First Aid

It's important to be prepared before going adventuring in the woods. I strongly recommend having a first aid kit to complete your survival kit. 

Here is the minimum to have in your first aid kit:

-          A pair of medical scissors

-          A pair of tweezers

-          A bottle of peroxide

-          A few band-aids

-          Aspirin or an other pain reliever

-          At least 10 gauze pads

-          A survival blanket (aluminium)

-          After bite

-          A variety of bandages. 

       I shall describe a few possible situations that may occur in the woods.

Situation 1

     Your friend sprained his foot. You have to react fast; if you don't, he won't be able to walk for a wile. It's very important to immobilise the foot, but not completely. Take a bandage. Start under the foot. Never tie a bandage exactly at the spot it hurts. Make your friend feel comfortable.
      Here a pictures to clarify the technique.

Situation 2

You accidentally burned yourself. 

Option 1: Apply a cooling product AROUND the affected area. After that is done, treat it as if it was a cut.

Option 2: If you have enough water, rice it carefully, then treat like a cut.

Situation 3

Something happened to your friend's arm and made it nonfunctional for now. 

Use a triangular bandage. Follow the instructions shown on the pictures below. 

 If it's cold outside, take off the victim's jacket but don't forget to put it back on, once the treatment is done. 

Situation 4 External bleeding

Cuts are not rare in the woods. If you or your friend is bleeding, you must react fast. Follow the instructions on the pictures bellow, don't forget to elevate the wound for a better blood circulation.

SHOCK

It's important not to have shock victims. Comfort anyone that is in distress. Cover them with a survival blanket.Heat has many benefits and will calm down an injured person. The mental well being is as important as the physical one; always stay with an injured person. 

 

CAUTION: 

It's important to have at least someone with you in the woods that knows his first aid. It would be great for everyone to follow a first aid course. I recommend the General First Aid course, given by the Quebec's lifesaving society. 

I would like to thank Anna and Felix, they kindly accepted to pose on my pictures. In exchange, they got a free first aid class.