Greetings!
Even though there is still a lot of great skiing ahead, winter has now sadly and officially ended, and the four CVOA ski trips of 2019 are now just fond memories. Altogether over 100 members went on one or more of our trips to Big Sky, Sun Valley, Mount Sainte Anne/Le Massif and Steamboat this winter. What great fun and skiing!
Back in February of 2003, the then-young organization of CVOA took its first ski trip to Fernie, British Columbia. According to Peter Weston, the trip leader, there were nineteen eager skiers on that trip including Peter and Judy, and Rick Chenard – all of whom have since taken only one year off from our ski trips.
Since that first trip in 2003, CVOA has taken over 275 individuals to the following destinations:
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- 2004: Whistler, BC
- 2006: Utah – Deer Valley, Canyons, Snowbasin, Snowbird, Alta, Park City and Powder Mountain
- 2007: Big Sky, MT
- 2008: Sun Valley, ID
- 2009: Aspen/Snowmass, CO
- 2010: Jackson Hole, WY
- 2011: Vail, CO
- 2012: Aspen/Snowmass, CO
- 2013: Vail, CO
- 2014: Trois Valley, France; Whistler, BC
- 2015: Big Sky, MT
- 2016: Whistler, BC
- 2017: Telluride, CO
- 2018: Copper Mtn, CO; Lake Louise & Banff, BC; Mount Sainte Anne/Le Massif, Quebec
- 2019: Big Sky, MT; Sun Valley, ID; Steamboat, CO; Mount Sainte Anne/Le Massif, Quebec
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Rick Chenard has been on 16 of our ski trips; only Peter and Judy Weston have been on more . . . 17 and counting.
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Currently the “ski trip team” is working with our tour provider Great Events & Escapes on destination proposals for 2020. With almost six times as many travelers now as on the first trip in 2003, planning more than one trip a year makes sense. A trip to Val Gardena, Italy, will be led by Mike Parker, and Cindy Foster will take a group to Park City, Utah. Suggestions for a third trip include Jackson Hole, WY and Aspen/Snowmass, CO.
Join us for our post-ski trip party on Friday, April 5
th, 7pm, at the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center yurt. There will be photos from this year’s trips, and a discussion of next year’s proposals. BYOB and, if inclined, a dessert to share.
CVOA ski trips are certainly a great deal – a great deal of fun and a great deal of skiing at a reasonable price. Consider joining one in 2020!
~ Bonnie Farrar ~ CVOA President
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Future Events & Adventures
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Friday, April 5, 7 pm
Adaptive Outdoor Education Center Yurt
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Join your ski trip buddies on Friday evening at 7pm at the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center yurt. We will talk about our 2020 trips:
Our first trip: Mike Parker will lead a trip to Val Gardena, Italy, in the Dolomites region, from January 25 through February 2
nd
. The package will run $2,100 pp d.o. plus lift tickets (~ $350). The package includes round trip air from Boston to Milan; airport/hotel transfers; accommodations at Stetteneck Hotel. An option for a two-night Milan pre-trip travel extension is offered for an additional $250
Our second trip: I will take a group to Park City/Canyons, Utah, from February 1-8. The package price of $1900 pp d.o. includes: round trip nonstop flights from Boston to SLC; airport/hotel transfers; 7 nights at Park City Peaks Hotel; 5-day lift tickets. There will be options for skiing Deer Valley and other area mountains.
A third trip is in the discussion stage: where are we going; when are we going; who will be the trip leader. We would like the trip to have condos for accommodations, and be less expensive than our other trips. If you have a proposal, bring it with you, or talk to Cindy.
The February Quebec three-night trip was very successful, and there is talk of offering that again.
BYOB, and if so inclined, a dessert to share.
~ Cindy Foster, 237-3711
p.s. even if you haven’t been on a ski trip, you are welcome to come and find out more about our trips.
