Friday Night Wiki
TopicsAbout
Buy me a coffee
Survival

First Aid & Medical: Emergency Care in the Wild

Medical emergencies in survival situations are compounded by lack of professional help. Your goal is to stabilize, prevent worsening, and get to help if possible.

Priorities: Life-Threatening First

The ABCs

A - Airway

  • Clear obstructions
  • Position for breathing
  • Heimlich if choking

B - Breathing

  • Check for breathing
  • Rescue breaths if needed
  • CPR if no pulse

C - Circulation

  • Stop severe bleeding FIRST
  • Treat for shock
  • Keep patient warm

Order matters: Address in ABC sequence

Severe Bleeding (Minutes to Live)

Stopping Blood Loss

Pressure (First Response):

  1. Apply direct pressure (hand/cloth)
  2. Press HARD
  3. Don't peek (breaks clotting)
  4. Hold 10+ minutes
  5. If blood soaks through, add more cloth (don't remove)

Pressure Points:

  • Arm: Inside upper arm (brachial)
  • Leg: Groin crease (femoral)
  • Press artery against bone

Elevation:

  • Raise wound above heart
  • Reduces blood flow
  • Combined with pressure

Tourniquets (Last Resort)

Use ONLY if:

  • Limb nearly severed
  • Amputation
  • Massive arterial bleeding not controlled by pressure
  • Life over limb decision

Application:

  1. 2-3 inches above wound (not on joint)
  2. Wide band (2+ inches): belt, cloth strip
  3. Tighten until bleeding stops
  4. Note time applied (write on patient)
  5. Don't remove (doctor's job)
  6. Limbs can usually tolerate 2+ hours of tourniquet use without loss; don't hesitate to apply one when needed

Reality: A properly applied tourniquet left in place until surgical care usually preserves the limb. The old "expect amputation" rule is outdated.

Hemostatic Agents

If available:

  • QuikClot, Celox, etc.
  • Pack into wound
  • Apply pressure
  • Very effective

Improvised:

  • Cayenne pepper (controversial, burns)
  • Ash from fire (can work, infection risk)

Wound Care

Cleaning Wounds

Priorities:

  1. Stop bleeding first
  2. Clean once stable
  3. Prevent infection

Process:

  1. Flush with clean water (boiled and cooled)
  2. Remove debris (tweezers, irrigation)
  3. Don't use creek water directly
  4. Soap around wound (not in it)
  5. Pat dry with clean cloth

Irrigation:

  • Water bottle with hole in cap
  • Create pressure stream
  • Best method for contaminated wounds

Closing Wounds

Butterfly closures:

  1. Clean wound thoroughly
  2. Hold edges together
  3. Tape across (perpendicular to wound)
  4. Multiple strips along length
  5. Improvise with duct tape strips

Superglue:

  • Works (cyanoacrylate)
  • Medical grade best
  • Regular superglue = burns but works
  • Apply to DRY wound edges
  • Hold together until set

Stitches:

  • Only if trained
  • Risk of infection if done wrong
  • Better: tape/glue + let doctor stitch later

Preventing Infection

Signs of infection:

  • Redness spreading
  • Heat
  • Swelling
  • Pus (yellow/green)
  • Red streaks toward heart
  • Fever

Prevention:

  1. Clean thoroughly
  2. Keep covered
  3. Change dressing daily
  4. Check for signs of infection
  5. Keep dry

Natural antibacterials:

  • Honey (medical-grade best)
  • Garlic (crushed)
  • Tea tree oil
  • Pine pitch/sap
  • Use with caution. Better than nothing but not antibiotics

Fractures and Sprains

Identifying Fractures

Signs:

  • Snap/pop sound
  • Severe pain
  • Swelling
  • Deformity
  • Can't use limb
  • Bone visible (open fracture)

Assume fracture if uncertain

Immobilization (Splinting)

Purpose:

  • Prevent further damage
  • Reduce pain
  • Protect until help

Process:

  1. Don't move injured area
  2. Splint as found (don't straighten)
  3. Pad splint with cloth
  4. Immobilize joint above and below
  5. Secure with strips (not too tight)
  6. Check circulation (toes/fingers should be pink)

Splint materials:

  • Sticks
  • Branches
  • Rolled newspaper
  • Boards
  • Foam pad
  • Trekking poles

Sling (for arm):

  • Triangle cloth
  • Support forearm
  • Tie around neck
  • Immobilize arm against body

Open Fractures

Bone protruding = extreme emergency

  1. Don't push bone in
  2. Stop bleeding (pressure around it)
  3. Cover with clean dressing
  4. Splint without moving bone
  5. Get to hospital (serious infection risk)

Sprains

R.I.C.E. Method:

  • Rest. Don't use it
  • Ice. Cold water/snow (reduce swelling)
  • Compression. Wrap snugly (not tight)
  • Elevation. Raise above heart

Can walk on sprained ankle?

