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Wilderness
First Aid in Emergencies Act quickly. Have
the victim lie down. Using a clean cloth,
apply direct pressure to wound. Apply
cover bandage. If needed, apply second
bandage and increase direct pressure. Elevate
the wound above heart level. If bleeding
continues, apply pressure to appropriate pressure point as well as
directly to wound. Pressure points include
inside of upper arm, inside arm below elbow, inside and outside of
wrist, back of knee joint, crease of groin, and top of foot. Release pressure point once bleeding is
controlled. Reapply pressure at pressure
point if bleeding recurs. Use tourniquet
only as an absolute last resort in a life-threatening situation. Treat for shock. Keep
the wound clean.
Breathing stopped
Place victim on back, head tilted
backward. Using 2 fingers, lift chin,
keeping jaw supported and mouth open. Adult/Child:
Pinch nose shut. Place mouth over
victim’s mouth. Adults: Repeat 1
breath every 5 seconds. Child: Repeat 1
breath every 3 seconds. Infant: Place
mouth over nose and mouth. Give 2 slow
breaths, watching for chest to rise. Remove
mouth between each breath. Repeat breath
every 3 seconds.
Adult/Child choking (1 yr. +)
Conscious: Stand behind victim. Place fist just above navel.
Grasp fist with other hand and give quick upward thrusts
until object comes out or victim is unconscious.
Unconscious: Lay victim on back. 1) Look in mouth for foreign object. 2) IF seen, sweep finger down inside cheek
with hooking motion. 3) Give 2 breaths for
adults, 1 for children. IF air won’t
go in, re-tilt head, try again. IF air
still won’t go in, place heel of hand just above bottom of breast
bone. Place other hand on top. Give 15 chest compressions for adults, 5 for
children. Repeat all steps until air goes
in.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is defined as having an
internal body temperature of under 95 F. Symptoms
include shivering, difficult or slurred speech, slow breathing, cold
skin, loss of coordination, fatigue, and lethargy.
Treatment: Monitor breathing. Get
victim out of cold, indoors if possible. Protect
from wind, cover head, insulate from cold ground. Remove
wet clothing. Dry victim rapidly. Re-warm victim in dry clothing and/or blankets
as quickly as possible or place in tub of warm, not hot, water. Give victim warm liquids to drink only if
conscious. No alcohol.
Don’t attempt to warm the legs and arms. Heat that is applied to the legs and arms
forces cold blood back toward the lungs, heart, and brain causing the
core body temperature to drop. This can be
fatal. Don’t massage or rub the
victim. Handle the victim gently, because
they are at risk of cardiac arrest. Follow
treatment for frostbite. Get medical help
as needed.
Frostbite
Get the victim out of the cold. Warm affected areas as quickly as possible. Do not rub affected area or apply heat lamp or
hot water. Do not rub snow on frostbitten
skin. Warm hands by tucking them under
your arms or companion’s arms. If
nose, ears, or face are frostbitten, warm by covering with dry, gloved
hands. Discontinue warming techniques as
soon as the affected area(s) become flushed. Expect
swelling and pain after thawing. Gently
exercise affected area. Elevate
frostbitten areas, but not higher than heart. Get
professional help as needed.
Poison
If you have cell phone and coverage,
call Poison Control or 911. Follow
directions. Keep sample of suspected
poison and any vomit. DO NOT give victim
anything by mouth or induce vomiting unless directed.
Shock
Lay victim on back with feet elevated. Lay on side if vomiting, unconscious, or
having difficulty breathing. Keep victim
warm, but not hot. DO NOT give food or
drink.
Sunstroke (Heat stroke)
Symptoms may include extremely high
body temperatures (106 F or higher), absence of sweating, dry skin,
rapid pulse, losing consciousness. Sunstroke
is life-threatening. Get medical help as
soon as possible. Lower body temperature
quickly with cool, not cold, water. Keep
the victim cool until the body temperature has returned to normal. Do not give the person stimulating beverages
such as coffee or tea.
Tick bite
Remove tick quickly and carefully. Use tweezers and grasp the tick near its head
or mouth. Pull gently to remove the entire
tick intact. Keep tick if possible in case
you develop illness and your doctor wants to see the tick.
Clean your hands and the area around the bite with soap
and water. See your doctor if you develop
a rash or fever, have muscle aches, joint pain and inflammation,
swollen lymph nodes, or flu-like symptoms. Get
immediate medical help if you have a severe headache, difficulty
breathing, paralysis, or chest pain.
Blisters
Don’t puncture the blister
unless it’s painful or prevents you from walking.
If you feel you need to drain it, wash your hands and the
blister. Clean the blister with an alcohol
wipe. Puncture the blister in at least two
spots near its edge with a sterilized needle. Carefully
press to drain fluid. Apply antibiotic
ointment to the blister, especially at puncture areas.
Wash and reapply ointment as often as needed to keep the
blister clean. Cut an opening the size of
the blister in moleskin or molefoam and place around the blister to
keep pressure off the painful area. Take
pain medication as needed.
Burns
First degree burns are the least
serious and affect only the outer skin layer. The
burned area usually appears dry, red, and mildly swollen.
Cool the burn with cold water. If
a large supply of water is not available, use cold compresses. Do not put ice on the burn.
Take pain medication as required.
Second degree burns affect the
skin’s lower layers. They are
painful, swollen, and have redness and blistering.
The skin may develop a weepy, watery surface.
Second degree burns can be caused by severe sunburn, hot
liquids, or contact with hot objects. Cool
the burn with water for at least 10 minutes. Do
not put ice directly on the burned area. Use
antibiotic ointment or other cream or ointment as prescribed by your
doctor. Cover the burned area with a dry
non-stick dressing to prevent infection. Take
pain reliever as needed. Change the
dressing daily after washing hands with soap and water.
Apply a cool, clean wet compress on the burn for a few
minutes each day. Gently wash the burn and
reapply ointment. Check daily for signs of
infection such as increased swelling, redness, pain, or pus. Avoid breaking any blisters that form. Try not to itch healing skin.
Protect burned areas with sunscreen for at least one year.
Third degree burns are the deepest and
most severe and always require emergency treatment.
They may appear white or charred and extend through all
skin layers. There may be severe pain or
no pain if nerve endings are destroyed. Do
not take off any clothing that is stuck to the burn. Be
sure the victim is not in contact with any smoldering material. Do not soak the burn in water because this
could cause shock. Do not apply ointment
or ice. The burn can be covered with a
sterile bandage or clean cloth until you receive medical assistance. The cloth or bandage can be moist to avoid
sticking and give relief. Do not use
plastic.
This is not meant to be a complete
list or solution for all emergencies. You
are responsible for all your outdoor endeavors. Be
prepared for emergencies. Hike light. Have fun. Be safe.
Click here to see our first aid kit and other ultralight gear About the
author: Steve Green of www.hikelight.com is an avid hiker who
has enjoyed trimming his backpack weight for over 40 years. Contact |
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"Helping hikers lighten up with lightweight backpacking gear"  |
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