Tag Archives: safety

First Aid Kit
Jun 8 2020

Returning to the woods then check your kit

As many archers come out of lock down and clubs start reopening after weeks, in some cases months of closure, I expect people will be getting their arrows and bows ready.

Can I ask you to spare a moment or two and think about other elements in your archery kit.

If you carry a water bottle, then are you sure it’s clean? It might have been left unused for weeks? This makes it a great breeding ground for bugs!

Do you carry a first aid kit on your bet or maybe in the car?

Whether camping, skiing, hiking or enjoying field archery I always carry a simple first aid kit, either in my day sack or on my quiver belt. It’s nothing fancy, just a simple kit you can pick up from most outdoor stores with a few extra items, I’ve added over the years like antiseptic cream, spare micropore tape, antihistamine cream, dehydration sachets, etc. Though I have had some formal first aid training thanks to Forest Knights course, I’m no medic. There have been times I have patched a few people up and found it amazing how few people carry such a kit. It’s one of those things you hope to never have to use but am glad to carry.

I have a larger kit in the car with a couple of thermal blankets, survival bags, bandages etc. all in a dry bag.  As it has been said sometimes you hope for the best but plan for the worst. If you check out the Forest Knights site they offer advice on what is useful to include.

Since it’s the start of the summer, (even though the temperatures have dropped), I would have normally already been to the 3d championships. I use that event as a timely reminder to check, replace and refill the kit. It’s worth checking to make sure everything is within date as sterile dressings, antiseptic wipes, etc. have a limited shelf life. You might want to check you have antibacterial hand sanitiser and gloves haven’t perished.

Some outdoor stores sell a refill pack for first aid kits, which is a good simple means by which to restock. One addition to the kit is a tick card, which is a small credit size card with a magnifying glass and simple prongs to help you remove a tick, though I have also got a couple of pairs of tick tweezers too as I have found the cards prongs not that good.

There has been a number of articles in the news about the spread of ticks and the increase in the number of reported cases of Lymes Disease. Lymes Disease is a potentially serious condition and here is a link to a recent BBC news article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-32429228 and another on the dangers of tick bites http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-27255853

Stay safe and thanks for reading.

May 14 2020

Impact of COVID-19 on archery clubs

Apologies for not getting much material out there at present. I’m trying to finish off the series on target panic and hope to have a “walk with Roger Massey” out in the next few weeks.

What little time I have spare is being spent on trying to work on the logistics of whether we can open our clubs field range safely based on current government guidelines.

This involves both risk assessment paperwork for insurance requirements and trying to identify work rounds for the physical limitations of the sites access routes etc. I think we will have to go down the route of bookable time slots due to restrictions of parking space and range spacing.

I would be interested in hearing from any clubs that are going through the same process as I now there is a push by many to get people out shooting again.

The National Field Archery Society has posted some guidelines on their website (https://nfas.net/) for clubs looking to open their grounds.

This is from ArcheryGB site for reference

Thanks for reading and stay safe everyone.

bows of Selection
Apr 15 2020

Turning the lockdown into an opportunity

With many of us in isolation, lockdown or simply finding more time on our hands due to COVID-19, it might be easy to go a little stir crazy.
So why not use this time productively in some way, you could improve your knowledge or fix up your archery gear, maybe make some new arrows. The thing is the possibilities are endless and it can help your mental health too.
With this in mind I thought I might post a list of different things you could do based on some articles I’ve written over the years.
Catch up on your reading
The other week I posted a list of books I have reviewed and wanted to share, not all archery related, but I think are worth a read Home isolation opportunities
P.S. John Hudson has just put out a book as a free download on how to survive a pandemic. Don’t worry its not a survival guide more about simple advice like don’t get hung up on every news report. (https://www.johnhudsonsurvival.com/)
Arrow making and repairs

If you have somewhere safe to be able to shoot, I’ve included a couple of links to some simple tips on range based exercises.

This is a tough time for many of us, largely because we are both social creatures and enjoy spending time outdoors enjoying our chosen hobby.

One thing I have found has helped me is unplugging from social media or rather the constant updates, news reports etc. I’ve taken to switching the phone off for a few hours and going to do some digging in the garden, reading a book or doing some online learning / research on topics that interest me. I feel better for doing this and having some down time.

Sure I’m still using Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp to keep in touch with friends and family. I’ve even got my 77 year old Mam on WhatsApp! The important thing is I’m not letting the constant deluge of stories fill my new found free time.

Stay safe and thanks for reading.