The ability to effectively treat injuries, illnesses, or emergencies in the wild, away from modern facilities, is known as wilderness first aid. The ability to dress a wound, treat a bite or burn, or set an injured limb are examples of skills. These essential abilities have the potential to save your own life or that of other outdoor enthusiasts. Be better prepared for your next backpacking or hiking trip by learning more.
Fundamentals of First Aid
People who may have lost their initial certification in these life-saving skills and require a refresher may benefit greatly from some recertification. Although having all of the supplies for first aid is important, knowing how to use all of the items in your first aid box is crucial.
The skills of basic first aid and life support are invaluable in any circumstance. Classes in first aid equip you with the knowledge and abilities necessary to assist people in a variety of emergencies.
First aid courses are offered to the general public by numerous national, regional, and local organizations. Outdoor enthusiasts interested in improving their skills to become safer hikers will find these classes to be ideal.
“City” First Aid Vs. “Wilderness” First Aid
It’s important to note how wilderness first aid may differ from general first aid training. There are four main aspects:
- Time: The distance to the doctor’s office is a long way, and wilderness search and rescue personnel simply cannot respond as quickly as we can when we call 9-1-1 in the city. You must be prepared to provide emergency assistance and care for your patient for an extended period.
- Environment: You might have to deal with extreme weather and different kinds of physical dangers than you would in the city.
- Resources: You can only use what you have in your pack and what you can get from the environment when giving aid in the backcountry. What should go in your first-aid kit should be covered in a good wilderness medicine class.
- Communication: You won’t be able to call for help from the backcountry even with better cell phone coverage; this indicates that providing care for the patient might be their only option.
Preparing to Give Wilderness First Aid
Imagine that you are on a hike and come across a person who is unconscious and bleeding. It’s possible that your first reaction is to rush to their aid. However, before rushing into treatment, you need to make sure you are aware of the situation and avoid becoming a casualty. Before doing anything else, you need to follow these steps:
- Determine If The Area is Safe: Ensure that neither the patient nor the responders face any imminent danger. For instance, if the injury was caused by a rockslide, you might need to move the patient out of the way of more rockfall.
- Identify the Mechanism of Injury: Take a look around to see what might have led to the injury or accident. That tells us what kind of injuries might be present.
- Determine the No. of Patients: Don’t make the mistake of thinking that only the most obvious victims need to be evaluated and treated.
- Protect Yourself: It is prudent for caregivers to assume that everyone is infectious. Before and after working with a patient, thoroughly wash your hands by donning gloves and a mask.
Basic First Aid Kit
Make your first aid kit or purchase one from the store. To remain prepared, you must keep a kit in your car, home, and place of employment. The following are typical items in a first aid kit:
- Roller Bandages, Bandages, and tape
- Antiseptic Wipes & Swabs
- Sterile Gauze
- Absorbent Compresses
- Burn Ointment
- Antibiotic Cream
- Mask for Breathing
- Chemical Cold Pack
- Eyewash & Eyeshield
- First Aid Reference Guide
Crucial Survival Skills
When going out into the great outdoors, survival skills are also very important. If you are stranded in the wilderness, you will need skills like knot-tying, building shelters, fishing, making fires, and foraging to survive until help arrives. Flares, fire starters, and signaling devices that you might have in your wilderness kit are also helpful.
These items can double as fire-starters and emergency signals for any hiker or adventurer, regardless of whether they intend to build a fire. The key is to think outside the box and remain calm during an emergency, but many wilderness first aid supplies can be used for more than one purpose.
- First Aid & Survival Information: Anyone who finds themselves in the middle of the wilderness ought to have a basic understanding of first aid and survival techniques from this source.
- Wilderness Survival Tips: This resource, which compiles articles on survival and the wilderness, provides useful information for people who want to learn more about wilderness survival and the things they need to stay healthy and safe outdoors.
Wrapping It Up
Make a treatment plan based on the information you’ve gathered, including any potential issues. Then stick to your plan while keeping a close eye on the patient’s health and making sure they are as comfortable as possible.
