Trail First Aid - The Basics
Basic First Responder Aid 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.
If you're a solitary hiker, camper or backpacker it is imperative that you have basic first aid knowledge because your well-being on the trail is entirely in your own hands. Most likely a hospital, clinic or first aid station will not be near enough to help you, so, as with your camping, hiking and backpacking skills, you will need to rely on your own first aid skills to treat an injury, illness or emergency situation. If you enjoy the above activities in groups, then at least one person in the party (but preferably two or more) should be familiar with basic first responder skills.
But before we explore basic first aid skills, let's make note of the basic principles of first aid:
1. Preserve life - your own first, others second (A lot of people balk at this, but the bottom line is you can't help anyone if you yourself are incapacitated, unconscious or dead).
2. Prevent deterioration - stop the injury, illness or emergency situation from getting worse.
3. Promote recovery - help the injured or ill person(s) get better.
Now, let's look at the basics of first aid:
Be Prepared - This begins when the hiking, backpacking or camping trip is being planned. Know where you are going, when you are going and what it is like ahead of time. If you're going to an area you've never hiked, backpacked or camped in before, research as much as you can about it prior to leaving. Books from the library or websites about a particular area, forest or park can provide a wealth of information. Contact local groups or rangers about any specific hazards such as poisonous snakes or plants you may come into contact with on the trail. Then, with this information in hand, prepare your first aid kit accordingly.
Being prepared also means having a basic knowledge of first aid aspects such as knowing CPR (courses are available from Red Cross organizations across the country), treating burns, breaks and other injuries.
Now that you've done your best to prepare, let's move on to what to do when you find yourself or others in your party in a situation where there has been an injury, illness or emergency situation on the trail.
Assess the Situation - Did something dangerous cause the situation? If so, has the danger passed? This could be anything from an avalanche to losing your footing on a slope to a dangerous animal. Whatever it is, you have to determine if the cause of the situation has stabilized or been eliminated. This is also where the first principle of first aid (above) comes into play. You cannot put yourself in danger and risk becoming a victim yourself.
Check for Response - Once you've determined that the danger or situation has stabilized, check the injured party(ies) for response. The simplest and most direct way, if the person is conscious or semi-conscious, is to ask them how they are. If they, in turn, can respond to your question then you now know that the victim is conscious, cognizant, breathing and that the heart is working.
If the victim is unable to respond to your question, either because they are unconscious or cannot speak, it is time to move to The ABC's of First Aid:
A - Airway: Check to make sure that the victim has an open airway. If not, tilting the head back with the chin facing up will clear an airway many times. If this does not restore an open airway, check for obstructions and remove any you find.
B - Breathing: Once you are sure the airway is clear, make sure that the victim is breathing by looking for breathing signs such as listening to exhaling breath, watching the chest rise and fall and feeling air coming out of the mouth or nose.
Lack of breathing will necessitate that you begin CPR to continue the flow of oxygen to the brain.
C - Circulation: After making sure that the victim is breathing, make sure that the victim has blood circulation. Check for a pulse and visual signs such as complexion and blinking of the eyes.
The above represents perhaps the most extreme situation you may find yourself in; the odds are most likely that your basic first aid knowledge will only be needed to treat minimal injuries such as cuts, bruises, scratches or an occasional intestinal reaction to bad water. However, no matter how large or small the situation, a knowledge of basic first aid will serve you well when hiking, camping or backpacking on the trail.
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-Treatment
First Aid on the Trail-Wound Care
First Aid on the Trail - The Kit