  • If yes, probably sprained
  • If no, might be fractured

Burns

Burn Classification

First-degree:

  • Red, painful
  • Sunburn-like
  • Surface only

Second-degree:

  • Blisters
  • Very painful
  • Partial thickness

Third-degree:

  • Charred/white
  • Numbness (nerve damage)
  • Full thickness
  • Medical emergency

Treatment

Immediate:

  1. Remove from heat source
  2. Cool with water (not ice)
  3. Cool for 10+ minutes
  4. Remove jewelry/tight clothing (before swelling)

Ongoing:

  1. Don't pop blisters
  2. Cover with clean cloth
  3. Keep moist (water, aloe)
  4. Change dressing daily
  5. Watch for infection

Don't use:

  • Ice directly (tissue damage)
  • Butter/oils (traps heat)
  • Cotton (sticks to burn)

Pain relief:

  • Cool water
  • Elevation
  • Willow bark tea (natural aspirin)

Hypothermia

Stages and Signs

Mild (95-90°F):

  • Shivering
  • Clumsiness
  • Confusion
  • Slurred speech

Moderate (90-82°F):

  • Violent shivering stops
  • Confusion worsens
  • Drowsiness
  • Weak pulse

Severe (<82°F):

  • No shivering
  • Unconscious
  • Barely breathing
  • Death imminent

Treatment

Mild to moderate:

  1. Get out of cold/wet
  2. Remove wet clothes
  3. Warm slowly
    • Warm drinks
    • Body-to-body heat
    • Dry blankets/sleeping bag
    • Warm environment
  4. Focus on core (chest, neck, head, groin)
  5. Don't rub extremities (forces cold blood to core)

Severe:

  1. Handle gently (heart at risk)
  2. Keep horizontal
  3. Warm core only
  4. Give warm drinks only if conscious
  5. Get medical help (can seem dead but be revivable)

Don't:

  • Give alcohol (dilates vessels, cools core)
  • Warm too quickly (shock)
  • Give hot bath (shock)

Heat Illness

Heat Exhaustion

Signs:

  • Heavy sweating
  • Pale/clammy
  • Weak pulse
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness

Treatment:

  1. Move to shade/cool area
  2. Loosen clothing
  3. Drink water (sips)
  4. Cool wet cloths on skin
  5. Rest

Heat Stroke (Life-Threatening)

Signs:

  • High body temp (>103°F)
  • Hot, DRY skin (stopped sweating)
  • Confusion/unconscious
  • Rapid strong pulse
  • Seizures

Treatment:

  1. Cool IMMEDIATELY
  2. Move to shade
  3. Remove excess clothing
  4. Wet skin and fan
  5. Ice packs (groin, armpits, neck)
  6. Get medical help

Don't give fluids if unconscious

Shock

Signs

  • Pale, cold, clammy skin
  • Weak rapid pulse
  • Rapid breathing
  • Confusion
  • Unconsciousness

Treatment

  1. Lay person down
  2. Elevate legs 12 inches (unless head/neck injury)
  3. Keep warm (blankets)
  4. Don't give food/water if unconscious
  5. Reassure
  6. Monitor breathing

Bites and Stings

Snakebite

Response:

  1. Stay calm (speeds venom)
  2. Move away from snake
  3. Remove jewelry (swelling)
  4. Keep bite below heart
  5. Mark swelling edge with pen (track spread)
  6. Get to hospital

Don't:

  • Cut and suck (doesn't work, causes damage)
  • Apply ice
  • Apply tourniquet
  • Waste time identifying snake (treat all as venomous)

Most bites are dry (no venom injected)

Insect Stings

Normal reaction:

  1. Remove stinger (scrape, don't pinch)
  2. Wash area
  3. Ice to reduce swelling
  4. Antihistamine if available

Allergic reaction (anaphylaxis):

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Swelling throat/tongue
  • Rapid pulse
  • Dizziness
  • Use EpiPen immediately
  • Get to hospital

