turkaholic Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 Been reliving a recent Tarpon hunting trip to the keys. I have just received my current bill for 5 stitches at Fishermans Memorial hospital. The bill was just shy of $2000 bucks. More than my plane fare and hotel for a week. I'm posting this because it got me thinking about traveling alone as I usually do. I made a mistake while wade fishing and punctured my right palm on a mangrove branch. What concerns me now is how unprepared I was for this. My first aid was safely kept in my hotel room 30 miles away of course. As I looked at my hand I knew I was in trouble. I was not even sure where the closest hospital was. I had nothing in my rental car except fishing tackle and some drinks. My fly line was half in the bushes and half on shore, my gear was all over. I had hurriedly gathered my stuff before my hand started to really bleed as it was pretty deep. All I could find was a paper bag, so I stuck my hand in it and steamed towards Marathon. I was so pissed at myself but needed to find a hospital fast. My car looked like a murder scene. Got to the hospital and walked into the ER with my bloody bag dripping everywhere. First thing they asked for was my ID. Back out to the car still bleeding like a stuck pig. Got my hand fixed up and a tetnis shot and I was off. The problem for me now was how was I going to still fish the last 3 days I had booked on my Tarpon charters. As the novocaine wore off I needed to find out if I could still cast. I drove to a spot and whipped out some casts and figured I could do it. My wound was high enough on my palm to seat my fly rod pretty well. I put a glove on my hand and it behaved well. I still managed 3 more full days on the bow and managed some decent fish. The moral of this story next time I will be more prepared for the unseen,especially if all you have is yourself to count on. I can only imagine if I was out on the kayak and this happened. Shark bait for sure. What an awesome adventure just can't wait for more. Fergal, Africaster and oax 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
55555s Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 Glad it worked out (sort of). Good advice to keep a "go bag" of essentials in your car/rental. Whats the story behind the boat? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 Feel better (and stick with bass) - Glad you're ok. I bought travel insurance for any "surprises" when I was stateside in June. Hopefully the rental company won't send you a bill too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horsefly Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 That is one nasty looking wound. Glad all worked out for you. Who says fishing is not a dangerous sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kones1 Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 Lucky x 10 no infection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turkaholic Posted August 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 3 hours ago, 55555s said: Glad it worked out (sort of). Good advice to keep a "go bag" of essentials in your car/rental. Whats the story behind the boat? That was unreal. That boat from Cuba appeared in my wade spot. I was called out of the water by 2 officers responding to a migrant landing. They chuckled and said no migrant has a $ 1000 fishing pole. 55555s, KidDkivahh and Niveker 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthefly Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 I think I would go rambo style and stitch it up myself in lew of the 2000. I once cut an ingrown toenail out when I had no health insurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlukeM Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 A good cautionary tale! Solo travel comes with a risk/reward balance. That’s a nice flapper in the meaty part. Bet it hurt awhile. First Aid 101: Pressure around the wound until it smarts, to totally stop the blood flow, irrigate with something sterile if you can, wrap it up and get to civilization. It helps to have pain meds, but not strong enough to disorient you if you’re walking out yourself. As you mentioned having none of that, sounds like a stressful trudge back to the car. Wonder if other fishermen saw the blood trail and what their reaction might’ve been! Winter is Coming! Get to the Beach! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapeDave Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 Tube of super glue and a band aid! That is one nasty looking cut! Fergal, onthefly and oneeyewilly 2 1 There's no need to blow smoke up my ass as a lengthy preamble to your insulting another person. It doesn't fool anyone and it doesn't garner any favor. TimS ---Tim To Otshawytsha October 16 2018 #3956 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shhh....Now Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 the idea of knowing where the closest hospital is when away from home.. .. thanks for mentioning that detail. oneeyewilly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckscorider Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 Ouch! Glad it turned out OK for the most part. I tossed one of this into my truck kit and my boat bag recently. Your story makes me think I need one in my pocket?!! oneeyewilly and oax 2 Crushed barbs save fish, keep that rod bent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaistick Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 Well @ least you got to finish your trip did you jump any? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phishallways Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 Ah, its but a mere flesh wound. in all seriousness, ive been cut in the salt pretty good. What i found interesting is I couldn’t stop the bleeding as long as i kept fishing and hitting it with the salt water. I clot well, but the bleeding only stopped at my camper when i washed it out with fresh water. I'll ignore your cheap aroma, and your little-bo-peep diploma, I'll just put you in a coma, with some dirty love- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phishallways Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 3 mins ago, Buckscorider said: Ouch! Glad it turned out OK for the most part. I tossed one of this into my truck kit and my boat bag recently. Your story makes me think I need one in my pocket?!! I like it! I'll ignore your cheap aroma, and your little-bo-peep diploma, I'll just put you in a coma, with some dirty love- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fergal Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 Damn… ASMFC - Destroying public resources and fisheries one stock at a time since 1942. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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