Bullet Wound
One injury that most people never even think about preparing for is a bullet wound. You may think that you will always be able to get medical attention for this type of injury, but what would happen if you were shot while in the woods? If you are a hunter, this is a scenario that could very well happen to you. Whether you are in the woods alone or with a group of hunters, you want to be prepared for anything that happens and that includes a bullet wound.
A bullet wound is a serious wound and knowing how to care for one is important, though hopefully something you never need to deal with. Hunting is one potential source of a bullet wound, but accidents in other areas of life can happen. Your main job is to call for help and stop the bleeding.
The first thing that you need to do if you or a member of your group is shot is to make sure that you are safe. If you do not know who shot at you, you want to be sure that nobody is shot at again; your safety comes first. Make it clearly known that you are human by shouting or yelling. If the shooting is still occurring, it may be necessary to move away to a safe area. It is best to keep the victim still, but for safety reasons, it may be warranted that the patient is moved to keep you both out of the line of fire. Call for medical help if your cell phone has reception.
After you are sure that you and/or the victim are safe, check the wound. Move clothing away from the wound, so you can clearly see where the victim was shot and the extent of the damage. Maintain pressure on the wound for at least 10 minutes using the heel of the hand with gauze pads or clean bandages. If medical supplies are not handy you can use a clean article of clothing or other material. Using a cold ice pack can help to slow the flow of blood as well. If the bleeding does not stop or slow down after 10 minutes, it may be necessary to change where you are applying pressure.
If the bullet wound is located on the arm or leg, it may be necessary to stop blood flow to the area. A tourniquet applied above the wound can save your life. This should be a last resort, because it can cause lose of the limb if not administered correctly. Only use this method in the case of saving a life and a tourniquet can only be used on the arm or leg. And once the tourniquet is applied don't remove it, leave that to the hospital personnel.
Do not try to remove the bullet. Infection is a very real danger if you try to remove the bullet without sterile conditions. Getting an infection can cause even more issues that will exacerbate your condition and can possibly be fatal. Bullet removal needs to be left to the medical professionals.
Apply dressings to the wound after it has stopped bleeding. Sterile gauze pads or bandages are the first choice, but if you do not have first aid supplies, you can use a clean shirt or other cloth item to cover the wound. Keeping the wound covered will help to keep dirt, debris, and germs from getting into it.
Keep the victim as calm and stable as possible get them to a location where they can receive medical attention as soon as possible. Keep the victim cool and comfortable until medical help is found.
A bullet wound is not something that you ever want to think about, but it is a very real possibility if you are a hunter. By being prepared, you can better care for yourself and for the people that are with you to give them the best chance at making it through this injury without lasting damage or death.
