First Aid on a Shoot

Having just read an article in a shooting magazine there was a very interesting comment made about the health of some of the shooters and that on a shoot one person had passed away and one had to have CPR!!

This brings me to a subject which i feel needs to be thought of far more on all shoots throughout the country. Whilst none of us want to ever experience a fatality on a days shoot but what should we do if it every happens??

How many shoots do you know that are able to re-act quickly and effectively should the situation arise? well from my own experience none! which i feel is quite concerning when you think of where you can be at anyone time, 2,500 feet up on the Grouse Moors or 2 miles away from a main road across acres and acres of fields, which will be either snow covered or very wet.

Now, some shoots i am sure will carry a First Aid kit, wont they? no your possibly right (if they do it would be in a vehicle parked 100 of yards away!), they wont, however any first aid kit is not going to help a broken limb or even worse heart attack. Now many of us wont be trained in what to do, but what we can do?

Well, ideally having 1 or 2 people on the shoot First Aid trained, but i cant see that happening, but think it should, possibly someone from the beaters would be good. They should carry minor first aid kit to include:

Latex free gloves (Nitril)
Bandages
Plasters
Disinfectant hand gel
Disinfectant wipes
Foil blanket
2 way radio (poss already have one)
Mobile phone (poss already will have one)
Night Stick

None of the above would be to much to carry as could easily packed into a pouch and put on a belt.

Now, the next question, if you had to call the emergency services, how many people on your shoot would know exactly where you are to be able to give precise location?? i doubt no one!! so the dedicated personell would make there business to know these details to minimise the delay in the arrival time and to give vital information as to your accessibilty as you could expect paramedics to arrive in a vehicle not suited for off road and if you are out on the highlands or Grouse Moor the chances of the Air Ambulance arriving is very high.

Why not make a note of the GPS Co-Ordinates for the drives you do either via your mobile phone or Google Earth and keep these with you, at least you will be giving someone a chance.

Hope this breeds food for thought, however doubt anything will change (oohh Controversial) well tell me it will.

Look forward to hearing from you

Phil