First aid is mentioned over and over in various articles in the blog. It is a basic skill everyone who participates in outdoor recreation should have. I would even go so far as to say no one should venture out into outdoor recreational activities without at least basic first aid knowledge, skills, and supplies. To some extent it is assumed that most people have a pretty good idea of what "first aid" means. However, individual perceptions seem to vary quite a bit. As a volunteer firefighter and EMR I have had the chance to learn and use both basic and advanced first aid and have found the skills as useful in camp and out on the trails as they are on a fire department call.
The basic definition of first aid is: help given to a sick or injured person until full medical treatment is available. Sometimes first aid is all that is needed and full medical help is not required, such as dealing with minor cuts and scrapes or a common cold. More advanced first aid may be required to assist someone with more serious, even life threatening injuries or illnesses, pending full medical support. In times like this first aid will almost always make the patient more comfortable and reduce the chance of additional complications. In some cases first aid can be life saving, such as performing CPR, stemming arterial bleeding, warming a hypothermic patient, or cooling a hyperthermic patient.
Basic first aid skills are important for just about everybody. You are likely to use them at home as well as during outdoor recreational activities. Getting and maintaining good first aid skills is especially useful for outdoor enthusiasts who are likely to find themselves in remote locations where access to medical assistance is limited. At home you can probably ask a neighbor for help if you encounter a problem you can't handle or, in more severe situations you can call "911". Sometimes you can call "911" when you are camping, but often the remoteness of camping, boating, RV, and OHV activities is out of cell phone range. Even if you can make the call, it will probably take some time before any Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel can reach you and you will be the only one who can help the patient(s) until they arrive. What you do during that time can sometimes save their lives!
Advanced first aid skills may be needed to tend to severe injuries in remote areas while you wait for EMS folks to arrive. Advanced skills can often reduce the suffering and prevent secondary injuries. In some cases advanced first aid may even be lifesaving! You should seriously consider getting advanced first aid training if you are involved in any kind of vigorous activities that can lead to serious injuries, such as rock climbing, mountaineering, moutain biking, riding OHVs, and riding horses.
There are many good books that provide instructions for basic first aid. There are even some for advanced first aid. However, having a hands on course will make you much better prepared. You can usually find local first aid classes offered by the Red Cross or by your local fire department. They are usually inexpensive or often even free! Many fire departments now offer Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) training that includes emergency medical triage and light search and rescue in addition to first aid and fire suppression.
Basic first aid will usually take care of splinters and minor cuts and scrapes but you might need advanced first aid to handle life threatening injuries. Knowing how to control bleeding could save someone's life. Being able to splint a broken bone will almost always make a patient more comfortable and reduce their suffering as well as preventing secondary injuries.
When looking for a first aid course or book, here are some of the primary treatments you should look for in any basic first aid instruction for the following issues:
- Minor cuts and scrapes
- Blisters
- Insect bites
- Heat cramps
- Sprains
- Minor illnesses (e.g., colds etc)
As you learn more, you should look for advanced first aid training that covers these situations:
- Controlling bleeding
- Splinting broken bones
- Recognizing strokes and symptoms of head injuries
- Heat Stroke (Hyperthermia)
- Hypothermia
Proper first aid training will also give you the ability to better access whether more advanced medical treatment is necessary and how urgent it might be. You probably don't need to call "911"or rush a patient to the ER for a sprain but they might need advanced treatment urgently for a broken bone. Being able to discern the difference between a suspected appendicitis and an ordinary tummy ache or indigestion would help you decide what to do to ensure your patient gets proper care without an unnecessary trip to the ER, which in itself can be traumatic and expensive.
Basic first aid courses usually don't take very long, typically just a few hours. Expect to invest a little more time to gain advanced first aid skills. You will find it to be a good investment. Even if you never have to use it, knowing you could if you had to can give you a lot of peace of mind. Your confidence in your skills will be a significant factor in calming down any person you may have the opportunity to assist. Police and fireman usually are usually certified as Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) and that would be a good level to shoot for. More advanced training is required for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics. While having that level of training would never hurt, obtaining it can be time consuming and expsensive and is probably more than you would need or ever use in normal outdoor recreational activities.
If you venture into the wild or want to prepare for a long term disaster situation you might want to look into natural remedies. My favorite is an easy one: willow bark (or poplar or aspen bark) can be used as a substitute for aspirin. It contains salicylic acid, which is similar to acetylsalicylic acid, which is the chemical name for aspirin. Aspirin is actually a synthetic version of salicylic acid. Other "back yard"or natural sources of medicine abound. Seek out information about what grows where you live or play.
First aid training is not a one time thing. You will learn that certifications have an expiration date. There are two very good reasons for that. First of all, you need to reaffirm your knowledge of many first aid skills on a regular basis. Most people don't use their first aid skills frequently and will need regular refreshers to maintain proficiency. Secondly, medical science continues to make advances and new or better techniques often become available. Working with outdated protocols could significantly limit the level of help you could give and might even have liability issues. Plan on scheduling yourself to get updated training at least every couple of years at the very least. The more frequently, the better!
What are your risks in providing first aid? Some people are reluctant to get involved in helping an injured person for fear of legal repercussions. Pretty much all states have "Good Samaritan" laws that protect people who come to the aid of injured parties. That being said, you do have an obligation to act appropriately within the scope of your training. If you attempt something you have not been trained to do you could be held liable but you should be OK, for example, performing CPR if you have been trained in CPR and your certification is current. Personally I would not hesitate to assist to the best of my ability. I would rather have to justify my actions than live with my inactions if my help might have saved a life!
Be first in first aid!