It is that time of year again; the blaze orange is getting dug out of the closet, the tall tales are beginning to fly and a multitude of die-hard hunters are out at the range sighting in their rifles. Yes, another hunting season has arrived. Not only is it a perilous time for all the wildlife running around, it is also one of the most dangerous times of the year for hearing loss! All too often, individuals do not wear hearing protection while they are out shooting and do irreparable damage to their hearing.
If you have ever been around a gun range, you know … guns are LOUD. Even one of the smallest and quietest rifles, a .22 caliber, can produce a sound over 140 decibels (dB). A bigger bore rifle or pistol can produce sounds in excess of 175 dB; if you are in an enclosed location, the reverberations can increase the sound even louder than that. The need for hearing protection when shooting isn’t just recommended, it is essential, and just as important in gun safety as keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
Shooters who do not wear ear protection when out at the range, or those who aren’t wearing the proper type of hearing protection, are putting their hearing at serious risk. Many earplugs or earmuffs can be cumbersome and uncomfortable; they also don’t allow the wearer to hear others talking around them, which can be hazardous if someone is trying to get their attention to warn them about impending danger.
Fortunately, there is another alternative; products such as the ESP America Digital Ear Protection are neither cumbersome nor a one-size-fits all solution. Each pair of ESP digital ear plugs are custom sized to your ears, ensuring a comfortable fit. They offer superior digital protection and are exceptionally durable, lightweight and easy to insert. In fact, the custom fit is so precise, you will probably even forget you are wearing them.
These innovative digital earplugs allow you to carry on a normal conversation in a hunting blind, talk with friends while shooting skeet or target practicing, all while protecting your fragile hearing. If you are one of the 100 million Americans who own a gun, don’t take hearing protection lightly, take precautions each and every time you go out to shoot to prevent permanent hearing loss.
