As weekend warriors, off-roaders, and ‘overlanders’ we spend our free time and money making sure we are prepared: piles of recovery gear, antarctic rated sleeping bags, and those titanium SnowPeak sporks we can’t leave home without. But are you prepared for a medical emergency on the trail or at the camp site?
The following is my personal 4-step approach to dealing with an “off the grid” emergency. It is important to remember that no two trips are the same and that preparation is a very dynamic thing that you should scale up or down in regard to your destination and mode of travel. This is not intended to be a guide for how to handle all medical emergencies, but rather key thinking points in regards to preparing yourself to act should a situation arise.
Step 1: Preparation
Being prepared for an off-the-grid medical emergency is a dual step process. First – get your basic kit together, then get some training (you don’t have to do it in this order, but you should do both!).
First, the kit. You can pack a first aid kit to rival any medevac helicopter, but chances are without an “MD” after your name or some advanced lifesaving training many of the expensive items are useless. In a cursory look, I found a couple of excellent basic kits available online:
Ben’s Basic First Aid Supplies – Always in the Truck!
As far as first-aid kits go I have chosen to build my own. I have kept it cheap and simple, and everything can be picked up at the local drug store. The following items make up the bulk of what I store together and carry as a dedicated first-aid/comfort kit.
-Tylenol (basic aches and pains, hangovers, etc.)
-Assorted Bandaids in different sizes
-Chewable baby Aspirin (recommended in cardiac emergencies 81mg each x3)
-Pepto tablets
-Benadryl (very useful for allergic reactions)
-Latex Gloves
Everything else I might utilize during an emergency can be found else where in my vehicle when out on the trail. In order to stay light with less bulk I have chosen not to duplicate them in my “kit”. Being flexible and having the ability to improvise is key to my preparation.
-Duct Tape (stored in my tool bag; used to hold bandaging on or to secure splints to broken extremities)
-Super Glue (stored in the tool bag; used for closing small lacerations)
-Clothing (can be used as bandages for major bleeding, slings, cut into strips for a tourniquet)
-Wrenches/Breaker bars (securely stored in the tool bag; perfect for making splints for arms and legs ect)
-Clean Drinking Water (used to rinse dirty wounds, cool burns)
-Tweezers/Scissors (stored with my toiletries)
Most all store bought kits offer plenty for the average traveler, but don’t just buy it and throw it in the back seat and forget about it. Bust it open before every trip and remind yourself what is in it, how and when to use its different parts, and replace anything that is used or out-of-date.
Second, get some basic emergency medical or wildness first aid training by taking a class. The American Red Cross, American Heart Association, and local rescue squads and/or fire departments often provide basic and advanced medical training at low costs. If a formal class isn’t available in your area or doesn’t fit your schedule (if you have time to wheel you can take a half day class…) then consider some self study. Spend some time searching YouTube and you’ll be surprised the information you can find – as with all internet searches, be mindful of the source!
And once you learn the basics, practice practice practice! You don’t want your first time splinting an extremity to be trailside in the rain.
Good Example Wilderness First Aid Video
Step 2: Prevention
Keeping an emergency from happening in the first place is a success. Traumatic injuries (bleeding, sprains/strains, broken bones, etc.) are the easiest to prevent. Wear gloves during recoveries, have the proper footwear for the conditions, and always wear your seatbelt…and the (common sense) list goes on. Most accidents happen when we become tired, frustrated, inattentive, or get in a hurry. Recognizing we are in these situations and taking steps to slow down and focus on the task at hand can often lead to safer actions.
Medical emergencies can be issues such as heart attacks, seizures, allergic reactions, diabetic conditions, breathing difficulty, and altered mental status/unconscious. These are sometimes hard to prevent and can occur with little or no warning. Some risks can be managed by making sure you and your passengers pack all your all prescribed medications and enough of them to last the whole trip. The reason I carry some of the over the counted meds listed above is to use in these situations.
Step 3: Recognition
When someone is bleeding or a leg is bending in a spot its not supposed to, well then Houston we have a problem. Traumatic injuries are typically the easiest to identify and treat because you can see the problem.
Recognizing a medical emergency is often more challenging because medical emergencies can present themselves in different ways in different people. Sometimes just realizing that something ‘isn’t right’ with yourself or someone with you can be a huge step in the right direction. You might not know what is wrong or how to fix it, but by recognizing that there is an issue buys you time to get that person to more definitive care. Once again knowing the signs and symptoms of typical medical issues is a critical first step of being prepared. You’re best off learning how to do this in a class taught by medical professionals.
Step 4: Stabilization
One important things to remember is that when an emergency happens in the backcountry no one is expecting you to fix it, you’re there to stabilize the situation, prevent things from getting any worse if you can, and make moves to get the patient to more definitive care (i.e. hospital, ambulance). The most important thing is to remain calm – your demeanor can and will directly influence those around you, especially the patient. By doing nothing more than taking control and calming the situation you have succeeded in making things better.
Example of a Wrist Splint (get trained to do these on your own!)
When there’s an emergency off-the-grid make a plan to get to more definitive care, execute your plan, and reevaluate as needed. If all you can do is make it to cell phone service to call for more help then so be it, at least you have accomplished something to aid that person.
Chances are that if you spend a lot of time in the backcountry on the trail, you’re going to encounter a traumatic or medical emergency. With warmer weather and prime 4×4 and camping season nearing, set some time aside to evaluate your level of preparation and make sure you’re ready should something go sideways out there.
About the Author: Taylor is a life-long outdoorsman, hunting, camping, off-roading. In his professional life, Taylor is a firefighter and seasoned first responder.
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