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We are fortunate that Sky Lodge has offered another opportunity to host 12-18 CVOA guests. The magnificent lodge was first built in 1929 as a hunting and fishing lodge. The wealthy traveled from near and far to enjoy this nature based luxury. Each of the nine rooms has its own bathroom. There is an outdoor swimming pool, hiking trails, a private antique auto museum, a model railroad layout, Wi-Fi and a beautiful games room with its own pool table. Last year the not for profit Couri Foundation gave the Sky Lodge Resort to Unity College. Search for SkyLodge.Unity.edu to see photos of the lodge and rooms within.
When:
June 17 – 20, guests may book either 2 or 3 nights.
Where:
Moose River, Maine, 5 minutes north of Jackman
Cost:
$80 per person per day (no single supplement added) with all meals included: 2 days for $160 per person or 3 days for $240 per person.
Book:
2 nights (Mon.-Wed. OR Tues.-Thurs.) or 3 nights (Monday-Thursday)
Guests may bring their own watercraft for fishing, paddling or exploring nearby ponds and waterways. Canoes and kayaks are available to rent nearby. Use the lodge as a base to explore some nearby sites: Mount Kineo, white water rafting at The Forks, Greenville; Katahdin Cruises, B52 Site, Moxie Falls, Sally Mountain, and many other hiking trails. Professional fishing instructor Joe Loughran has offered to give a 2 hour fly fishing lesson for those who wish to learn this sport.
How to sign up:
Mail a check written to: Sky Lodge for 1/2 of your payment to: Mary Berger, 163 Fogler Road, Bremen, ME 04551 no later than April 20. Be sure to include your name(s) and what nights you are staying. The balance is due at Sky Lodge upon your arrival. Your payment is non-refundable, but can be transferred to another person.
Don’t wait! Six CVOA members have already expressed interest in this trip.
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The spring shooting season is just around the corner. That means new Range Badges and a new gate code will be mailed out around April 15th, and the code will go into effect on May 15th.
On May 11, a Saturday, we will be having our annual Range Cleanup and Cookout starting at 9am. Cookout at noon. Please mark your calendars and plan to help us out. Look for complete details in future emails.
The Range will be starting our weekly Five Stand Shoots, beginning Saturday, May 18th from 9-noon, and weekly Trap Shoots, Sunday, May 19th from 9-noon (weather permitting).
Are you interested in Pistol Shooting Games? We are looking to add another weekly shooting venue. If you might be interested in participating on a Saturday morning or afternoon, send me a quick email and let me know
CVOA.range@gmail.com
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Growth and Safety
Our Range has continued to grow and in an effort to keep better track of its use and provide a safer shooting environment for all, CVOA’s Range Committee is making the following improvements:
1. Starting on May 15th, you will see new signs posted at the entrance and shooting venues. These will provide sign in and safety instructions for Range use. Please take a moment to review these instructions.
2. All members, guests, and the general public, will be required to sign in at the front gate before proceeding to the shooting venue or clubhouse. This is regardless of whether the visitor is shooting or not. Our old storage shed is being modified as our new Gatehouse. Inside you will find a Sign In Sheet, Day Use Waiver Form for guest shooters, and Guest badges for day use visitors. The day use fee will remain $5, and if no Range Officer is present, the fee is paid into the lock box on the honor system.
3. New First Aid/Trauma kits will be located around the Range. One at the Rifle Range, one at the Five Stand Range, and one at the clubhouse. These will include basic first aid items like bandaids and alcohol wipes, as well as advanced trauma equipment such as tourniquets and quick clotting bandages. If you need to access the First Aid/Trauma Kit for any reason, please fill out an Incident Report.
4. Finally, the Range has created and adopted a Safety Operating Procedure, or SOP, which gives detailed rules and guidelines for Range Operations. We will be posting the SOP on the CVOA Range website, as well as forwarding email copies to our Range Members. Range Safety Officers are not on the Range during some of the operating hours. As such, during these Passive Range Operating times, it is the duty of all members to know and follow posted rules.
