Doctors Urge Common Sense and Caution as Deer Hunting Season Begins in Michigan

November 15, 2000

EAST LANSING, Mich. — As hunters across Michigan load up their guns and gear in preparation for the opening of deer hunting season tomorrow, they also should add two aspirin and a cell phone to their list of necessities.

"The biggest problem is a lot of hunters are not particularly physically active except during deer season," said Mary Hughes, D.O., professor of emergency medicine at Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM). "Many of those hunters have underlying undiagnosed heart disease and get into trouble when they exert themselves in the field. It’s a workload their heart isn’t used to."Whether it’s a heart attack or an accidental gunshot wound, knowing what to do in those situations can save lives.The most common symptoms of a heart attack are:

• Chest discomfort, especially heaviness or pressure in the chest area;Unexplained jaw, elbow or shoulder pain without chest discomfort;Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing deeply; and
• Cold sweat.

"The biggest killer is denial," Hughes said. "People often deny chest pain and think it’s just indigestion, but it’s important to get to a hospital immediately if you have pain or chest pressure."

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Hughes says getting immediate medical attention is crucial, especially because time is of the essence when oftentimes hunters are miles away from a hospital or even a phone. She also adds that taking two aspirin during the symptoms has been shown to increase long-term survival rates.As a doctor in Lansing emergency rooms, Hughes has seen her share of hunting accidents, including accidental shootings."You have to see the horns," Hughes said. "You can’t just see something move in the woods, shoot it, and later realize it had an orange jacket on. You need to be aware of your surroundings and know where other hunters are."Gunshot wounds to the extremities may be managed with direct pressure or a tourniquet for the short term, Hughes said. But, more centrally located wounds to the groin, chest or abdomen are usually fatal because of their inability to be directly compressed and the likelihood that they have hit a vital organ or a large blood vessel.Hughes offers these tips for having a safe deer-hunting season and preventing unnecessary injuries:

• Tell somebody where you will physically be hunting so they will know where to direct search crews if you don’t return;Carry a cellular phone with you when hunting so help is just a phone call away;Pack a first-aid kit (and make sure it includes aspirin);Know the fastest route to the nearest medical facility;Be aware of the hunters around you;Avoid alcohol. Apart from impairing your abilities, alcohol can intensify hypothermia because it makes you feel artificially warm even though your core body temperature is dropping;If you develop chest pain or unexplained discomfort between the waist and the jaw, worry about it involving your heart and seek medical attention;
• Use common sense.

For more information about National Osteopathic Medicine Week (November 12–18, 2000) and events happening at Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, visit MSUCOM’s web site at www.com.msu.edu.