise illness and injury when it occurs and remain calm while implementing appropriate treatment as needed. By keeping descriptions and remedies for injury and illness simple, this informative guide enables hunters to be informed, stay calm, and appropriately treat themselves or fellow hunters. Reading this book before starting a hunting trip also enhances awareness of potential problems and fosters prevention of accidents and disease. With a refreshing splash of humour, Emergency Medical Procedures for Hunters is as informative as it is entertaining.

Author Biography

With wife, Kimberley, Patrick Brighton is active in many outdoor activities including mountain biking, ice/rock climbing, and kayaking. He works part-time as a general surgeon and full time building his house out of old tires. He resides in Ridgway, Colorado.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	1	(1)
Medications	2	(3)
Dispensing	2	(2)
Precautions	4	(1)
Disclaimer	4	(1)
Eyes, Ears, and Nose	5	(10)
Eyes	5	(3)
Foreign Body in the Eye	5	(1)
Retinal Burn	6	(2)
Ears	8	(2)
Foreign Body in the Ear	8	(2)
Nose	10	(5)
Nosebleeds	11	(2)
Nasal Trauma	13	(2)
Gastrointestinal Disorders	15	(8)
Heartburn	15	(2)
Nausea, Vomiting, and Diarrhea	17	(6)
Water	18	(1)
Food	19	(1)
Fecal-Oral Contamination (FOC)	19	(4)
Gunshot Wounds, Arrow Impalements, and Other Interesting Hunting Medical Misadventures	23	(4)
Gunshot Wounds	23	(2)
Arrow Wounds	25	(1)
Tree-Stand Injuries	26	(1)
CPR	27	(12)
Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)	33	(1)
Lightning Strike	34	(1)
Choking	35	(2)
Major Trauma	37	(2)
Extreme-Temperature Exposure (Hypothermia and Hyperthermia)	39	(10)
Hypothermia	39	(4)
Hyperthermia	43	(3)
Frostbite	46	(3)
Fractures and Dislocations	49	(14)
Compound Fractures	49	(1)
Simple Fractures	50	(7)
Facial Fracture	54	(1)
Neck or Back Fracture	54	(1)
Collarbone (Clavicle) Fracture	55	(1)
Rib Fracture	55	(2)
Finger and Toe Fractures	57	(1)
Dislocations	57	(6)
Shoulder	59	(2)
Elbow	61	(1)
Hip	61	(1)
Fingers and Toes	62	(1)
Open Wounds and Lacerations	63	(4)
Stop the Bleeding	64	(1)
Clean the Area	65	(1)
Place an Occlusive Bandage over the Area	66	(1)
Seek Medical Help	66	(1)
Backcountry Evacuation	67	(6)
Self Evacuation	67	(3)
Solo Traveler	68	(1)
Two Folks	69	(1)
Three or More Travelers	70	(1)
Seeking Outside Help	70	(3)
Animal and Insect Bites	73	(12)
Bugs	74	(4)
Wasps, Bees, and Hornets	74	(2)
Scorpions	76	(1)
Spiders	77	(1)
Reptiles	78	(3)
Mammals	81	(4)
Rodents	82	(1)
Large Cats	82	(1)
Bears	83	(1)
Humans	83	(2)
Miscellaneous	85	(12)
Massive Trauma	85	(2)
Lightning Injuries	87	(3)
The Feet	90	(2)
Dehydration	92	(2)
Dental Emergencies	94	(3)
Appendix: My Medical Kit	97	(2)
Index	99	(3)
About the Author	102

Excerpts

Most of us have only about 5 quarts of blood running around our bodies, so you may want to keep as much as you can. One of my very favorite teachers imparted to me an important caveat concerning bleeding in the trauma situation: 'there isn't any blood vessel outside of the chest and abdominal cavities bigger than your finger". Actually, given the size of my hands there isn't a blood vessel in a cape buffalo bigger than my finger, but the point is if you encounter bleeding, even scary, pulsating, massive bleeding; PUT YOUR FINGER ON IT! Really, it will stop. If it doesn't stop completely, put 2 or 3 or 4 fingers on it, and push really, really hard. You will have to have something to push against--wrap your other fingers around the arm, place the injured leg against a log, etc.

You will read in medical books to find the pressure point in the armpit, groin, etc to compress to stop bleeding. This DOESN'T WORK. I've tried it multiple times for gunshot wounds, and knife wounds to essentially all the major extremity arteries and veins just to see, but if you need to see for yourself, go ahead. If you do have a laceration of a major blood vessel, it may stop bleeding while you are holding pressure, only to start up immediately when you release. In this case you will just have to continue to hold pressure until you reach definitive medical help. Many times, however, bleeding will stop if you hold enough pressure to completely occlude the break in the blood vessel and allow the bodies natural clotting mechanism to form a plug. This may take 10-15 minutes or even longer. Keep checking every 5 minutes or so. If the bleeding is slowing down, keep on with the pressure until it stops. If it does stop, and it has been a very active bleeding site, don't bother cleaning it or looking for other injuries in the area, just cover it with a clean gauze or rag or whatever and get out of Dodge.

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Excerpted from Hunters' Guide for Treating Medical Emergencies by Patrick Brighton
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.