July 13- 19, 2018 hernandosun.com
HERNANDO SUN
11
SPORTS Hunting
T
Be wary of the heat
his time of the year is an active time for us hunters. If we aren’t out chasing coon or hog dogs, we’re out gigging frogs, sowing food plots, preparing stand sites, practicing our archery skills and scouting for the upcoming archery season. But, this is also the time of the year when we must be careful being outside and active. Not only do we have to contend with skeeters, ticks, snakes and thunderstorms, but the heat. Heat exhaustion can creep up on you really quickly and it can be a very serious condition. Heatstroke can occur when our body’s temperature rises to a temperature of 104. Now, I don’t carry a thermometer with me out in the field, and I expect most of you are the same, so without checking our body temps, it’s best to be alert for some of the signs and symptoms to help you be aware that
Toby Benoit is a best selling novelist and professional outdoorsman with thirty-five years of experience guiding and outfitting for big game all across America. Toby is a renowned archer and turkey hunting expert who manufactures custom game calls and is a regular judge at NWTF sanctioned turkey calling events across the Southeast.
you are at risk. Headaches, extreme thirst, nausea, irritability and a rapid heart beat can let you know it’s time to go and get cooled off. But, if you ignore these warnings, other and more serious symptoms may develop, such as delirium, seizures and a loss of consciousness. Dehydration is a big culprit of heatstroke as someone who is dehydrated cannot produce enough sweat to dissipate heat in the body. If you suspect that someone is suffering from a heatstroke it’s important to get medical help as soon as possible. Heat exhaustion can make you feel mighty sick, but if you catch it early you can avoid any real damage to yourself. If you are concerned that you, or someone else out with you, may be succumbing to the heat, take these steps as soon as you can. Find somewhere cool where the person with you can sit or lie down and take off as much clothing as possible. The next step is to cool them down as much as you can, get some fluids in them; ice water is best, but don’t chug it, sip it slowly. Use a cool, damp
cloth on their skin, to help bring their temperature down, then fan them with anything you have to hand. Fanning encourages the moisture on their skin to evaporate, which is a natural way of cooling the body down. Now, if it’s gets too severe and there are any signs of seizure or loss of consciousness, by all means, call 911 and get professional help, because it can become a life-threatening event. If it comes to that and an ambulance is called, you need to be sure to inform the medics of any health conditions you’re aware of and if
they are taking medication regularly. Some people, such as older folks, little kids, and anybody with a heart condition are at an increased risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, so keep on them. I’ve overdone it on a number of occasions being out in the Summertime heat and have made myself terribly sick and I’d like very much for all of my friends reading this to get outdoors, but to please do so safely. If you have any questions or comments on today’s column, feel free to reach out to me at toby@HernandoSun. com.
Hernando County baseball teams are headed World Series tournaments Hernando County baseball teams are headed to their age group World Series where they will represent the state of Florida as state champs. Spring Hill Rookies (7-8 year olds) Congratulations to the Spring Hill American Rookies team for winning the Florida State Championship as well as the Sportsmanship award. They are headed to the World Series at the end of the month. Spring Hill American Baseball (13 and under) Dixie Junior Boys won their age groups at the State Tournament. They are representing the state of Florida in the Dixie Youth World Series. Hernando Dixie Youth League Boys (17 and under) Pre-Majors The Hernando Youth League Pre-Majors are the (17 and under) STATE CHAMPS. They are headed to Chipley, Florida from July 28 -Aug. 1 to represent the state of Florida in the Dixie Youth World Series Pre-Majors. TOP: Spring Hill Rookies win state championship ages 7-8 RIGHT: Spring Hill American Dixie Baseball under 13 - State Champs photos courtesy of Spring Hill Dixie baseball
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Your zeal for challenges usually works well for you. But this week it’s best to avoid jumping into new situations without more information. Vital news emerges by the weekend. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Once again, the Bovine’s patience pays off as that pesky problem works itself out without taking too much of your valuable time. A new task opens interesting possibilities. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Those suggestions you want to share need to be set aside for a while so you can focus on the job at hand. There’ll be time later to put your ideas into a workable format. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Be sure about your sources before you use the information in any decision you reach about your new project. Some of the data might be out of date or misinterpreted. LEO (July 23 to August 22) A sudden challenge might rattle you at first. But pump up that strong Lion’s heart with a full measure of courage, and face it with the continuing support of family and friends. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Watch your expenses this week so you can have a financial cushion to fall back on should things tighten up later this month. Money matters ease by the 1st.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Uncertainty over workplace policy creates anxiety and confusion among your colleagues. Don’t be surprised if you’re asked, once again, to help work things out. SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) The workweek keeps you busy tying up loose ends and checking data that needs to be verified. The weekend offers a chance to relax and restore your spent energies. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) This is not the best time to go to extremes to prove a point. Better to set a sensible goal now and move forward. There’ll be time later to take the bolder course. CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A step-by-step progression is the better way to move ahead. Taking shortcuts could be risky at this time. Important news arrives on the 1st. AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Avoid getting drawn into workplace disputes that should be handled by those directly involved. Instead, spend your energy developing those new ideas. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You still need to be prudent about money matters. But things start to ease by the end of the week. A weekend encounter with an old friend brings welcome news. BORN THIS WEEK: You handle challenging situations with boldness when necessary and caution when called for. © 2018 King Features Synd., Inc.