The Range would like to invite members to become NRA certified Range Safety Officers. CVOA will pay for your training, which will be invaluable to the Range. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Diane Stone at (207) 240-4752.
We look forward to seeing you at the Range!
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Some Interesting Websites
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Here are some websites that might be of interest to the "older" CVOA members, even as the season winds down. You can sign up for newsletters to get periodic updates and information.
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CVOA Logo Wear and more . . .
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Perfect for Helmets and More
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You might have seen some CVOA logo wear on display at Saturday's dinner meeting event. It has been quite some time since CVOA offered logo wear, and the time is now to bring it back.
New member Val Hudspath is working with member Mike Pilsbury, owner of Northeast Emblematic, on a selection of garments and other items. As soon as Val has worked up a plan with all the details of available items, prices, sizes, colors, and an ordering system, we will let you know.
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Perfect for Helmets and More
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You may have seen these 2” round CVOA stickers on helmets and skis around the mountain, and you surely will think of other places to display them. What a great conversation starter!
Traditional oval and the new round stickers are available at CVOA events, or by arrangement with Cindy or Bonnie.
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Adventure Coordinator still wanted...
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What does the position involve?
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- Maintain the calendar of events and trips
- Be the go-to person for members who want to be a leader
- Reach out to members for ideas and leaders
- Publicize events and trips to the membership through our monthly newsletters and mid-month reminders by sending the information to the newsletter editor
- Keep a reference list of past events and trips
Events and trips are the heart of our membership, and the Adventure Coordinator can contribute greatly to the vitality of CVOA.
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Past Events and Adventures
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February 27 through March 6
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Claudia Diller wrote: Steamboat was our first CVOA trip, and it set a high standard for the next. Tom had spent a week out there as an unemployed ski instructor back in the eastern no-snow year of 1974. Needless to say the place had changed quite a bit since Bruce “Boogie” Cole did his infamous non-stop down the equally famous White Out bump trail on his 220 Head downhills.
The direct flight from Boston to Steamboat was lots of fun. Tom and I and some other couples were split up. But no one groused - we are Sugarloafers after all! It was a great opportunity to get to know those folks we knew by face only. I sat with Kelly who was a fun seatmate on one side, and Barry from Boston on the other. Barry, an ex-Boston college baseball player and rabid Red Sox fan and I realized we were on opposite sides of the pennant race, but didn’t come to blows. We were skiers first on this trip.
We landed at the little Yampa Valley Regional Airport in five hours and were soon packed with our luggage and gear into two shuttles for a fast ride to the base of the mountain. Steamboat is a big wide complex surrounded by hundreds of condos, big homes stepped up the hill, a huge Les Otten era Summit Grand Hotel, and a thriving base village. Our home away from home, the Ptarmigan Inn, was one of the originals and a 70s throwback - very comfortable and right on the mountain with a short ski down to the lifts. There was an on-premises restaurant where we would be served a good buffet breakfast every morning (one of the servers was from Rumford) and dinner at night if we didn’t have the energy to get to town, an outdoor heated pool and hot tub, and a sitting area with fireplace that served as our daily 4:15 gathering place for apps and talk of the day on the hill. The 4:15 was also a terrific way to get to know those “faces,” who all proved to be a barrel of laughs as well as fun ski partners.
After a good night of sleep, we were all off and running into what would be 48 hours of non-stop fluffy snow with absolutely no wind - nada! Some chose to do a free guided tour, others struck out for the high meadows and tree skiing. The rest, like me, got lost. There were folks who did not ski all week but had a terrific time exploring the downtown. With free metro, it was a piece of cake to get anywhere you wanted to go. There were a lot of excellent restaurants, museums, art galleries, a movie theater and boutiques as well as major grocery and drug stores. Some folks would go dog sledding, into Strawberry Springs, and other fun optional activities our fabulous trip leader, Bonnie Farrar had arranged. Her work in childcare at Sugarloaf proved to be invaluable in planning for this bunch of geriatric kids!
