First Aid

Generally, getting outdoors and into the wilderness is a healthy thing to do – both mentally and physically. But accidents do happen and it’s important to know how to handle them.
In this section you’ll find information on:

• First-aid and wilderness first-aid courses and books
• Building your first-aid kit
• Cell phones

First-Aid and Wilderness Medicine Courses

Learning the basics of first-aid is your responsibility. The best way to learn is to take a course with a reputable agency.
A basic first-aid course will cover what to do if you’re faced with wounds, broken bones, burns, and more. CPR training isn’t usually part of a basic first-aid course but it’s worth making the extra effort to learn it as well. The American Red Cross offers courses in both first-aid and CPR.
Keep in mind that most first-aid classes are designed to teach you what to do in the “real” world and may not cover wilderness situations. For information about where you might be able to find a wilderness first-aid course, ask your local Red Cross or outdoor retailer, or check with one of the following groups:

• Wilderness Medical Associations
• Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO)
• University of California at Berkeley, Youth and Outdoor Programs
• Peak Adventures

You can find information about useful wilderness first-aid books at Hit the Trail

First-Aid Kit Suggestions

Below you’ll find some suggestions for your first-aid kit. Please be advised that this is not an exhaustive list and that because everyone’s medical needs vary greatly, so too do first-aid kits.
When assembling your kit, consider your personal needs, the needs of your travel companions, weather, terrain, and the length of your journey.
We hope you find the following general guidelines helpful.

• A few adhesive strips. The ones about 1 by 3 inches work in most situations. Water resistant adhesives tend to last longer and stay on better.
• A few sterile gauze pads, around 4 inches by 4 inches. These can be use to cover larger ouchies or cut down for smaller wounds. They can also be used to clean wounds.
• A roll of athletic tape. Use it to hold down gauze, prevent blisters and temporarily repair equipment (for the tough-skinned, duct tape works well for these purposes as well).
• Tincture of benzoin compound. Benzoin helps dressings to stick to the skin better.
• An irrigation syringe for cleaning wounds.
• Wound closure strips for pulling together the sides of a clean wound that gapes open.
• An individually wrapped sanitary napkin. Lightweight and inexpensive, sanitary napkins make great compresses for badly bleeding injuries.
• Povidine-iodine for cleaning around wounds or disinfecting water.
• Moleskin and/or 2nd Skin for preventing and treating blisters.
• A few tablets of a painkiller (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen).
• An elastic wrap or Ace bandage that can be used to compress strains and sprains or to hold a compress on a bad bleed.
• A couple of safety pins to secure the elastic wrap, repair rips in clothing, or (once sterilized) to drain a blister.
• A few mild antihistamine tablets like Benadryl to help relieve allergies, the itch of insect bites, or cold symptoms.
• Hydrocortisone for insect bites, heat rashes, and poison ivy.
• A couple of tablets of Imodium and/or Pepto-Bismol for diarrhea.
• Antimicrobial ointment
• Scissors and tweezers, these may be part of your pocketknife.
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm
• More potent medications for specific problems
• Rubber gloves.
• CPR face shield.
• Phone numbers of the closest emergency aid in case something really bad happens.

Other items can and should be added to your kit depending upon where you’ll be hiking, the time of year, and of course, personal needs and preference.

Cell Phones

Carrying cell phones into the backcountry is controversial. Be aware that carrying a cell phone does not guarantee your safety and is not an excuse for poor planning. Often, cell phones don’t work in the wilderness. Anything from rain, cold, heat, mechanical failure, and lack of service can cause them to malfunction.
On the other hand, there are many stories of people who’ve been rescued because they called for help using their cell phones. The decision is yours, just be careful not to let the possession of a phone (and the illusion of security it provides) tempt you into taking unnecessary risks.

The above information is based upon that found in Medicine for the Backcountry; A Practical Guide to Wilderness First Aid by Buck Tilton, M.S. and Frank Hubbell, D.O. Thanks also to Karen Berger for her book Hiking the Triple Crown; How to Hike America’s Longest Trails.