Do you know how to make a limb splint out of bootlaces and sticks? Did you know the most common injury during camping is burns from boiled water?
Many don’t know this, but Bear Grylls got into survival and educating people about injuries because he was constantlyburning his dainty hands while boiling water for his backcountry tea parties.
Injuries or wounds are unavoidable in the backcountry. Whether it’s an itchy mosquito biteor slash from a grizzly or other wildlife, it’s important to prevent infection, minimize painand most importantly, make a decision on whether or not the injured individual needs tobe evacuated or left for the wolves… That’s a joke don’t do that… Unless it’s an ex-girlfriendor boyfriend. MHM advocates safe backpacking and hiking!
1. Protect yourself – You can’t help another injured person if you are injured yourself. Always makesure that the snake or falling tree that injured your companion does not have thepossibility to do more harm. It’s also imperative to wear protective rubber gloves(usually provided in a first aid kit) when dealing with blood when tending to awound. A waterproof raincoat and sunglasses to protect your eyes and body fromsprayage is also a smart idea.
2. Major risk check – First do a quick once over. Is there a trekking pole sticking out of your friend’sthigh? Look for the serious things first and perform any necessary tasks –– likeremoving a bee stinger or any other foreign objects. Safely put pressure on anybleeding and try to make the injured person as comfortable as possible. Of course, ifthere is something serious that cannot be stabilized, then all thoughts need to go torapid evacuation.
3. Changing environment – It is difficult to bind or clean a gash when it’s drizzling and it’s too slippery tohold tweezers. Move the injured individual to a better environment if necessary.Bring the person out of the cold, rain, snow or wind and into a solid tent and warmsleeping bag. Or if it’s a scorcher out there, provide the injured person with shade, acold water bottle and a clean dry shirt.
4. Cleaning or splinting – Once situated and the threat of anything more serious has been ruled out then thereal work can be performed. Clean the wound with water, do any bandaging anddish out any standard pain relievers. Is there a fracture or dislocation? Prepare theindividual in a split or sling close to the body to keep the phalange from movingduring a walk out evacuation.
5. Follow-up – It’s fairly obvious that wounds need to be continuously cleaned with new bandages,but it’s also important to keep watching for other symptoms like disorientation. Ifanything new arises then think about heading back to civilization.
Remember; don’t try any first aid you aren’t trained or completely sure of howto perform. When in doubt make sure to hike out or call for more help or medicalattention. And always carry a basic first kit when you are more than an hour fromcivilization!