It was hard to get used to the idea that there was no ice skating rinks lurking under the surface anywhere on the entire mountain, and that those puffs of snow were not hard throw-you-up-and-over-the-mountain bumps. They were simply big puffs of snow a two year old could get through. There were exceptions of course, where the snow got pushed into giant igloos on the steeper pitches. And the legendary bump runs were, well, legendary hard and bumpy.
But then the sun came out and everything changed! I stayed on the lower mountain with altitude issues the first three days, but finally got to the top on the sun drenched fourth. Tall druid like trees encased in snow lurked over the lifts on the way up the mountain. When I hit the top and turned around, those big, wide, beautiful white meadows of powder dropped down in to trails and eventually the valley floor which was spread out below like a huge quilt, fence stitching where ranches were staked out. It was stunning. And just like that we were beyond amazing skiers in our minds!
Tom (Hildreth) was more enthralled with the skiing. His report:
Steamboat is a big ski mountain with over 3000 vertical and expansive terrain. Except for some expert chute terrain off Mt. Werner, there is nothing very steep. The bulk of the terrain is long, long cruising runs with a pitch very similar to the Snowbowl on Narrow Gauge. With the soft snow and good light, you really could be a 70 year old skiing like 50, with heavy breathing and squeaky boots the only noise. There were some long and steep ungroomed bump runs that only a little guy with a long black coat would ski. The famous Steamboat tree skiing was as marketed and a recent bud worm infestation had made the lines even more open. The daily grooming report was very helpful (and accurate) and the grooming was more packing than tilling as there was no need for it. Steamboat really is a ski town, with 89 Olympians in alpine, cross country, and jumping, and the resort and town are all totally invested in winter ski sports.
This was a great ski trip – very well run and very affordable, with terrific skiing. For instance, the rack rate for a five day pass at Steamboat is $995. Our entire trip – lodging with full breakfast, skiing , RT airfare including ground connections – was under $2000. With the advent of the Ikon and Epic tickets with Vail and Alterra, individual ski vacation travel is being priced out of the market. Thanks to CVOA for these wonderful affordable group trips! We had a great time on and off the hill.
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Here are most of the 34 in the Steamboat group.
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It was cloudy with sun teasing us, and a little breezy but nice in the trees. The four legged participants were very well behaved, cute, and made us smile. The snow was 48 inches deep, unpredictable, interesting, and fun! There was an occasional, harmless, 'sinking in' but all taken in good stride. You might be able to see the impression of the trail as you read this.
How to get there: Just park at the Stratton Brook Hut trailhead, and walk 15 minutes on the Narrow Gauge. There is a big boulder 30 feet off the Narrow Gauge, to your right. Opposite that is the trail to the knoll, which is about 3/4 mile in a southeast direction. You can shortly see it through the winter trees. Please, if the snow is still on the trail, wear snowshoes to prevent holes! Thanks! And poles are very helpful.
Next guided trip is Homecoming Weekend. Stay tuned. Hope to see you then!
~ Jan Mildram, trip leader.
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Photo Left to Right: Jan Mildram, Barb Briggs, Herschel Collins, Jean Luce, Rick Chenard, Val and Sam Hudspath. Missing is photographer Bonnie Farrar.
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Annual Meeting and Dinner
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By all accounts, Saturday night’s Annual Meeting and Dinner was a rousing success. With 80 members in attendance at the Sugarloaf Hotel, the event was a bonanza with an hour of socializing over beverages and appetizers, an hour of sharing a delicious buffet dinner, the requisite half hour meeting, and an entertaining half hour with guest speaker LE Hughes.
One of our newest members commented on what a friendly group we are, and is looking forward to more involvement. Others I spoke with felt the same way. Conversation and smiles abounded.
President Bonnie Farrar welcomed the group, noted it has been a busy and rewarding eight months for her, and looks forward to serving as our president for one more year. VP Joe Loughran was recognized for the time he spent as president before he and Bonnie swapped positions.
