Lots of talk about first aid on BCUK and as most members here camp in the UK, what sort of level of training do you think you need? What sort of emergences do you see could happen here?
General First Aid
- Thread starter rik_uk3
- Start date
In a bushcraft situation most of the injuries will be cuts and scrapes as you walk through gorse and brambles. You will see a sprained ankle here and there. The most common severe burn in the wilderness is accidentally pouring a cup of boiling water down your boot. The 20 seconds that it takes to take your boot off allows for a deep burn.
I would start with the Remote Emergency Care courses. There are a few of us teaching the REC levels who are also heavy into the Bushcraft skills. If you want more definitive medical training then I would look at the Wilderness First Responder course or maybe the Remote EMT.
I would start with the Remote Emergency Care courses. There are a few of us teaching the REC levels who are also heavy into the Bushcraft skills. If you want more definitive medical training then I would look at the Wilderness First Responder course or maybe the Remote EMT.
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Short answer is some is better than none but if you want to put a bit more thought into it here are a couple of points:
1. Find a course that is geared to the outdoors rather than, say, the 1 day Emergency First Aid at Work course or the 3 Day First Aid at Work courses. Not that they are bad courses but the setting is an urban environment with an ambulance 15 minutes away.
When in the outdoors this isn't an option so an outdoor course looks at the same topics but with the perspective of longer term care of the casualty.
2. Set your budget in terms of time and money. Whilst it would be good to go on a week long expedition course abroad it might not be necessary and we all have to be sensible regarding time and money.
3. I would always recommend a 2 day course for anyone who works or plays in the outdoors. There are lots of providers on the forums so I have to be diplomatic but I know that all of the providers of REC, ITC or ECP awards are all very good and 'singing from the same song sheet' as it were. This is in contrast to the very traditional, urban perspective of Red Cross, St Johns etc. (*no disrespect but I think everyone in the industry recognises that there are different providers a with different remits and capabilities - before I get shot at!*)
A two day course should cover:
- Protecting yourself
- A common Accident procedure - E.g. ABC
- Unconsciousness
- Choking & Breathing problems
- Chest Pain (incl. Heart Attack & Angina)
- CPR
- Serious bleedin
- Shock
- Boney / Joint Injuries
- Specific Injuries: Head, Neck & Chest
- Heat & Cold problems
- Common Medical Conditions e.g. Asthma, Epilepsy, Anaphylaxis & Diabetes
This is a guide. Other providers or awarding bodies may add additional skills. Budget £100-£150 for a 2 day course but make sure it is geared to the outdoors and is full of practical, hands on training and scenarios.
In terms of accidents, bleeding wounds are likely in bushcraft but not as often as you'd thin because we are aware of the danger. Burns are common as are simple ankle sprains. Depending on who you are with; medical problems might be an issue but awarenes can prevent these. On multi day bush trips, poorly tummies and runny botties is a real possible. But again, preventable with education.
Or contact SJA / Red Cross and see what is the shortest course you can get on as quickly as possible. It might also be worth contacting your local authority to see if funding is available (slim chance compared to 4 years ago!) or even asking your employer to put you through an EFAW or FAW courses. This is my area so I am a bit anal about it but I'll be the first to say some training - even a half day basic course - could save a life.
HTH
1. Find a course that is geared to the outdoors rather than, say, the 1 day Emergency First Aid at Work course or the 3 Day First Aid at Work courses. Not that they are bad courses but the setting is an urban environment with an ambulance 15 minutes away.
When in the outdoors this isn't an option so an outdoor course looks at the same topics but with the perspective of longer term care of the casualty.
2. Set your budget in terms of time and money. Whilst it would be good to go on a week long expedition course abroad it might not be necessary and we all have to be sensible regarding time and money.
3. I would always recommend a 2 day course for anyone who works or plays in the outdoors. There are lots of providers on the forums so I have to be diplomatic but I know that all of the providers of REC, ITC or ECP awards are all very good and 'singing from the same song sheet' as it were. This is in contrast to the very traditional, urban perspective of Red Cross, St Johns etc. (*no disrespect but I think everyone in the industry recognises that there are different providers a with different remits and capabilities - before I get shot at!*)
A two day course should cover:
- Protecting yourself
- A common Accident procedure - E.g. ABC
- Unconsciousness
- Choking & Breathing problems
- Chest Pain (incl. Heart Attack & Angina)
- CPR
- Serious bleedin
- Shock
- Boney / Joint Injuries
- Specific Injuries: Head, Neck & Chest
- Heat & Cold problems
- Common Medical Conditions e.g. Asthma, Epilepsy, Anaphylaxis & Diabetes
This is a guide. Other providers or awarding bodies may add additional skills. Budget £100-£150 for a 2 day course but make sure it is geared to the outdoors and is full of practical, hands on training and scenarios.
