WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — As the temperatures cool down, hunters across the area will head outdoors from the early morning hours until sunset, waiting for the perfect shot. However, UPMC healthcare providers have already seen several hunting injuries this year, and they have a few reminders for hunters before they climb up the treestand.
"Let someone know where you will be hunting and how long you'll be out hunting. That will guarantee someone's checking on you if you're not where you said you would be at a certain time, and also we see a lot of patients that suffer medical events when they're out in the woods—wearing a lot of clothing, carrying large deer," said Erin Holmes, UPMC Williamsport.
Erin Holmes is a physician assistant with the trauma and acute surgery team at UPMC Williamsport. She says walking a long distance in the woods with heavy equipment can strain the body.
"Throughout the year, make sure you're keeping up your fitness, and you don't have to walk for extensive amount, but making sure throughout the year, you're either walking on the treadmill or getting walks outside so that the first time you're not doing a big stress on your body is the first time you're going out hunting," said Holmes.
She adds that sitting in a tree stand for long periods of time can also be stressful for the body.
And with temperatures fluctuating throughout the day, holmes says to dress in layers.
"So that if you're too hot or too cold, you can add on easily, it's important that lowest layer you're wearing that's touching your skin is something that will wick away and moisture, so that's not sitting on your skin causing you to be more cold," said Holmes.
Holmes says she sees a variety of injuries during the hunting season.
"Rib fractures, long bone injuries, and head injuries are associated with that, also specifically with—related to firearms and crossbows, accidental discharge related to those—we have seen quite a few of those," said Holmes.
Holmes also wants to remind hunters to stay hydrated while in the woods and to eat enough throughout the day.