Wilderness First Aid

Part 2: Using Your First Aid Kit

www.local.dogster.com

Always be aware of danger…

Common Issues:

• Insect bites and stings• Blisters• Skin reactions• Dehydration• Heat exhaustion• Diarrhoea• Burns• Cuts and scrapes

• Broken bones• Sprains• Infections

www.brocku.ca

Severe Injuries• Depending on your level of

medical expertise and the nature of the injury, it may not be possible or safe to treat or move an injured person.

• If you have cell phone service you can call 911 for help. On longer trips to remote areas that do not have cell phone service, it may be beneficial to carry a satellite phone which can be rented.

• A GPS system may also aid locating an injured person.

http://www.helloanywhere.com/cad_satellite.htm

pathfindergps.com

Satellite Phone

GPS

First Aid Priorities:

• Always remain calm, assess the situation and make sure you are safe before checking on an injured person.

• Check to see if the casualty is in danger, avoid moving a person with unknown injuries, especially a suspected neck or spinal injury.

• Check to make sure the airway is open and the person is breathing.

• If safe, place the person in the recovery position and keep them stable until help arrives.

The Recovery Position

• If the person is unconscious but breathing place them in the recovery position.

• Place the person on their side with their uppermost leg at a right angle to the body.

• Support the neck by the hand of the uppermost arm.

• Tilt the head back to ensure the airway is clear.

www.health.howstuffworks.com

Common Injuries

• While most outdoor trips will be free of accidents, injuries can occur and simple treatment can prevent them from becoming more serious.

• Most injuries are easily treated by following instructions in a first aid manual and using the items in your first aid kit.

www.poolpurrs.blogspot.com

Using Your First Aid Kit

Insect bites and stings:

• Check for stinger (remove with tweezers).

• Flush cold water over bite/sting to reduce swelling.

• Apply disinfectant.• If bite/sting become s itchy,

apply calamine lotion or the hydrocortisone cream to the affected area.

Bee sting

http://bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/survival/first.htm

www.buzzle.com

Using Your First Aid Kit

Blisters:• Blisters can be caused by forceful

rubbing of the skin up against another object.

• When treating a blister, avoid breaking the blister to reduce the chance of infection.

• To protect the blister from breaking, apply a gauze pad and tape it over the area or use a moleskin bandage for protection.

• If the blister breaks, apply disinfectant and a bandage.

Blisters commonly occur on the foot from ill-fitting shoes/boots during hiking.

www.herbalhealingguide.blogspot.comhttp://bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/survival/first.htm

Using Your First Aid Kit

Skin Reactions: Sunburn• Blistering means a very severe

sunburn, do not pop blisters as this may increase the chance of infection.

• Take ibuprofen to reduce pain.• Drink lots of water.• Apply aloe vera or soothing

cream often.• Cover the affected area with

loose clothing and avoid further exposure to the sun.

www.magichandsworkshop.blogspot.comhttp://bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/survival/first.htm

Using Your First Aid Kit

Skin Reactions: Poison Ivy Poison Ivy: Leaves of three, leave it be

www.trevorkaye.weebly.com

Knowing what Poison Ivy looks like and avoiding it is the best treatment!

Treatment: If you are exposed to Poison Ivy immediately do the following:

• Wash affected area with alcohol.• Clean affected area with water.• Clean affected area with warm water and soap.

http://landscaping.about.com/cs/weedsdiseases/a/poison_ivy_2.htm

Using Your First Aid Kit

Skin Reactions: Poison Ivy (continued)• Exposure to Poison Ivy may cause

a very itchy and painful rash.• The rash itself is not contagious.

However the oil that causes the rash can spread from person to person.

• To reduce the itching caused by the rash, apply a hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion as needed.

• The rash usually lasts about two weeks.

The rash is caused by the skin becoming irritated due to coming in contact with urushiol, an oil compound in Poison Ivy.

www.primehealthchannel.comhttp://landscaping.about.com/cs/weedsdiseases/a/poison_ivy_2.htm

Using your First Aid Kit

Skin Reactions: Poison Ivy (continued)• Another way to treat exposure to

Poison Ivy is to find Jewelweed a common plant that typically grows in moist environments and along creeks, stream and rivers.

• Harvest the jewelweed, slice the stem, then rub its juicy inside on exposed skin. This will promptly ease skin irritation and can prevent breakout for most people.

http://www.altnature.com/jewelweed.htm

http://www.altnature.com/jewelweed.htm

Jewelweed—commonly found in moist areas and along creeks, streams, rivers etc.