Fishing

Fishing has its origins in ancient times when fishing was necessary to feed the local populations. Today, fishing is still a source for food, but it also is one of our modern recreational sports. It can be an inexpensive activity with just a cane pole, a hook, and some worms. Or it can be as expensive as you choose to make it. I know one fisherman who paid many thousands of dollars to paint schools of fish on the bottom of his boat to try to attract fish. I was told it worked: he won a fishing competition, and now has a $10 trophy on his mantle to prove it.

As long as the safety rules are followed, fishing is an excellent recreational sport for families. Fishing also can be a good escape from the pressures of our modern lives.

FISHING LURE EYE INJURIES:
In recent years, fishing has become the most common cause of sports related eye injuries seen in America's emergency rooms, often resulting in substantial loss of sight or even blindness. Exactly why fishing has now passed the statistics of basketball and racket sports is not fully known, but it is suspected that the newer laser sharp hooks are definitely contributing to the statistics. A hook going into the eye accounts for about 38% of the eye injures, with about 44% resulting from the eye being hit by a sinker or hard part of a lure. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), wearing regular sunglasses or prescription eyeglasses will not provide enough eye protection to protect the eye from the impact of a flying fishing lure. Instead, optometrists recommend using glasses designed for sports and which carry the AOA Seal of Acceptance.

OTHER COMMON INJURIES:
Lures exist solely to catch fish, but they also can catch you, your family, your friends, and your pets. Be careful when handling lures and pay attention to the location of those around you. Any time a lure is caught in brush or debris, it is best to just cut it off the line instead of trying to pull it free. A trip to the emergency room, or permanent injury to yourself or others, is a lot more expensive than the cost of replacing the snagged fishing lure.

It is important to keep your tetanus vaccinations current if you plan to fish. If you cannot remember when you had your last tetanus shot, contact your doctor to see if you need to get another one.

Wound infections which seem to have begun shortly after fishing should not be ignored. These include sores, blisters, puncture wounds and other breaks in the skin. If you have a weak immune system, you need to be especially careful about exposure to bacteria and viruses found in streams, rivers, and salt water while fishing.

Wounds can become infected with Vibrio vulnificus bacteria from contact with the warm coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Problems with this type of bacteria are more likely to occur during the warmer months of May through October (similar to Hurricane Season). If you become ill a few hours to a few days after being exposed to these waters or if you develop redness and inflammation around a puncture wound, you should seek medical attention immediately. Delayed medical care could result in losing a limb or even in death.

Casting is a repetitive activity and can lead to relatively mild overuse problems. Timothy J. McCue, MD (Curry Health Center, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT) researched overuse injuries in fly fishing. His study, "Upper Extremity Pain Seen With Fly-Casting Technique: A Survey of Fly-Casting Instructor" was published in Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. The results of the study were that of the surveyed instructors, 50% reported pain in the shoulder, 39% reported pain in the elbow, and 36% reported having had pain in the wrist from repetitive casting. Overhead casting seemed to cause less frequent pain than other types of casting.

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS:
You should not go fishing alone. It is best to go in at least a group of three individuals over the age of 18, so that one can stay with an injured person while the other seeks help. Always let someone know exactly where you plan to go to fish and when you plan to return home. If you are on the sea, give someone your anticipated GPS coordinates.

Keep a fully charged cell phone on you in a waterproof bag in a zippered pocket at all times. (You can't call for help if you leave it in the car or if it gets into the water.) If you frequently fish where there are no cell phone antennas nearby, consider getting a satellite phone.

Wear a life jacket any time you are near or on the water. It will help protect you if you should slip and accidentally fall into the water, which does happen from time to time and is always unplanned. It is concerning to read in fishing blogs of so many people admitting to having almost drowned while fishing, and and yet they continue to not regard a life jacket as an important safety requirement while fishing.

Don't fish barefooted or in flip-flops. Wear sturdy, protective, non-slip shoes or boots. One of my most "memorable" fish injury patients presented with a very infected foot from stepping on a catfish spine.

Be sure to have adequate drinking water with you and stay well hydrated. Wear a hat with a durable front visor (to help protect your face from an out-of-control lure, as well as from the rays of the sun), sunscreen, and protective, polarized sunglasses (either AOA approved or wrap-around). Also wear durable clothing appropriate to protect your legs and arms from scrapes and cuts. In colder weather, dress in layers rather than in bulky winter clothing (which would absorb too much water if you fall in). If it is summertime, you need your clothing to be durable, protective, and light weight.

Always carry a waterproof first aid kit with you. It should include wire cutters, utility scissors, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic towelettes, sting relief ointment, antihistamine capsules or tablets, ibuprofen tablets, moleskin bandages, adhesive tape, sterile gauze pads, roll of conforming gauze, and a variety of band-aids including knuckle band-aids. It is best to just cut off the excess part of an imbedded lure and immediately go for professional medical help, instead of trying to remove it yourself. Because today's lures are so sharp and jagged, you could do much more damage trying to remove it yourself.

Wear gloves while fishing to protect from bacteria in the water and on the fish you catch and have to handle. Use one of the antibacterial hand sanitizer gels or Clorox wipes several times each day while out fishing, or you can use a mixture of 1 part bleach to 3 parts clean water (prepared at home and safely stored in a plastic container). If you have cuts or skin sores, consider staying out of the water altogether until they have healed.

Keep a collapsible or telescoping wading staff with you. They are helpful getting down and back up slippery banks, and occasionally to keep snakes at an appropriate distance. It is best to wear your wading staff on you in its holster so you will have it within reach when you need it.

Pay close attention to the weather forecasts and always watch for unexpected changes in weather conditions. When doing salt water fishing, also watch for unexpected tide and swell conditions. Take weather warnings and unexpected weather changes seriously and head for shelter or shore as soon as you can, rather than "in a little while" when it could become a lot more dangerous.

               — Tom Parr, M.D.

COMMON SPORTS INJURIES & SAFE PARTICIPATION

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SPORTS MEDICINE RECOGNITION

Recognized as one of the "Top Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeons in the USA" by Castle Connolly.

Dr. Parr has been named as an "Outstanding Orthopedic Surgeon of Texas", as seen in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.

SPEAKER'S PROGRAM:
Dr. Parr enjoys teaching parents and coaches on the various aspects of sports safety. If you would like him to speak to your group, please call us.

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For after-hours orthopedic emergencies, Dr. Parr prefers you call him directly at 281-491-7111 or 281-537-4318. He may be able to help you get treatment faster and save you an expensive ER bill.