Wilderness First Aid Courses - Going Beyond Basic First Aid

Due to the difference in conditions in the wilderness as compared to the general work or home environment, wilderness first aid courses must cover emergency medical attention in different settings with different conditions and hazards. Types of injuries that occur in the wilderness frequently differ from those occurring in traditional settings. Courses are available for the casual outdoor enthusiast, for wilderness tour guides, and for others who act as first responders in remote locations.

Courses for those who work or travel in less remote locations are not as intense as courses for those who venture far from traditional help. Basic wilderness first aid courses teach emergency treatment as the first response to an accident or injury before medical assistance arrives. The typical course explains patient assessment and exam, taking vital signs, documenting the injury or illness. Short-term initial care for spinal cord injuries, head injuries, and shock is covered. Stabilization of fractures, dislocations, and sprains that occur in the outdoors is taught. Extremes of cold and heat experienced outside can bring on hypothermia or heat stoke. Lightning strikes, insect and animal bites, and plant toxins are more frequently experienced out of doors. Without cell phone reception or emergency care minutes away, those who hike or guide tours must be able to care for the patient for several hours or more. The care given during this time can be the difference between full recovery and lasting effects from the event.

Advanced courses are appropriate for river guides, mountain climbers, survival school personnel and others who work in remote locations. Due to the distance from traditional emergency medical responders, the time spent caring for the patient can lasts from days to even weeks. Intensive knowledge of all body systems, evacuation techniques, long-term care for fractures, spinal cord and head injuries, and full treatment of shock victims are some of the subjects covered.

All wilderness first aid classes teach the use of materials on hand for emergency situations. Elaborate first aid kits are rare in the wilderness. Splints and braces can be made from materials such as snowshoes, skis, straps from backpacks, and padding from packs or clothing. A quick response and creative use of available materials are essential in the wilderness.

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Intelligence: The Most Important Wilderness Survival Tool

One of the biggest mistakes day hikers make is assuming they don't need to plan for wilderness survival. After all, a hiker usually reasons, "I only plan to be out for a few hours. I'll be back long before sunset. There's no reason to carry more stuff than I have to." Unfortunately, hundreds of hikers die or become seriously injured every year by relying on this faulty reasoning. Wilderness survival requires planning ahead and making three basic assumptions.

The first assumption you should make is that you may be gone longer than you plan. If you're planning a day hike (a few hours or more), plan as though you'll be out overnight. Bring enough water for the hike, plus enough for the night and the following 24 hours. You may become lost or otherwise unable to get back to your starting point by sundown. Your body will already have lost a great deal of water from the exertion of the hike. The last thing you want is to find yourself stuck in the wilderness overnight with no water. It may seem like a hassle to carry so much water. However, your survival chances will increase exponentially if you have enough water to sustain you in case of emergency.

If you are stranded in the wilderness overnight, always assume that the temperature will drop. Even in the desert, overnight temperatures can be significantly colder than in the daytime. Exposure to cold or inclement weather can result in hypothermia and may even lead to death. Day hikers should never leave home without additional warm clothing. A sweatshirt, long pants, socks, and rainproof jacket or covering should be carried in a backpack. You also should consider carrying a thermal emergency blanket, which is lightweight and compact for easy carrying. They reflect heat, protect from weather and are fire-resistant.

The third assumption day hikers should make is that they may become injured. If you aren't prepared for the possibility of an injury, you could find yourself in trouble. Hikers should always carry a basic first-aid kit. Many hikers who have chosen not to carry one in order to save weight or space have regretted it later. Make sure the kit is fully stocked with band-aids, a sterile cleanser, gauze, adhesive tape and cloth bandages. Always replace items later if you use something from your kit.

Some other important things to remember:

• Take a buddy. Hiking alone is never recommended. It can be very dangerous, especially if you become injured. Hiking with a partner increases your chances of getting out of the wilderness alive if you get hurt.

• Take a cell phone. Dozens of hikers are rescued every year because they carried a cell phone. Having a cell phone may reduce your chances of injury or death by up to 50 percent.

• Make a plan. Be sure you know the area where you'll be hiking. If you haven't been there before, get a map of the area and mark the trail you'll take. Make copies of your map, and make sure every member in your group has a copy.

• Inform someone at home. Never go into the wilderness, even for a short time, without telling someone where you'll be, and when you plan to return. Leave a copy of your map with the person and explain your plans in detail. Tell them where you plan to leave your car. Arrange to call when you begin your hike and as soon as you return. This way, if you don't get back when you planned, someone else will know and have a good idea where you are.

Using your head ahead of time may very well save your life. It just pays to be prepared.

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Wilderness Survival Kits - Basic Necessities

Just because a company may say that their wilderness survival kit can double as an emergency kit, you should do your due diligence and take note of what is contained within it. For the most part, if you want an emergency survival kit, you should specifically look for one that is just made for that purpose.

Otherwise, you will likely have to shuffle around some of your own products and survival gear for the wilderness is for the most part, not the same as survival gear for unfortunate natural disasters to your home.

However, there are some items that may be great for use in both types of kits. Here are some reminders to note when buying a basic survival kit.

It is very efficient to have a kit that contains all the basic supplies. Bottled water, a good quality knife, a lighter, a signal light, a compass, spare batteries for your flashlight. Basic pain-fever medications, bandages and hand sanitizers are some of the things that are highly recommended to be inside your survival kit.

Your survival kit must contain items that are of good quality. You must ask first the company that manufactured the items inside your kit. To avoid from getting lost, your compass must be working well. Your pocket knife must be really sharp and is made with robust handles.

Make sure that the number of items stated in the label of your survival kit is correct. Some distributors are adding up the number of the most invaluable item inside the kit. They do this in order to make the kit look bigger that the other kits. Also, make sure that the items are enough for you to consume.

The items inside your kit must be versatile. Items that can be used in different ways must be included in your kit. Never choose a low priced kit over an expensive kit. If you buy a low-priced kit, it will be a hit and miss game but you will not know the verdict until you are in real need of the supplies that are contained within.

You are never sure of the item's quality if you buy a low-priced kit. See to it the items inside your kit are not expired. Always check the dates and change them out for new ones when they expire. Most of the time, you can use the soon to be expired supplies up in normal everyday use so, in that way, you are not wasting them by just throwing them out.

Your items must be convenient to use. In an emergency, a fast or speedy action must be maintained. Try buying a couple of kits. Other kits might have items that are not included inside the other kit. It is better to be ready at all times.

If you would like to know more about this topic, visit Wilderness Survival Kits. Excellent tools to have if you want to explore the wilderness at night are Night Vision Monoculars.

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