AKITA, Nov 9 \u2014\u00a0Hajime Nakae, Japan\u2019s leading medical expert in treating bear attack victims, knows all too well the damage that the powerful animals can inflict on humans.<\/p>\n
With a record 13 people killed this year in Japan, the professor of emergency and critical medicine at Akita University Hospital advises what to do in an encounter.<\/p>\n
Keep facing the bear\u00a0<\/p>\n
When in the woods people are advised to make noise, to attach bells to bags, and not to hike alone\u2014especially at dusk and dawn.<\/p>\n
But if you do see a bear, Nakae said to back away slowly while still facing the animal.<\/p>\n
When people turn their backs, \u201cthe bear tends to attack aggressively, probably because it perceives them as still ready to fight back,\u201d Nakae told AFP.<\/p>\n
\u201cBears tend to leave once they sense their opponent won\u2019t resist and that they\u2019re stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crouch\u00a0<\/p>\n
Retreating may not work however, and the bear may follow and in some cases attack, especially if it has cubs.<\/p>\n
The best thing to do is to crouch face-down, bend the legs underneath the torso and clasp both hands behind the neck, Nakae said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can protect the blood vessels in your neck. It also helps shield your trachea in front,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you crouch like this, bears often try to knock you down from the side. They flip you over to get at your face, so to prevent being turned over, spread your knees a little.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mind your face\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important to hide your face because this is what bears typically go for, Nakae said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey seem to know that if they damage the eyes, the victim can\u2019t fight back. That\u2019s why around 90 percent of bear attack victims sustain facial injuries,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The resulting deep cuts in victims\u2019 faces can become infected and cause longterm pain, he said. Some lose their eyes.<\/p>\n
The jaws of a bear are also capable of crushing bones and a single swipe with their paws can cause serious damage and even kill.<\/p>\n
Stay put\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s vital to remain in the crouching position until the bear leaves the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a case where someone saw a bear charging from about 10 metres (yards) away, quickly got down, but then lifted their head too soon,\u201d Nakae said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bear was right in front of them, resulting in facial injuries. They moved too early.\u201d<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t panic\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kakeru Matsuhashi, a traditional \u201cMatagi\u201d hunter, also offered advice and said that the most important thing is not to panic.<\/p>\n
\u201cBears living in the mountains are usually intelligent, so if you calmly back away little by little, the bear will likely retreat as well,\u201d Matsuhashi told AFP.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more dangerous ones are the bears that come down into villages or towns. Those bears are often disoriented, they don\u2019t know where they are or what\u2019s happening,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you encounter one of those, never approach it. Instead, immediately contact the police or the local hunting association. Reporting it quickly is crucial.\u201d \u2014 AFP<\/p>\n
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