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"Let others know where you are and when you plan to return."
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Anthony Foster, M.D. is a Board Certified Family Practice Physician at Mecosta Health Services in Big Rapids (and also a huner).
He offers medical care to adults and children and handles maternity care and deliveries.
Call (231) 796-3200 for an appointment.
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True Hunter Story – How safe are you?
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Bill, 35 years old, has been hunting since he was a child. He knows all the safety precautions of hunting - everything from various types of weather conditions to appropriate dress and weapon safety. As a matter of fact, his hunting buddies have nick-named him "Mr. Safety".
Bill and his friends agreed at the beginning of hunting season this year that they would never go hunting by themselves, and they would always let each other know where they are and what time they should be back home.
On Thursday, October 21, 2004, after a long nightshift at work, Bill decided he was going to get a few hours of hunting in. He drove to his favorite hunting spot in Barry County. He realized when he was 2 hours into his drive, that he forgot his harness. (A hunter's harness is designed to prevent a fall and prevent injuries). He couldn't see the logic in worrying about not having it - just this one time. Little did he know.
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That morning while in his tree stand, he fell asleep. He was about two feet from the ground when he awoke as he was falling, out of the tree. He remembers lying there about 5-6 hours, unable to reach his cell phone in his shirt pocket because he could not move his arms. His friends finally came looking for him and he was transported to Spectrum downtown.
This 350 pound man now has numerous stitches in his nose and an injured knee and hip. He was not able to move his arms and fingers, and an MRI found that he broke his neck and a rib. He had a 5-hour surgery on his neck-a decompression and fusion to repair 5 vertebrae using bone from his hip. The surgeon planned to go back into the front of his neck to complete the surgery which was scheduled five days after the first one (on his birthday) since there was too much swelling to do everything at once. They will not know the extent of damage until the surgeries are done and the swelling has gone down.
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He was in critical care for approximately 12 days, and is currently alert and talking, but he has had lack of sleep because he is uncomfortable and in a lot of pain. His legs, arms, toes, and fingers started moving, but his right side is not as far along as his left. He said that his right hand felt like dead weight.
He was moved to a Rehab Center close to his home to allow the swelling to go down in his neck. Then they will bring him back to Spectrum for follow up surgery on the front of his neck.
What is the purpose of telling you this recent true story? As a physician and an avid hunter myself, I want all hunters to know that we need to stand firm in our safety precautions. One slip and your life can change - for the worst.
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Remember these important hunting tips:
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- Stay in shape - exercise and strengthen your muscles as well as shooting skills. (goal-keep your heart rate above normal for at least 30 minutes each time) Stay flexible to keep a full range of mobility in all joints and muscles. Exercising can also strengthen the heart. More people die from heart attacks than shootings while hunting. Heart attacks can happen when hunters are excited about hunting and exert themselves dragging deer out of the woods. Hunters should get help locating and dragging deer. Symptoms of a heart attack include shortness of breath, unexplained sweating, chest pain, and faintness. If you think you or someone else in your hunting group is having a heart attack, stop, sit down, rest, and get help. Every hunter/person should know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). For more information about learning CPR call the MCGH Education Department at 231-592-4380.
- Wear appropriate harnesses/inspect your tree stand/use caution with climbing devices. Remember to screw in steps that can dislodge.
- Let others know where you are and when you plan to return.
- Slow down to help avoid cuts and other injuries.
- Dress in warm layers, wear gloves, a hat, earmuffs, and a water resistant poncho for extra protection to prevent hypothermia.
- Do not mix alcohol with hunting.
- Practice prudent gun/archery safety.
- Only aim and shoot at identifiable targets, not moving bushes.
- Use ear protection when shooting from enclosed blinds and wear it just before firing.
- Have some ATV (all-terrain vehicle) training.
- Do not hunt after dark. This isn't only a safety issue, it's the law.
(Continued.. page 2) 
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