August 19th Chapter Meeting: Dave Heitzman, Field First Aid

by Rob Burlingame, Alamo Fly Fishers VP

Have you ever wondered what to do if you find yourself in an unfortunate situation while you are out on an adventurous fishing trip? How do you handle first aid in the field? What should you have with you just in case? Our August meeting will host Dave Heitzman, the Clinical Director for Baptist Medical Center’s Emergency Department. He will be discussing a range of aspects on what to do if first aid is needed while in the field.

Dave has been in the medical field since graduating from U.T. Health Science Center here in San Antonio in 1993. During this time, he was a member of the Air Force and involved with a wide range of emergency related services, including his roles as an Emergency Nurse, Instructor Flight Nurse and Assistant Nurse Manager of an Emergency Department. In looking over Dave’s resume, he has experienced some very exciting and adventurous nursing roles, such as aeromedical missions in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Joint Forge and leading a medical team for a NASA recovery mission in Kazakhstan. His various roles have certainly provided him with hands on experience for nearly anything one could experience while exploring the outdoors.

Personally, Dave is active as the Assistant Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 145. He has presented similar topics to his troop to help them gain the knowledge needed to live up to their motto, “Be Prepared”. Clearly, Dave is well qualified to speak on the topic of field first aid and should be a great resource to help us all be more prepared if something does happen while we are in the field. Come to the presentation with your questions…this will be a great opportunity to have them answered by an expert in the field.

Whether you are heading out later this month to chase redfish in the flats, catching the Hill Country action in full swing or heading some place more exotic, this is a presentation you will not want to miss. While none of us want to experience an emergency while we are out fishing, especially in a remote location, if something should happen, we would all want to be prepared. This presentation will surely give you a head start on what to bring and what to do if you ever find yourself or a friend in need.

I look forward to seeing everyone there!