Do you dream of exploring nature’s wildest reaches, but worry about what will happen if a medical emergency arises?
Knowing Wilderness First Aid could be a life-saver. Acquiring the essential skills to handle outdoor emergencies is crucial for any adventurer, and can help impart the confidence to explore the great outdoors with less fear.
In this article, we’ll learn why Wilderness First Aid could be the ultimate responsibility of any outdoor enthusiast.
1. Preparing for Wilderness Emergencies
Safety is key when out in the wilderness, and if an emergency arises, it is important to be prepared. Here are our top tips for getting ready for potential wilderness emergencies:
- Bring the Right Gear: Before you embark, assemble a full emergency kit, including first-aid supplies, a compass, a whistle, flashlight, and a stove. Pack a generous supply of water as well.
- Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Check the area for hazards such as wild animals, unstable terrain, and hostile people. Pay attention to the weather in case storms or other conditions develop quickly.
- Let Others Know Your Plan: Make sure friends and family know where you’re headed and when you plan to return. Give a full itinerary with the estimated time of arrival at each point.
- Be Well-Groomed: Make sure you are wearing the correct clothing for the environment. Ensure clothes are well-fitted and don’t constrict motion. Wear sun protection if needed, and pay attention to the changing weather.
- Bring a Way to Communicate: Whether it’s a satellite phone, walkie-talkie, or radio, having a way to communicate with the outside world is vital in the event of an emergency.
- Stay Calm and Focus: If you encounter an emergency, remain calm and take the necessary steps to get yourself and those around you to safety. Stick to the plan and don’t get sidetracked or panic.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and being well-prepared for any potential wilderness emergency is the best way to stay safe. Mental preparation is just as important as physical, so take time to consider what you’d do in various scenarios. Be sure to trust your gut—if something doesn’t feel right, then chances are it’s not.
2. Recognizing Common Outdoor Hazards
Being outdoors can be both rewarding and dangerous. In order to be safe while out in nature, it is important to be aware of the potential hazards. Here are some of the common outdoor hazards to be aware of:
- Bites & Stings: Being aware of the local wildlife and insects is important. Always take the necessary precautions, such as wearing insect repellent or not venturing out during known peak flying times of mosquitoes and other pests. If possible, avoid places where you know there are venomous snakes or other creatures.
- Weather: Nature can be unpredictable and so can its weather. Always check the forecast before heading outdoors and make sure you dress accordingly. Remember that storms and extreme thunderstorms can occur any time of the year and can be dangerous.
- Hills & Terrains: Hills, drops and other difficult terrains can quickly become hazards. When entering uncertain and hilly areas, it is always important to be familiar with the surface and how to get back to safety quickly.
- Animals: Unless you are in a domestic environment, it is important to keep an eye out for animals and their behaviours. Be mindful of territorial animals and always keep a safe distance while observing.
Knowing which hazards you will be likely to encounter outdoors and preparing in advance will be beneficial for any outdoor activities. For example, if you are planning to hike and camp, always notify your friends and family of where you will be and when you expect to return. Educate yourself on the area you are heading to and prepare your supplies thoroughly so that you know exactly what you’re facing.
In some areas, you may also need to obtain permission from local government. Be sure to check the current regulations in your destination before heading there. Most government websites will have all the information you need.
Finally, make sure you never go into the outdoors alone, in case of any emergency. Even if you are a seasoned outdoorsman, it is always a good idea to explore with a like-minded group of people who are as prepared as you are for any situation. This will also help you stay safe and have some fun while on your adventure.
3. Essential First Aid Skills for the Outdoors
Being prepared for an outdoor journey is critical if you’re expecting nature to dish out unexpected surprises—or worse. That includes brushing up on your first-aid knowledge too. By carrying a few items and learning the essential first-aid skills, you could be saving the life of a traveling companion—or even your own.
Below are some essential skills to make sure you know to keep you and everyone else you’re traveling with safe.
- Stop heavy bleeding: In the case of a laceration or wound, the most important first aid skill you can have is knowing how to apply the right pressure to stop the bleeding. In cases like these, time is of essence, so the quicker you can apply direct pressure to the wound, the faster your chances of recovery.
- Treat insect and snake bites: Before you even get to the point of having to perform first aid, you should know how to prevent injury from insects or snakes. Some of the necessary steps to take include checking your clothes and bags, and scanning the ground for dangerous creatures.
- Perform CPR: In a serious situation where someone loses their consciousness, it’s essential to know how to correctly perform CPR. Make sure the person is lying flat on their back, ensure their airways are open, and get comfortable with using the correct sequence of chest compressions and rescue breaths.
- Care for shock: Shock is the body’s response to physical trauma, whether from a serious burn or a broken bone. Even something as simple as exhaustion can trigger shock if not managed in time. Recognize the signs of shock early and respond quickly by keeping them warm and laying them down with their feet elevated.
- Secure a splint: Splinting an injured or broken limb as soon as possible will help reduce further damage until medical attention can be administered. This is something you’ll need to do manually as opposed to using a brace. Use strong materials that provide support and check your work to make sure the splint won’t move.
- Provide basic wound care: If a wound does occur, like a small cut or burn, the simplest way to take care of it is to clean the wound thoroughly and apply a clean bandage to the area. Be sure to examine the wound often and clean out any debris, dirt, or dead skin from the area.
The outdoors can be a dangerous place, and first-aid skills are invaluable when dealing with situations that require you to act quickly. Knowing these essential skills can improve your safety and the safety of those around you. Preparing for the worst is essential, and this can be done by packing the necessary first-aid supplies and familiarizing yourself with the required skills.
4. Wilderness First Aid Moral Principles
Worldwide, the number of people navigating dangerous natural environments has increased significantly due to the popularity of outdoor activities. One skill that potential adventurers must equip themselves with is Wilderness First Aid (WFA). In addition to providing the technical skills to save lives in emergency sitations, WFA also emphasizes the importance of moral principles.
The Duty to Provide Care
The primary duty of a WFA provider is to render aid to those in need, no matter the cost. Even when faced with danger, the recognition and understanding of this moral imperative then compels the WFA provider to continue and to not yield from administering aid while considering any possible risks.
Respect of Human Dignity
In any emergency situation, it is no surprise that assistance is provided from all angles and perspectives. WFA providers are to always respect the patient’s dignity, providing care based on the patient’s choices, religious beliefs, mental states, and all other personal considerations that should be taken into account.
Acceptance of Costs
Apart from providing the necessary aid, a WFA provider is also accepting of any expenses that come with the aid being administered. When costs imposed by WFA are out of the patient’s range, the WFA provider is still committed to providing the necessary assistance.
Do No Harm
Under the WFA realms, any renderance of aid would comply with the Do No Harm principle. This principle is to be understood not only by its literal form, but also applies to any forms of treatment that should not be administered if it is known to aggravate the health conditions of the patient. It also follows that when faced with a dilemma between two treatments, the lesser of two evils shall be chosen.
Take the right steps now to prepare for whatever comes your way in the wild. Knowing what to do in an emergency situation can make all the difference between disaster and a happy ending. Learning wilderness first aid will give you the skills and confidence to handle any outdoor emergency you may face.
