subject: First Aid for the Wilderness [print this page] Whenever you go on a camping trip, you're told to pack first aid supplies. But, for common and not-so-common injuries in the wilderness, do you know how to use your supplies. Because help might be far off, using first aid skills is particularly important in these situations. Additionally, a first aid kit should be packed with the necessary supplies for any possible injuries in the outdoors.
To meet this need, the Red Cross in Blount County, Tennessee, is holding wilderness and remote first aid courses. These classes, which compose the 16-hour course, are geared toward scouts, motorcyclists, outdoors athletes and enthusiasts, and outdoor workers who are more likely to experience such injuries. Emergencies become different when you're away from civilization, and the course not only teaches participants how to use their first aid supplies but also how to respond in such emergencies when help is delayed. The average wait time for an ambulance is eight minutes in a typical emergency, but, when you're miles into the woods, this time becomes significantly larger.
The course also deals with methods for temporarily treating common injuries in the wilderness. These include head, brain, neck, and spinal injuries; heat-related emergencies; hypothermia; altitude-related injuries, allergies; anaphylaxis; burns; bone and joint injuries; and wounds and infections. However, before enrolling in the class, you should already be certified in adult CPR and AED.
If you're a person who goes camping regularly or works in the outdoors, such as in logging or construction, such a class may be beneficial. First aid kits are often designed to be taken outdoors and, in addition to having a waterproof, lightweight case, are filled with the items needed to address many of the mentioned injuries above. Make sure the next time you plan a backpacking or camping trip that you and everyone with you has the right first aid supplies and training in case of injury.