Events and trips are the heart of our membership, so Bonnie summarized the many events CVOA held in the past year: 20 events, 16 different trip leaders, involving 631 people! Particular thanks go to the trip leaders, and to Stephanie Frost, who served as our Adventure Coordinator this past year. Stephanie is not able to continue in that positions, so we hope one of you will step up to fill the need.
Another event for which we are seeking volunteers is a fun celebration commemorating our 20
th
anniversary; it would be held in late 2018 or early 2019.
Secretary Cindy Foster reported that our membership count at the end of 2018 was 1160 members, of whom 582 are range members. These numbers include 124 officers from local agencies including Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, US Border Patrol and US Customs and Border Protection; the agencies are grateful that the CVOA Range offers facilities that meet the high standards required for training and qualifications.
Treasurer Mary Frank reported that she has been reviewing our finances from a learning perspective, and has been updating our QuickBooks records to include a numbered accounts system. She looks forward to working with the Finance Committee on long range goals and updating the charitable donation policy. CVOA is in a sound financial position with $75,000 in our checking account.
Range Officer Ray Stone reported on the state of the range, which had a very good year in 2018. Besides the weekly Five Stand and Trap shoots, they hosted: Annual Mason’s Trap Shoot with BBQ, Stratton Rec kids day “Cricket” shooting, and a Women’s Urban Rifle course with Sheriff Scott Nichols. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) has been completed, the berm project is finished, and cameras will be installed at the range.
A new check in/check out procedure will be put in place at the front gate.
The following officers and board members were elected (or re-elected) for this year:
- President: Bonnie Farrar
- Vice President: Mark Curtis
- Secretary: Cindy Foster
- Treasurer: Mary Frank
- One-year term to fill Mark Curtis’ board member position: Susan Strommer
- Three-year term board members: Val Hudspath, Mary Berger, Ray Stone
Bonnie recognized outgoing treasurer Elise Gebhardt for her commitment and time as treasurer in 2018. She stepped up when we needed her, and gave it her all, getting us through complicated range finances and annual tax filings, and other details. Bonnie also thanks yours truly for the time I spend on the monthly newsletter, membership details, range support, and historic financial information.
Under new business:
- A charitable donation of $500 to the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center for 2019 programs was approved.
- Mike Parker will lead a trip to Val Gardena, Italy from January 25 through February 2, 2020. The package will run about $2,100 plus lift tickets. Cindy Foster will lead a trip to Park City/Canyons from February 1-8, 2020, with a package price of $1,900. We are looking for ideas and a trip leader for a third trip, and a ski trip to Quebec is likely. Complete ski trip information will be sent out in early May.
- Val Hudspath brought to the meeting a selection of logo apparel from member Mike Pilsbury, who owns Northeast Emblematic. Val will work with Mike to select CVOA logo wear and develop a plan for sales.
- Door prizes were won by Herschel Collins, Mary Berger, Margaret Duren, Bill Haefele and Jay Gebhardt.
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Bonnie introduced our speaker LE Hughes, with whom Bonnie works at the Sugarloaf Day Care coaching little kids to ski. Bonnie is often entertained by the stories LE tells as they gear up the kids to ski. She quoted Bill Bishnell, who wrote “ … Lew-Ellyn Hughes is a woman who thoughtfully writes about things that make folks smile and be grateful for the little joys in life….” With her “… self-deprecating wry humor and tenderness …” LE lived up to her reviews as she read some of her work to us. It was a delightful end to our event.
~ Cindy Foster, Secretary
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Sunday afternoon at the SugarBowl wraps up
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The CVOA Bowling League wrapped up its season yesterday, March 31st; however, members still in the area may want to continue getting together to bowl on Sunday afternoons. Twelve of the regulars shown here proudly display their trophies and awards.
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Helmets and Head Injuries
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By Cindy Foster with input from other CVOAers
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I would like to tell you a story, a true story. A few weeks ago, Laura and Bernie Griffin of Colorado were visiting their very good friends Steve and Laura Schaefer at Sugarloaf. Laura Griffin, while skiing on Sluice, took a hard fall downhill, with a few tumbles before coming to a stop.
