{"id":1074,"date":"2016-02-17T05:34:42","date_gmt":"2016-02-17T05:34:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/192.241.231.59\/?p=1074"},"modified":"2016-02-18T01:33:57","modified_gmt":"2016-02-18T01:33:57","slug":"wilderness-first-aid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vosvado.com\/wilderness-first-aid","title":{"rendered":"DON\u2019T PANIC! A Layperson\u2019s Guide to Surviving Common Wilderness First Aid Emergencies"},"content":{"rendered":"

READING TIME: 5 min 24 sec<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

As a rule, I don\u2019t take life guidance from a work of science fiction. But when it comes to The Hitchhiker\u2019s Guide to the Galaxy<\/u>, I make an exception. Whether you\u2019re dealing with the sudden onset of a blizzard or an alien invasion, you won\u2019t be of use to anyone<\/em> if you allow yourself to be seized by the sinister tentacles of panic. Take a breath. Get all zen. Channel your inner monk. NOW you\u2019re in the proper mindset to handle an emergency situation. Let\u2019s proceed!<\/p>\n

DISCLAIMER: Before we get into the meat of this article, let me say this loud and clear: I am not a medical professional. In fact, let\u2019s all say that together, shall we? \u201cKathleen is not a medical professional.\u201d The author accepts no liability for anything that happens to anyone who follows the advice in this article. The information supplied herein is strictly for informational purposes, and will hopefully serve to incite you to sign up for a Wilderness First Aid course so that you can enjoy The Great Outdoors in the safest manner possible. Glad we got that squared away.<\/p>\n

Presenting (drum roll, please) three\u2014count \u2018em: THREE!\u2014of the most common emergencies you\u2019re likely to confront in a wilderness situation, as well as some suggestions on how best to handle said emergencies with only a basic level of training.<\/p>\n

Oh, My Aching Back\u2026or Foot\u2026or\u2026: Muscle Strains and Sprains<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Woman

“Hold still! I’m trying to help!”<\/p><\/div>\n

Ah, the disappointment of a twisted ankle one day into your week-long backpacking trip! Not surprisingly, the treatment for strains and sprains in exactly the same on the trail as it is on the soccer field: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The \u201crest\u201d part is fairly easy. If your schedule allows, take a day or two to chill out and give the injured muscle, tendon, or ligament a break. Ice can be a bit trickier. I, for one, have never hauled frozen blocks of water into the woods, but you can improvise by immersing the sore area in a cold stream for short intervals, filling a plastic bag with cold water and securing it to the injury, or even by wrapping a wet bandana around the injury and letting the breeze perform some evaporative cooling. That wet bandana can also do double-duty as a compression bandage, or you could break open the first aid kit and use an elastic wrap. Lastly, if the injury is to one of the person\u2019s limbs, prop the offending limb on a backpack, a fallen log, or whatever handy item you can find to decrease swelling and speed recovery.<\/p>\n

You can also offer anti-inflammatories to the patient if they wish to self-administer, and there are some fancy-schmancy taping techniques you can learn about in a Wilderness First Aid Course. Taping is especially useful if the patient needs to keep moving before they\u2019ve fully recovered. Plus, it looks badass.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Just a Flesh Wound\u201d: Abrasions and Lacerations<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Injured

Boo boos aren’t only for the wee ones when you’re on the trail.<\/p><\/div>\n

Boo-boos just seem to be a way of life in the outdoors. In fact, lots of folks don\u2019t consider it a successful outing if they don\u2019t come home with at least one \u201cwar wound.\u201d But just because skin injuries are common doesn\u2019t mean you should get all devil-may-care about them. You can minimize the risk of complications down the line by following these simple tips.<\/p>\n

First of all, if there is significant blood loss, staunch the flow. Just a little bit of blood is fine\u2014in fact, it can even be good, as it will clean out the wound. Otherwise, apply pressure to the wound with a clean bandage. You can learn proper technique in any basic first aid class. Major blood loss, it goes without saying, is beyond the scope of this article.<\/p>\n

The second thing you want to do is prevent infection. Since we\u2019re addressing injuries in the boonies, chances are, an open wound is contaminated with nasties. You can use the alcohol wipes found in your first aid kit to clean around the wound, but it\u2019s best not to use those wipes on broken skin because their harsh nature might actually further damage tissue. Your best bet is to irrigate the wound with clean water. Either use copious amounts of flowing, potable water, or if you\u2019re super-prepared, use a special irrigation syringe. In the unfortunate incident of embedded debris, you can use sterilized (read: toasted in your campfire) tweezers to carefully remove it. Now, if we\u2019re talking outright impalement, that\u2019s a whole other issue\u2026again, best addressed by taking a Wilderness First Aid course. Gee, you knew I was gonna say that, didn\u2019t you?<\/p>\n

Lastly, you want to promote wound healing. This is simply a matter of applying a proper dressing. Bonus points for elevating the injured area to decrease swelling.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re Giving Me a Heart Attack: Cardiac Issues<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Man

Could be a heart attack; could be a bad cheeseburger. Play it safe and treat as a cardiac event.<\/p><\/div>\n

You might be surprised to learn that heart attacks are among the top three causes of wilderness fatalities. It\u2019s certainly not as \u201csexy\u201d as a dramatic fall from a canyon wall, but a cardiac event has the potential to be just as deadly. So do yourself a favor: get in shape before you head out for that three-day backpacking adventure. Step away from the deep fried, gravy drenched chocolate cheesecake. Have a doctor give you the all-clear before you embark on that 14,000 ft summit hike. Do everything you can to stack the deck in your favor.<\/p>\n

However, even the best-laid preparations can go awry, so it behooves you to know the signs of a cardiac emergency. While it\u2019s true that less-serious conditions can cause some of these symptoms, when you\u2019re in the wilderness, treat any patient with the following signs as though they are experiencing a heart attack until proven otherwise by a medical professional. Better safe than sorry. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the most common symptoms of heart attack include:<\/p>\n