Stoner
Protecting Yourself from Hearing Loss While Shooting and Hunting
Hunting and shooting are essential American pastimes in this day and age. People love to take out their guns and blow off a little bit of steam. Some do it regularly as their favorite sport. Hunting can be a fun activity when it is done the right way. There are some serious safety concerns that you have to keep in mind, though. Hearing loss is one of the major problems that hunters and shooters face in the wake of their activities. You must understand the risks of hearing loss and take the proper precautions to protect against long-term ear damage. My father did not realize the potential harm hunting could have on his hearing. He usually did not pay much attention to his hearing and now he is severely affected by hearing loss. In his late 70’s now he wears hearing aids to help him hear better. This is a prime example of not protecting your hearing while hunting. Take the right precautionary measures now to ensure healthy hearing for the future.
The Danger of Firearms
An article from Ball State University, suggests that many hunters do not wear ear protection at all times. In fact, younger hunters regularly fail to take care of their ears when they go out shooting. Firearms can be dangerous when you do not take the risks seriously. Firing certain guns can lead to chronic ear pain or long-term hearing loss. Though this problem is not felt by all people who shoot guns, the effect is substantial enough that it needs a broader audience. Given how easy it is to protect one's ears, it makes sense to take this precaution.
Enclosed Shooting Ranges
People who go to shooting ranges must be more conscious about their hearing protection. If you do your shooting indoors, you are in greater danger of running into major hearing issues. A smart hunter will do everything in his power to avoid these types of situations. If you need to practice or just want to do some shooting, you are better off at an outdoor range, but if you choose to take your practicing indoors make sure you are fully protected.
Using Earplugs
Many people think that they are protected when they use foam earplugs. These can be molded to your ears and are designed to protect on the most basic level. More importantly for some, these earplugs are very cheap. If you lose a couple of them, there is a good chance that you have an entire box waiting at home. These should be considered the baseline for ear safety. In many cases, they do not do enough to protect your hearing, but are better than nothing.
Earmuffs and Noise Canceling Earmuffs
If you want to take things more seriously, you should consider earmuffs and noise cancelling earmuffs. These products have been known to provide adequate protection for people who are shooting in outdoor areas. Those individuals who do the bulk of their shooting indoors or with especially loud firearms should strongly consider the more expensive noise cancelling earmuffs. Protect your hearing today in order to ensure healthy hearing in the future.
