This document provides information on treating common injuries and issues that may occur during wilderness first aid situations. It discusses priorities such as ensuring safety, checking for breathing and the recovery position. Common issues covered include insect bites, blisters, sunburn, and poison ivy. Treatments using items from a first aid kit are described, such as removing stingers, protecting blisters, applying aloe for sunburn, and using hydrocortisone or jewelweed for poison ivy rashes. Severe injuries may require calling emergency services if possible, otherwise stabilizing the injured person until help arrives.

2. Wilderness First Aid
Part 2: Using Your First Aid Kit
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3. Always be aware of danger…

4. Common Issues:
• Insect bites and stings
• Blisters
• Skin reactions
• Dehydration
• Heat exhaustion
• Diarrhoea
• Burns
• Cuts and scrapes
• Broken bones
• Sprains
• Infections
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5. Severe Injuries
• Depending on your level of
medical expertise and the nature
of the injury, it may not be
possible or safe to treat or move
an injured person.
• If you have cell phone service you
can call 911 for help. On longer
trips to remote areas that do not
have cell phone service, it may be
beneficial to carry a satellite
phone which can be rented.
• A GPS system may also aid
locating an injured person.
http://www.helloanywhere.com/cad_satellite.htm
pathfindergps.com
Satellite Phone
GPS

6. First Aid Priorities:
• Always remain calm, assess the situation and make
sure you are safe before checking on an injured
person.
• Check to see if the casualty is in danger, avoid
moving a person with unknown injuries, especially a
suspected neck or spinal injury.
• Check to make sure the airway is open and the
person is breathing.
• If safe, place the person in the recovery position and
keep them stable until help arrives.

7. The Recovery Position
• If the person is unconscious
but breathing place them in
the recovery position.
• Place the person on their
side with their uppermost
leg at a right angle to the
body.
• Support the neck by the
hand of the uppermost arm.
• Tilt the head back to ensure
the airway is clear. www.health.howstuffworks.com

8. Common Injuries
• While most outdoor trips
will be free of accidents,
injuries can occur and
simple treatment can
prevent them from
becoming more serious.
• Most injuries are easily
treated by following
instructions in a first aid
manual and using the items
in your first aid kit.
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9. Using Your First Aid Kit
Insect bites and stings:
• Check for stinger (remove
with tweezers).
• Flush cold water over
bite/sting to reduce
swelling.
• Apply disinfectant.
• If bite/sting become s itchy,
apply calamine lotion or the
hydrocortisone cream to
the affected area.
Bee sting
http://bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/survival/first.htm
www.buzzle.com

10. Using Your First Aid Kit
Blisters:
• Blisters can be caused by forceful
rubbing of the skin up against
another object.
• When treating a blister, avoid
breaking the blister to reduce the
chance of infection.
• To protect the blister from
breaking, apply a gauze pad and
tape it over the area or use a
moleskin bandage for protection.
• If the blister breaks, apply
disinfectant and a bandage.
Blisters commonly occur on
the foot from ill-fitting
shoes/boots during hiking.
www.herbalhealingguide.blogspot.com
http://bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/survival/first.htm

11. Using Your First Aid Kit
Skin Reactions: Sunburn
• Blistering means a very severe
sunburn, do not pop blisters as
this may increase the chance of
infection.
• Take ibuprofen to reduce pain.
• Drink lots of water.
• Apply aloe vera or soothing
cream often.
• Cover the affected area with
loose clothing and avoid further
exposure to the sun.
www.magichandsworkshop.blogspot.comhttp://bcadventure.com/adventure/wilderness/survival/first.htm

12. Using Your First Aid Kit
Skin Reactions: Poison Ivy Poison Ivy: Leaves of three, leave it be
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Knowing what Poison Ivy looks like and
avoiding it is the best treatment!
Treatment: If you are exposed to
Poison Ivy immediately do the
following:
•Wash affected area with alcohol.
•Clean affected area with water.
•Clean affected area with warm water
and soap.
http://landscaping.about.com/cs/weedsdiseases/a/poison_ivy_2.htm

13. Using Your First Aid Kit
Skin Reactions: Poison Ivy (continued)
• Exposure to Poison Ivy may cause
a very itchy and painful rash.
• The rash itself is not contagious.
However the oil that causes the
rash can spread from person to
person.
• To reduce the itching caused by
the rash, apply a hydrocortisone
cream or calamine lotion as
needed.
• The rash usually lasts about two
weeks.
The rash is
caused by the
skin becoming
irritated due to
coming in contact
with urushiol, an
oil compound in
Poison Ivy.
www.primehealthchannel.comhttp://landscaping.about.com/cs/weedsdiseases/a/poison_ivy_2.htm

14. Using your First Aid Kit
Skin Reactions: Poison Ivy (continued)
• Another way to treat exposure to
Poison Ivy is to find Jewelweed a
common plant that typically
grows in moist environments and
along creeks, stream and rivers.
• Harvest the jewelweed, slice the
stem, then rub its juicy inside on
exposed skin. This will promptly
ease skin irritation and can
prevent breakout for most
people.
http://www.altnature.com/jewelweed.htm
http://www.altnature.com/jewelweed.htm
Jewelweed—commonly found in moist areas
and along creeks, streams, rivers etc.