Wilderness First Aid: A Guide For When Help Is Hours Away

The outdoors brings liberty and is ideal for adventure, but exploring nature and venturing off the beaten path can be unpredictable.

When you are in the wilderness, whether it is exploring, hiking, or camping, you have to be responsible for your own safety.

When injury strikes or worse, you find yourself in an emergency while far from civilization, it is vital to have a few first aid skills.

Today, weĺl discuss how to deal with common injuries, and best handle emergencies when help is hours away.

Situational Assessment

When an accident happens, there is a sense of urgency, and it can bring panic. However, it’s important to pause, breathe, and assess the situation, or you risk doing more harm than good.

Securing the Area Safely

You must check that you are somewhere safe enough to assist and administer aid before doing so.

If the terrain or weather is bad, you should move elsewhere. The last thing you want is a falling rock or a second injury making matters worse.

So, stop and evaluate your surroundings and consider moving the patient if it is safe to do so.

Perform A Primary Assessment

With the scene secure, you can make a primary assessment starting with your “ABCs”(Airways, Breathing, Circulation). This needs to be pretty swift, when every moment matters, stabilizing a patient and facilitating recovery.

How to Manage Common Injuries & Conditions

Sprains and soft tissue injuries account for 80% of injuries that occur when hiking. Without proper treatment, minor injuries sustained in the wilderness can become big problems when you’re miles from help.

Surface Wounds & Abrasions

Wounds in the wild need addressing as soon as possible. They should be cleaned with purified water or antiseptic wipes to prevent infection. They should be kept clean with a sterile dressing and bandage.

You also need to watch for the following signs of infection:

• Redness;
• Swelling;
• Pus.

Sprains, Fractures & Breaks

When you are in the wilderness, even a twisted ankle can be debilitating, reducing mobility substantially. A fracture or broken bone can be dangerous. 

The limb needs immobilizing; you can fashion a trekking pole or rigid branch if necessary. Remember not to tie it too tightly and to use some sort of cushioning against the skin.

For sprains, remember the RICE acronym: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.

Treating Burns in the Wild

Campfires, outdoor cooking, or boiling water can be an accident waiting to happen.

Minor burns can be treated by cooling the area with clean, cold water for at least 10 minutes. The burn should then be covered with a sterile, non-adhesive dressing. 

Remember that anything larger than the palm of your hand or serious burns requires immediate evacuation.

Emergency Situations in the Wild

If you face a medical emergency and you are far from professional help, the situation might become more critical.

When urgent intervention is required but unavailable, you need to know how to recognize and handle it.

Handling Hypothermia

If the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, then hypothermia can set in, and things can become critical. Below are the early warning signs.

• Shivering;
• Disorientation;
• Slurred speech.

In this situation, it is important to warm the core, make sure the person isn´t in wet clothing, and warm and dry them. Use sleeping bags and body heat, and focus on the chest, neck, and head areas.

High Temperature Dangers

Being too hot is as dangerous as being too cold; dehydration and heatstroke are no joke when out in the wilderness. The following symptoms are early signs:

• Confusion;
• Headache;
• Nausea;
• Lack of perspiration;
• Vomiting.

If you suspect either, keep the person shaded, cool them with water-soaked cloths, and remember to rehydrate slowly. An electrolyte solution can be a lifesaver. If symptoms worsen, then evacuation might be the only solution.

Allergies & Anaphylaxis

With plants and insects galore, allergic reactions are all too common.

Mild reactions can often be managed with antihistamines, but anaphylaxis requires epinephrine and rapid evacuation.

Breathing should be monitored, and CPR may be required.

Navigating Challenges in The Wild

Sometimes the standard solutions don´t work, and other strategies are required. Here are some things to consider to help navigate challenges in the wilderness.

Communication Tips

While phones might be out of coverage, you might want to consider using satellite messengers or personal locator beacons (PLBs).

If you need to send signals for help, basic signaling with mirrors can help alert those around.

You can create SOS ground signals and smoke signals with fires. 

Good advice is to tell someone your planned location before leaving and to wear bright reflective clothing.

Having to improvise on the fly

Clothing, sticks, tarps, and backpacks can be repurposed into stretchers and splints should you find yourself in an emergency. ‘Be sure to practice a few knots, they can be a lifesaver when things don’t go to plan.

Leveraging Digital Resources

Digital maps, manuals, and emergency contacts, stored on devices, can also be lifesaving. 

Although you may be far from a signal, should you manage to get hold of any public wifi, remember that a VPN can help keep your data and privacy safe. Check out what a VPN can do for you.

First Aid Kit Essentials in the Wilderness

The best defense for a trip in the wilderness is preparedness. So be sure to pack a well-stocked first aid kit to cope with whatever you might encounter.

Basics

A basic kit should include the following:

• A variety of adhesive and non-adhesive bandages;
• Gauze and medical tape;
• Antiseptic wipes;
• Tweezers and nail scissors;
• Moleskine for blisters;
• Pain relief such as paracetemol and ibuprofen;
• Gloves.

Adventurers Extras

If you are on an extended or remote trip, the following is wise: 

• SAM splint;
• A thermal blanket;

• Antihistamines;
• Anti-diarrheal meds;
• Anti-nausea tablets;
• Electrolytes.

Conclusion

With professional help hours away, the best defense is to head out into the wild well-prepared.

It is wise to have a few first aid skills and a decent kit to hand, full of the essentials.

When you venture far from civilization, a minor mishap can become a major problem. 

Fortunately, with the right judgment, knowledge, and tools, you can act fast, keep yourself safe, and enjoy the wild with peace of mind.