In terms of accidents, bleeding wounds are likely in bushcraft but not as often as you'd thin because we are aware of the danger. Burns are common as are simple ankle sprains. Depending on who you are with; medical problems might be an issue but awarenes can prevent these. On multi day bush trips, poorly tummies and runny botties is a real possible. But again, preventable with education.
Or contact SJA / Red Cross and see what is the shortest course you can get on as quickly as possible. It might also be worth contacting your local authority to see if funding is available (slim chance compared to 4 years ago!) or even asking your employer to put you through an EFAW or FAW courses. This is my area so I am a bit anal about it but I'll be the first to say some training - even a half day basic course - could save a life.
HTH
Apart from minor the things that frequently crop up and only need a plaster or paracetamol Ive only come across 4 or 5 things that needed first aid attention in 40 odd years of wandering over the hills. All were in the UK; 2 ankle sprains/breaks, one burn (child) and a couple who probably were dehydrated (which I did not recognise).
Earlier this year I experienced chest pain when I woke up under canvas. The first time Ive needed to treat myself. Not a particularly remote location but it took the ambulance 35 minutes to get to me; helpful that I had a mobile phone signal. Not a heart attack as it turned out (it was something called SVT) but it was likely to have developed into something more serious without professional intervention; theyre the ones with the drugs. The hospital doctor was pleased that Id chewed an aspirin tablet before the ambulance arrived, his comment being it bought us time to treat you before it did develop into something more serious.
These situations are rare, there will be people who never encounter a situation in their outdoor activities where first aid will be needed; the thing is if I had these encounters without having had the training (and mine is the most basic level) I would have felt rather useless.
Gentys post (04 September) is good advice.
Earlier this year I experienced chest pain when I woke up under canvas. The first time Ive needed to treat myself. Not a particularly remote location but it took the ambulance 35 minutes to get to me; helpful that I had a mobile phone signal. Not a heart attack as it turned out (it was something called SVT) but it was likely to have developed into something more serious without professional intervention; theyre the ones with the drugs. The hospital doctor was pleased that Id chewed an aspirin tablet before the ambulance arrived, his comment being it bought us time to treat you before it did develop into something more serious.
These situations are rare, there will be people who never encounter a situation in their outdoor activities where first aid will be needed; the thing is if I had these encounters without having had the training (and mine is the most basic level) I would have felt rather useless.
Gentys post (04 September) is good advice.
I have to agree with everything that Genty has said but I would like to add First aid and medical training is just as an important skill as all the others , you gain knowledge and experience by doing hands on , never overstep your capabilities and always be willing to increase your knowledge base and education , from the basics to the experienced keep your skills topped up by reading and practice as well as progressing your skills if you can with ever more advanced training
Getting medical training is important. How about looking into some of the volunteer organisations that will put you through the training and give you some actual medical experience?
Here in Ireland the Civil Defense will train you up to the EMT level and let you be medical cover for events. The Order of Malta, Red Cross and St. John's do the same thing.
Take REC classes definitely, but find a way to get some hands on experience.
Perhaps you can talk to your local A&E to shadow a doctor for a day, or ask your local ambulance company to do a ride along.
Here in Ireland the Civil Defense will train you up to the EMT level and let you be medical cover for events. The Order of Malta, Red Cross and St. John's do the same thing.
Take REC classes definitely, but find a way to get some hands on experience.
Perhaps you can talk to your local A&E to shadow a doctor for a day, or ask your local ambulance company to do a ride along.
If you want some free training in exchange for some commitment Mountain Rescue Teams are always looking for members and have a very good program of medical training.