Tick Removal

Process:

  1. Fine tweezers
  2. Grasp close to skin
  3. Pull straight out (steady)
  4. Clean area
  5. Save tick (identification)
  6. Monitor for bulls-eye rash (Lyme disease)

Don't:

  • Burn it
  • Smother with petroleum jelly
  • Twist (leaves head in)

Natural Remedies (Limited Effectiveness)

Pain Relief

Willow bark:

  • Contains salicin (like aspirin)
  • Tea from inner bark
  • Chew bark
  • Anti-inflammatory

Antiseptic

Honey:

  • Medical-grade best
  • Antibacterial properties
  • Apply to clean wound
  • Cover with bandage

Pine pitch:

  • Sticky sap
  • Antibacterial
  • Waterproof bandage
  • Can cause irritation

Digestive Issues

Charcoal:

  • From fire (cool first)
  • Binds toxins
  • For poisoning/food illness
  • Swallow powder with water

Wound Dressing

Sphagnum moss:

  • Absorbent (holds 20x weight)
  • Slight antiseptic properties
  • Used historically
  • Must be clean

Medical Kit Essentials

Minimal Kit

Must have:

  1. Adhesive bandages (various sizes)
  2. Gauze pads
  3. Medical tape
  4. Triangle bandage
  5. Elastic wrap
  6. Antibiotic ointment
  7. Pain reliever (ibuprofen)
  8. Antihistamine
  9. Tweezers
  10. Scissors

Expanded Kit

Add:

  • Hemostatic gauze
  • Tourniquet
  • Irrigation syringe
  • Butterfly closures
  • Superglue
  • Burn gel
  • Splint materials
  • CPR mask
  • Thermometer
  • Safety pins

Improvised Medical Supplies

Bandages:

  • Clean cloth (torn shirt)
  • Duct tape
  • Maxi pads (absorbent)
  • Plastic wrap (keeps clean)

Splint:

  • Sticks
  • Trekking poles
  • Rolled magazine
  • Cardboard

Sling:

  • Bandana
  • Belt
  • Jacket

Stretcher:

  • Tarp between poles
  • Jackets on poles (arms as sleeves)

When to Seek Help

Get to Hospital for:

  • Severe bleeding not controlled
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Chest pain
  • Severe head injury
  • Unconsciousness
  • Open fracture
  • Third-degree burn
  • Snakebite
  • Heat stroke
  • Severe hypothermia
  • Allergic reaction
  • Deep wound to chest/abdomen
  • Signs of internal bleeding

Rule: If uncertain, seek help

Preventing Medical Emergencies

Best medicine is prevention:

  1. Prepare properly. Right gear for conditions
  2. Stay hydrated. Most issues worsen with dehydration
  3. Rest before exhaustion. Accidents happen when tired
  4. Watch footing. Most injuries come from falls
  5. Check weather. Avoid hypothermia/heat illness
  6. Move carefully. Slow is safe
  7. Know limits. Don't push too hard
  8. Buddy system. Two heads better than one
  9. First aid training. Take a course
  10. Carry kit. Can't use what you don't have

Common Medical Mistakes

  1. Panicking. Makes everything worse
  2. Moving injured person unnecessarily. Spinal injuries
  3. Not stopping bleeding first. Minutes matter
  4. Using dirty water on wounds. Causes infection
  5. Warming hypothermia victim too fast. Cardiac arrest
  6. Giving unconscious person water. Choking hazard
  7. Not checking for shock. Treatable if caught
  8. Ignoring infection signs. Can turn deadly
  9. Popping blisters. Infection risk
  10. Not having first aid knowledge. Learn now, not during emergency

Key Takeaways

  1. ABC always. Airway, Breathing, Circulation
  2. Stop bleeding immediately. You have minutes
  3. Clean wounds thoroughly. Prevents infection
  4. Immobilize fractures. Splint before moving
  5. Treat for shock. Common in trauma
  6. Temperature management. Hypo/hyperthermia kill
  7. Know your limits. Some things need a doctor
  8. Prevention beats treatment. Don't take unnecessary risks
  9. Improvise carefully. Use what you have
  10. Get trained. Take a wilderness first aid course

Remember: You can't fix everything in the field. Your goals are: keep patient alive, prevent worsening, and get to professional help when possible. Some situations require immediate evacuation. Know when you're out of your depth.