A guide to wilderness medicine to be prepared in the wild

Nature is full of exciting things to do, but you need more than just a backpack and a sense of wonder to go into the woods. Sometimes, things happen out of the blue, and knowing about wilderness medicine can mean the difference between a minor problem and a major medical emergency. This piece discusses the basics of wilderness medicine, which will help you treat common illnesses and injuries when you're not near a doctor.

Why Wilderness Medicine in The Wild Is Important?

The wilderness has problems that can't be solved in well-equipped medical centers. A different approach to medical care is needed because of limited means, distance from definitive care, and environmental factors. When you learn wilderness medicine, you know how to evaluate, stabilize, and treat medical problems until help comes.

Important Principles

Wilderness medicine is based on the following ideas:

The best way to stay healthy in the wilderness is to avoid troubles in the first place. This means making plans, bringing a complete first-aid kit, and knowing what risks might be in the place you choose to visit.

Do No Harm: In wilderness first aid processing, the most important thing is to calm the situation without hurting anyone else more. Focus on actions that keep critical functions like breathing and circulation going until the person can get proper care.
Prioritization: In an emergency, quickly evaluate the situation and give the most attention to conditions that could kill the person, such as bleeding, serious allergic reactions, or blocked airways.
Usefulness: Using your imagination is a big part of wilderness medicine. Learn how to use clothes and natural materials close by to help and care for hurt people.

Making Your Medical Kit for the Wilderness

In the woods, a well-stocked first-aid kit is your only hope. The information should be tailored to the setting and actions that are being planned. Here are some important things:

Prevention: For wound care, you'll need bandages, clean dressings, adhesive tape, wound irrigation solutions, and antiseptic wipes.
Pain Management: Over-the-counter painkillers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help manage pain.
Fracture and Sprain Management: Splints, stretchy wraps, and slings are all ways to treat fractures and sprains.
Drugs: You should include personal drugs and allergy medicines called antihistamines.
Other Important Things: a thermometer, bug spray, sunscreen, an emergency blanket, a whistle, and a light.

Common Medical Concerns in the Wilderness

Hypothermia: Hypothermia is a drop in body temperature that is very dangerous. Shivering, uncertainty, and slurred speech are some of the signs. Warming the person up slowly with warm blankets and drinks is what you should focus on.
Heatstroke: It happens when the body gets too hot and can't cool down. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, and sickness. Move the person to a cool, shady spot, remove any extra clothes, and give them cool drinks.
Altitude Sickness: Altitude sickness occurs when you quickly rise to a high elevation. Some symptoms are headaches, feeling sick, and lack of breath. If you can, go down to a lower level and take care of your symptoms.
Dehydration: Dehydration happens when you lose more fluids than you take in. Some symptoms are thirst, tiredness, and dizziness. Drink water or mineral drinks to replenish your fluid intake.
Animal Bites and Stings: Clean the wound, stop the blood, and figure out what kind of animal it is so that antivenom can be given.
Musculoskeletal Injuries: Broken bones, sprains, and pulls happen frequently. Put the damaged area on a splint, manage the pain, and limit movement as much as possible.

More Than the Basics

Wilderness medicine is more than just healing minor injuries. When you know about environmental dangers like lightning hits, hypothermia, and altitude sickness, you can take steps to avoid them and spot early warning signs. In an emergency, knowing basic skills like looking for people, using signals, and making your shelter can also be very helpful.

Putting Money Into Schools

This article gives you a basic idea of wilderness medicine, but you should get official training. Courses from groups like the Wilderness Medical Society can give you the skills and information you need to handle a wider range of medical situations in the wilderness.