Trail First Aid - Treatment
First Responder Treatment While Hiking, Backpacking or Camping
How to render First Aid treatment for Heat Exhaustion, Burn Injuries and Choking while hiking, backpacking or camping.
Nothing will ruin a backpacking, hiking or camping trip faster than an injury, illness or emergency situation for which you are not prepared. Now, that's not to say that you must be an EMT, nurse or doctor before venturing into the great outdoors, but a knowledge of basic First Aid could mean the difference between a situation that can be recovered from and one which may not have such a positive outcome.
In the previous article, First Aid on the Trail-The Basics, the discussion centered on the basic principles of First Aid and the initial actions to take in an emergency situation. This article will cover the basic treatment of common injuries, illnesses or emergency situations that can occur while hiking, backpacking or camping.
HEAT EXHAUSTION OR HEAT STROKE - Though usually confused as being the same, these are different conditions. But they are common conditions that routinely affect hikers or backpackers. Heat exhaustion can occur anywhere there is poor air circulation; even in the outdoors when it is hot and there is no wind. Simple heat exhaustion will occur due to a reduction of body fluids and salts. The symptoms are usually excessive fatigue, dizziness, disorientation, and a normal skin temperature but a damp and clammy feeling. To treat heat exhaustion, move to the victim (or yourself) to a cool, shady spot if possible and encourage drinking of cool water and rest. Your aim is to restore body fluids.
Heat stroke is a much more serious condition and occurs when the body's sweat glands have shut down. Some symptoms of heat stroke are mental confusion, unconsciousness, fever and dry, mottled skin. A heat stroke victim will die quickly, so assist immediately. The first thing you can do is move the victim to a cool place out of the sun and begin pouring cool water over their body. Fan the victim to provide air circulation on the skin. Your aim is to cool the body's core and lower that core temperature.
BURN INJURY - This is another common injury that can afflict campers or overnight hikers who will typically be using a campfire. First, you should be aware that there are 3 levels of severity when it comes to burns:
1. A First Degree Burn is where the skin turns red, like a severe sunburn, and turns white when pushed.
2. A Second Degree Burn will have swelling and blistering of the skin.
3. A Third Degree Burn is very severe and skin may be charred or missing.
To treat a First Degree Burn, run cool (not cold) water over the burn. Apply an antibiotic, skin treatment or soothing product like aloe vera. Cover the burn with clean, dry gauze and secure it with medical tape. Treat pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen.
To treat a Second Degree Burn, run cool (not cold) water over the burned area for at least 15 minutes. Treat the burn with an antibiotic cream. Cover the burn with a dry, non-stick bandage and attach it to healthy skin with medical tape. Repeat the treatment at least once a day. Check the burned area daily for infection. Signs of infection include: increasing pain, pus, increasing redness, swellings or any kind of discharge.
To treat a Third Degree Burn, seek immediate professional medical assistance.
CHOKING - You're sitting around a campfire with friends eating, laughing and talking when suddenly one of them stands up, grasping at his throat. Or you're hiking on a trail with a friend and she's snacking on a granola bar when she stops and begins making choking sounds. What do you do? First, ask the victim if they can cough, speak, or breathe. If the victim can do none of these things, tell them you are going to help them and to remain calm. Then stand behind the victim and locate their bottom rib with your non-dominant hand. Move that hand across the abdomen to the area above their navel then make a fist and place your thumb side on the stomach. Place your dominant hand over your fist and press into the victim's stomach with a simultaneous quick upward thrust until the food is dislodged.
This article is part of the series First Aid on the Trail, with general guidelines for First Aid for hikers, backpackers and campers on the trail. The series articles also include:
First Aid on the Trail-The Basics
First Aid on the Trail-Wound Care
First Aid on the Trail-The Kit
