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Preventing Paralysis From Falls Out of Hunting Tree Stands
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Posted on: 05/15/2008
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In this study, researchers analyze patient cases from a regional spinal cord injury center who suffered injuries from a fall out of a hunting tree stand. The intent of the study was to show how often this happens, what causes these types of injuries, and how to prevent them.
The records of all patients were reviewed over a 10-year period of time. They were able to identify 22 cases of spinal cord injuries from such a fall. All 22 patients were men who fell from an average height of 18 feet. Impact velocity from the fall was estimated at 30 miles per hour. Most of the falls occurred in the evening.
Some of the men were constructing the tree stand. Others were getting into or out of the stand when the accident happened. No one was using a safety harness. The harness is made up of straps attaching the hunter to the stand. The use of such a safety device does reduce the risk of a fall.
The primary injury was paralysis from vertebral bone fracture and/or dislocation with damage to the spinal cord. Many of the hunters suffered injuries in addition to paralysis. These included rib fractures, punctured lungs, hemorrhage, and nerve compression.
It's likely that many more minor injuries from hunting tree stand falls are never reported. Such falls actually represent a major cause of hunting-related accidents. The authors suggest from the results of this study that most of these accidents could be prevented.
Fatigue, low-light conditions, and alcohol-use are modifiable risk factors. Poorly constructed homemade tree stands and failure to use a safety harness add to the risk of serious falls.
Hunting alone without a safety partner or safety plan can lead to hypothermia after injury. The result is a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of potentially serious life-threatening injuries.
Hunters need to be educated as to the dangers of drinking while hunting and especially when using an elevated tree stand. Annual inspections of tree stands and maintaining communication with others while hunting are important injury prevention measures. Improved treatment for spinal cord injuries is available these days, but prevention is an even better method for avoiding serious hunting-related spinal cord injuries.
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References:
R. S. Fayssoux, et al. Spinal Injuries After Falls From Hunting Tree Stands. In The Spine Journal. May 2008. Vol. 8. No. 3. Pp. 522-528.
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