EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) -- With bow hunting season in full gear and gun hunting just around the corner, a local doctor wants to keep hunters out of the emergency room by sharing life-saving tips online.

Dr. David Ciresi, an avid bow hunter and trauma surgeon at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire stars in a YouTube video, showing hunters how to use a treestand and a safety harness.

Dr. Ciresi said he sees about 10 patients a year with major injuries from treestands. He said these sometimes critical injuries are 100% preventable.

His goal: prevent the plethora of injuries he sees flowing into the emergency room every deer hunting season.

The doctor-hunter said he’s seen a wide range of injuries from treestands, including hunters with broken ribs and collapsed lungs.

“People that will fall out and land on their legs will break both of their legs,” Dr. Ciresi said.

The local doctor said the most important tool to prevent a fall out of a treestand is properly wearing a safety harness.

“You have to wear the harness to prevent yourself from falling out of the stand. Nowadays you can't buy a bow stand without getting it in the package,” Dr. Ciresi said.

He said no treestand has been found to be safer than the rest.

Hunters shopping at Gander Mountain in Eau Claire on Friday said they take precautions when hunting with stands.

“Before I get into a deer stand I choose my weapon of choice, put it on a string and pull it up so I'm using the latter with two hands,” said Devon Joznik of Thorp.
“The stand I use has a bar that goes around me. So if I lean a bit I don't feel like I'm going to fall out of it,” said Paul Deloughy of Milwaukee.

Dr. Ciresi said it’s important to remember that you only have one brain and one spinal cord and once it’s broken you won’t get it back.

“No deer is worth your health, no matter how big.”

Click on the link posted below to watch Dr. Ciresi’s video and to get more safety tips.