A “Guest Writer” talks about Hearing Protection….John O’Connor

Hi my name is John O’Connor, I am a father, outdoorsman and passionate about living a healthy lifestyle.  Over the past few years I have become more and more interested in hearing loss.  My father and grandfathers, who are and were all hunters, are affected by hearing loss.  I feel that there is a general lack of understanding around the issue and it is our job to spread awareness where we can.  Check out my new blog at bloggingwjohno.blogspot.com!

 

Stop and Prevent Hearing Damage While Hunting

If you enjoy hunting, there are certain safety precautions you need to take before each outing.  By ensuring that you bring hearing protection with you, you will find that your trip is a lot more enjoyable.  For most hunters, it can be easy to put most of the emphasis on the type of gun that they will use and the clothing that they need to stay warm.  While most hunters consider themselves to be responsible, they may also forget to bring hearing protection along with them to ensure that their ears are not going to be damaged.

Hearing loss is incredibly common among hunters of all ages.  Gunfire is very loud and can perforate the eardrum, leading to hearing loss over time. In losing your hearing, the only possible solution would be to get fitted for a hearing aid to help increase hearing levels.  The very best way to avoid this situation is to prevent hearing loss by using ear protection.  You should always carry some type of ear protection on you at all times as well as extra products to hand out to group members who forgot to bring their own.  Prevention is key when it comes to saving your hearing while you are hunting.

One of the first things you need to do is to look at the different types of ear protection available to you.  You want to choose hearing protection that is both affordable and comfortable.  By choosing things like this, you will be more apt to use the protection every single time you go hunting.  For instance, if you notice that ear plugs are uncomfortable or are difficult to put in while you are wearing gloves, you may not be inclined to use them every time you fire your gun.  Instead, you may want to invest in good quality headphones that are more comfortable and convenient when wearing gloves.

As stated before, you should also make sure that you bring enough hearing protection for your entire group.  Buy a large pack of ear plugs and keep them handy for everyone who needs them.  You will be thought of as a responsible huntsman who truly cares about the well-being of the group.  Plus, these ear plugs are very cheap and can be found in most stores in your local area.  You can also find hearing protection products by visiting your local gun shop and asking a helpful staff member.

Before you simply go out and start firing your gun at available game, you need to make sure that you are using hearing protection properly.  Once you lose your hearing it is generally gone for ever.  Besides other areas of your life causing hearing damage, at least be responsible while you are hunting and using weapons that tend to be loud.  You will find that you actually enjoy the hunting excursion a little bit more when you know that you are taking steps to preventing hearing loss from happening to you and everyone else who is with you.