Laura Schaefer writes:
After Laura’s fall there was a polite response not to make a fuss or big deal … but when she spoke of nausea and dizziness plus the headache we should have moved more quickly for a medical opinion. Luckily, Laura did get to the hospital in time. Many factors were in her favor that day. First responders were on the mountain, daylight and great driving conditions, clear skies for the helicopter from Farmington to Lewiston, and a neurosurgeon at the ready. Precious minutes were ticking away. We were told that even 30 minutes more might have made a difference in her outcome. So, in the future I think I would be more insistent on getting someone on a sled and to a doctor immediately. Being polite and trying not to be a bother is a response that can cause more problems later.
Laura and Bernie spent the next two weeks in Maine, the first five days in the hospital after surgery to remove a large blood clot from the surface of her brain, and then recovery time in Carrabassett Valley. We are pleased to report that Laura and Bernie are back at home in Colorado, and Laura is slowly recovering from her injury.
Many ask – did she have a helmet on? Yes, a ten-year old well-worn helmet. Laura’s helmet may have saved her life, but with today’s technology, and the fact that helmets deteriorate with age and impacts, one can imagine that a newer helmet would have diminished the trauma to Laura’s head and brain.
And pertinent to replacing one’s helmet is volunteer patroller Mike Gallagher’s story:
I recently slipped on some ice while wearing ski boots, and hit my head. Luckily I had my new helmet on, used just three days, and I was not seriously injured. The next day Dave Emery asked me about my fall and said, "So, you are going to get a new helmet, right?" It was then that I recalled a conversation I had with Dave last year when he had fallen and knocked himself out. I was patrolling that day and when I saw Dave I checked him over and recommended he seek medical attention. Additionally, I told Dave that he needed to get a new helmet since his had been compromised by his fall. Obviously Dave wanted to make sure that I follow my own advice. Dave is a wise man and my new helmet should arrive this week!
Barring impacts to your helmet, how often should you replace yours? Joe Tutlis has a brand new helmet that
matches his br
ight color coat. I asked him kiddingly if he bought the helmet to match his coat. His response:
No, I bought a new one because my old one was five years old and I knew it was time to replace it.
His thinking is correct.
I had planned to write this article about the wisdom of replacing our helmets every few years, and any time we sustain a blow to our helmet. But also, remember Laura Schaefer wrote that if she were in the same situation today, she would have insisted on immediate medical care for her friend. We have also learned that sometimes the injured person is not in a state of mind to make that decision.
If you would like to know more about head injuries, please continue on.
From healthline.com:
Your head has more blood vessels than any other part of your body, so bleeding on the surface of your brain or within your brain is a serious concern in head injuries. However, not all head injuries cause bleeding.
It’s important to be aware of other symptoms to watch out for. Many symptoms of serious brain injury won’t appear right away. You should always continue to monitor your symptoms for several days after you injure your head.
Common symptoms of a minor head injury
include:
The symptoms of a severe head injury
include many of the symptoms of minor head injuries. They can also include:
When does a head injury require medical attention?
Head injuries shouldn’t be taken lightly. See your doctor right away if you think you have the symptoms of a serious head injury.
In particular,
you should always seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following
:
- · loss of consciousness
- · confusion
- · disorientation
Either call 911 or your local emergency services or go to an emergency room.
Even if you don’t go to the ER immediately after the injury occurs, you should seek help if you still have symptoms after a day or two.
In the case of a potentially serious head injury, you should always call 911 or your local emergency services.
Motion can sometimes make a head injury worse. Emergency medical personnel are trained to move injured people carefully without causing more damage.
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Do you have a photo suitable for "Photo of the Month"? Are you a CVOA member? If so, send your photo to: Cindy Foster, Newsletter Editor -
cvoa.secretary@gmail.com
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Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association
Valley Crossing #6
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
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