While not suitable for overseas travel, the training is very comprehensive. Yes, a lot is based on having some more specialist kit available, such as O2 cylinders, but the basic skills are universal and some specialist kit (e.g NP airways and chest seals) is available from suppliers like SP Services. At the most basic level you're trained in basic life support (CPR). If you go further there is the Casualty Care Course. It's typically 2 to 3 days of intensive training with lots of practical scenarios thrown in. On my course we had to deal with car crashes, plane crashes, chainsaw amputations, falls and a number of medical scenarios. They even cover morphine (they trust me with a needle, the fools!!!!!) and other drugs.
And on top of that there's the opportunity for technical rescue experience (yesterday I was in the Beacons practicing getting stuck climbers off a cliff), navigation and all sorts of other skills. If you're lucky you also get to play around with Police and Sea King helicopters (damn Saturday's low cloud, the heli couldn't make it, we had to walk!).
While not suitable for overseas travel, the training is very comprehensive. Yes, a lot is based on having some more specialist kit available, such as O2 cylinders, but the basic skills are universal and some specialist kit (e.g NP airways and chest seals) is available from suppliers like SP Services. At the most basic level you're trained in basic life support (CPR). If you go further there is the Casualty Care Course. It's typically 2 to 3 days of intensive training with lots of practical scenarios thrown in. On my course we had to deal with car crashes, plane crashes, chainsaw amputations, falls and a number of medical scenarios. They even cover morphine (they trust me with a needle, the fools!!!!!) and other drugs.
And on top of that there's the opportunity for technical rescue experience (yesterday I was in the Beacons practicing getting stuck climbers off a cliff), navigation and all sorts of other skills. If you're lucky you also get to play around with Police and Sea King helicopters (damn Saturday's low cloud, the heli couldn't make it, we had to walk!).
as Nigel says join the local MRt or for the soft sotherners with out proper landscapes ALSAR.
The cas care course is hard but good. Even more intresting when the practical exam is held down a cave.
The cas care course is hard but good. Even more intresting when the practical exam is held down a cave.
Wots your problem?
which one? I've too many to mention. Not been able to spell is pretty much at the top of the list.
Must learn to spell it correctly if i'm going to insult folks
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Any decent first aid training is always a help as it weighs nothing and is always with you, like most training it's always diminishing returns but still every little helps and keeping up to date is very relevant as new findings sometimes turn things on their head (use of tourniquets and basic life support for example have pretty much changed beyond all recognition in relatively recent times).
The majority of things you will see in the wild will generally be those you will see anywhere only the mechanism of injury changes, so a general first aid grounding would always be the place to start. After all probably the most likely serious event would be an RTC on the way there or back. The "bolt on" type wilderness type things that are most worth a look for the UK would be hypothermia and drowning, if you go further afield then there are lots that can be worthwhile. You might also want to look at more advanced musculoskeletal stuff. I find it amazing that the school curriculum covers so many things these days but basic first aid appears not to be even considered.
The majority of things you will see in the wild will generally be those you will see anywhere only the mechanism of injury changes, so a general first aid grounding would always be the place to start. After all probably the most likely serious event would be an RTC on the way there or back. The "bolt on" type wilderness type things that are most worth a look for the UK would be hypothermia and drowning, if you go further afield then there are lots that can be worthwhile. You might also want to look at more advanced musculoskeletal stuff. I find it amazing that the school curriculum covers so many things these days but basic first aid appears not to be even considered.
I watched my neighbor's kid do her homework which consisted of drawing a €50 note. I was taken aback. How is this more important learning than maths, reading and writing? Let alone the total lack of first aid in the curriculum.
In Germany, you cannot get a driving license without a first aid course. I would be a big fan of implementing that here.
Sadly enough I think drawing a €50 note was taught under economics! Art was not a part of it........
I've done a basic first aid course (cuts, burns, cpr, choking and the like) and used it the other day when a friends cut himself quite deeply.
I just bandaged it, got him to keep pressure on it and keep the cut about the heart.
Other than cuts i can see other injuries being burns and broken bones which there is not a great deal you can do in the outdoors
I just bandaged it, got him to keep pressure on it and keep the cut about the heart.
Other than cuts i can see other injuries being burns and broken bones which there is not a great deal you can do in the outdoors
I quite agree with you at the first aid level. But there are some training schemes out there that can provide courses that can deal with burns and breaks and dislocations. The Wilderness Medical Society is the premier organisation who creates the curriculum for the assessment and treatment of wilderness injuries.
They have recognised protocols that allow responders to relocate dislocated shoulders, set and splint broken bones and assess and treat burns.
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