It was fairly warm today, forecasted to be in the '90s and typical humidity for Arkansas. Fortunately, the Game and Fish commision range at Mayflower has covered benches and an air-conditioned range office, complete with running water and working (fairly) clean toilets.
I was at the end of the pistol range farthest away from the range office, positioned next to the gentleman who brings out his S&W autoloaders for a day of tidy groups. He even has the rare S&W autoloader chambered for .38 Special. Always a pleasure to chat with him and watch him shoot.
Looking past him towards the range office, I see one of the men who was earlier firing a Ruger .22 pistol at 25 yard targets. The man, whose name I learned later was Dave Stewart, was leaning against the wall with one hand, his other hand on his knee. He appeared to half lie down and half fall to his side on the ground. I cleared my guns and hurried over to him, since no one else appeared to immediately notice. Most of us are focused on our targets and our guns when we're at the range.
He was in some distress but it was hard to tell much other than he said he felt like vomiting and was very dizzy. He didn't report pain or difficulty breathing, but he obviously needed help. The RO had seen me running and was outside by this time, so I told him to call 9-1-1. Fire department personnel were the first responders, very quickly there. EMS arrived in another 10-15 minutes.
Mr Stewart refused to be taken to the hospital, or even to be examined closely. The RO said Mr Stewart was former military, but Mr Stewart said he had no health insurance. He said he only wanted to get in his bed and lie down. They called his mother, who he lived with nearby and who came and picked him up. If I had to guess, I'd put Stewart in his 60s. I wouldn't know how old his mother is since I don't guess a woman's age anymore; I've played with enough fire in my life.
Stewart's dizziness did not seem to relent, and he was sick at least two more times after he fell. But he stubbornly refused to accept medical treatment or examination.
The RO said that Mr Stewart had been coming to that range for many years. He was apparently on a fixed income, and shooting his .22s was one of his sources of enjoyment. Right before they helped him to his mother's vehicle, I grasped his shoulder and told him next time I saw him out there I hoped he was shooting standing and not prone. He thanked me and I left.
Many of the older, retired guys around here seem to know each other, so I thought I'd share this in case any of you know Dave Stewart and want to prod him to see a doctor. Also to prod some of you stubborn old codgers to take care of yourselves. I much prefer reading your angry diatribes here to reading your obituaries elsewhere.
jm
I was at the end of the pistol range farthest away from the range office, positioned next to the gentleman who brings out his S&W autoloaders for a day of tidy groups. He even has the rare S&W autoloader chambered for .38 Special. Always a pleasure to chat with him and watch him shoot.
Looking past him towards the range office, I see one of the men who was earlier firing a Ruger .22 pistol at 25 yard targets. The man, whose name I learned later was Dave Stewart, was leaning against the wall with one hand, his other hand on his knee. He appeared to half lie down and half fall to his side on the ground. I cleared my guns and hurried over to him, since no one else appeared to immediately notice. Most of us are focused on our targets and our guns when we're at the range.
He was in some distress but it was hard to tell much other than he said he felt like vomiting and was very dizzy. He didn't report pain or difficulty breathing, but he obviously needed help. The RO had seen me running and was outside by this time, so I told him to call 9-1-1. Fire department personnel were the first responders, very quickly there. EMS arrived in another 10-15 minutes.
Mr Stewart refused to be taken to the hospital, or even to be examined closely. The RO said Mr Stewart was former military, but Mr Stewart said he had no health insurance. He said he only wanted to get in his bed and lie down. They called his mother, who he lived with nearby and who came and picked him up. If I had to guess, I'd put Stewart in his 60s. I wouldn't know how old his mother is since I don't guess a woman's age anymore; I've played with enough fire in my life.
Stewart's dizziness did not seem to relent, and he was sick at least two more times after he fell. But he stubbornly refused to accept medical treatment or examination.
The RO said that Mr Stewart had been coming to that range for many years. He was apparently on a fixed income, and shooting his .22s was one of his sources of enjoyment. Right before they helped him to his mother's vehicle, I grasped his shoulder and told him next time I saw him out there I hoped he was shooting standing and not prone. He thanked me and I left.
Many of the older, retired guys around here seem to know each other, so I thought I'd share this in case any of you know Dave Stewart and want to prod him to see a doctor. Also to prod some of you stubborn old codgers to take care of yourselves. I much prefer reading your angry diatribes here to reading your obituaries elsewhere.
jm
