Backpacking

These are just a few things that every hiker should know just in case they run into some problems. These are some common first aid ailments that can happen while you are out hiking and how to treat them and also a few situations that you may run into along the way.

1. 1. Approach the victem safely: Study the location before you try to reach them. If you think that you can get to them safely do that, but if you think you may hurt yourself dont aggravate the situation by hurting yourself too.


2. 2. Treat the life-threatening conditions: Treat the most serious injuries first like stop serious bleeding or restore breating or treat for poisoning first or anything that they can die from first.


3. 3. Stabilize the victim: Treat every accident victem for shock, and then see to the less serious wounds.


4. 4. Get help: Asses your options. Can the victim walk? Can you carry him? If you cant get him out then decide the best way to get someone to go get help. Make sure the person taht goes knows a description of the victems injuries and also make sure the messenger knows where he is going.

• Cuts: Cuts can be a distaster out in the wilderness with no hospitals or medical assistance around. Even if it is just a small cut and seems harmless it could get infected so there is still reason to treat it. If it is a small cut that isnt bleeding too much you should still put a band-aid or something over and some antiseptics if you have them to keep it from getting infected. If it is a larger cut that is bleeding perfusely, apply pressure to the wound to slow the bleeding. Then wrap it in a t-shirt or something to help constrict it. Keep applying the pressure until the bleeding has subsided.


• Broken Bones: Broken bones while out backpacking can be a fatal injury if you dont treat it right and get the injured person back to civilization in time.


• Hypothermia: Get the victim warm. If you can get him indoors and get him into a warm bath or shower. If not, set up a tent and put him in a sleeping bag. If he still isnt warming up a person can get in with him and warm him up.


• Frostbite: Use body heat to warm the frostbiten area like if your hand is affected put it in your armpit, if its your feet put it on another persons stomach, if its ears or face use the palm of your hand. Do not rub it. This will damage the frostbiten tissue.


• Heat Reactions: There are two kinds of heat reactions, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhastion is when the victim becomes pale and their skin is cold and shallow and they may feel nauseous. The difference between that and heatstroke is that when they have heatstroke, they will stop sweating and this is bad because thier body isnt cooling itself anymore and is shutting down. For heat exhaustion set him in the shade and if he is concious give him a drink of water. Then make him rest the rest of the day until he is recovered. Heatstroke is more serious, rest is not enough. You must cool the victim quickly. Dip the person in a cool stream or lake if possible if you are not near either of those put them in the shade and pour water on them. Put damp clothes on them. If they are concious, make them drink as much water as possible. Get medical attention as soon as possible.


• Altitude Sickness: This is caused by going up in elevation to fast. You know someone has it if they have a headache, have a general lack of energy and a loss of appetite, and sometimes are nauseous. There is no real way to treat it. You should either go down in elevation and aclimate there for a while and the symptoms will go away in a few days or just sit and relax for a few days until you become aclimated at your current altitude but it is recomended that you go down in altitude.


• Dehydration: If someone is lightheaded, dizzy, nauseous, weak, or are having muscle cramps they might be experiencing dehydration. This comes from a lack of drinking enough water. So to prevent it just keep drinking water even if you arent thirsty you still could be getting dehydrated. If someone does become dehydrated, you should have them drink a lot of water and sit in the shade and rest for a while.


• Blisters: These are very commone when you are out hiking because you are always up and around on your feet. If you feel a hot spot which is the iritation that happens before a blister appears, stop and put mole skin over the area befor a blister has time to form. If one does appear then you can cut a hole in the moleskin to fit around the blister to take the pressure off the area. You may need several layers to take all of the pressure off and you may also need to drain it if it is too big but if you do make sure it doesnt get infected.


• Ticks: Ticks are small insects that attach themselves to your body to slowly take blood from you kind of like a leech or a mosquito but smaller and they stay attached for a long time. You need to get rid of them once you find one because the can carry diseases. If you find one use tweezers to grip it as close to the skin as possible and do not twist, jerk, or squeeze the tick as it could cause it to leave body parts in your skin. After you have it out gently wash the wound.


• Snakebite: If the snake was nonpoisonous then all you have to do is wash it with soap and water and treat it with antiseptic. But if it is a poisonous snake, first get the victim to medical assistance as soon as possible. Then remove and rings or jewlery that could constrict the area around the wound. Then make the victim lie down and position the bite lower than the rest of the body. If medical help will not arrive for a long time then put a constricting band around the limb 2 to 4 inches above the bite to slow the spread of the venom. Do not make it to tight or you will completely cut off the circulation and that is very bad. It should be loose enough you can put a finger under it.


• Sprained Ankle: If someone sprains their ankle, do not take off their boot because it could swell and then you will never get the boot back on again. What you should do is reinforce it with a shirt or something by wrapping it around it and supporting it boot and all. Once you get to camp it is safe to take off the boot and keep the leg raised and put it in cold water to reduce the swelling.