Wilderness first aid is all about being prepared to handle medical situations when you’re far from regular medical care. This could be on a camping trip, a long hike, or even being stuck in your car during a snowstorm.
Here are some key things to know about wilderness first aid:
- Training: There are wilderness first aid courses available that teach you how to assess a situation, treat common injuries and illnesses, and make decisions about evacuation. These courses can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
- Focuses on improvisation: In the wilderness, you won’t have access to all the fancy medical equipment you might find in a hospital. Wilderness first aid teaches you to improvise with the supplies you have on hand.
- Key areas covered: These courses typically cover things like:
- How to assess a patient’s condition
- Wound care
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Environmental emergencies (heat stroke, hypothermia)
- CPR
Here are some resources to get you started:
- Organizations that offer wilderness first aid courses:
- American Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/wilderness-sports
- Boy Scouts of America https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/wilderness-fa/
- NOLS https://www.nols.edu/en/wilderness-medicine/courses/
- General information on wilderness first aid:
- REI https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/wilderness-first-aid-basics.html
Remember, even a little knowledge of wilderness first aid can make a big difference in an