The standard first aid course will teach you how to recognize and respond quickly to life-threatening emergencies until professional help arrives.
What happens if the situation you are in is not consistent with what you learned from your standard first aid class. What if you have to manage a serious injury on your own for hours or days before professional medical care arrives?
Cuts
Depending on the injury some cuts can easily be treated at home using basic first aid. You should always seek medical attention for any bleeding wounds that are more severe or persistent.
To prevent infection, it is important to clean and disinfect the wound. A clean dressing should be used on the cut and it should be changed regularly.
A small amount of antiseptic may be applied to the cut or graze. Pine sap is a good choice for this purpose.
Use a cloth, gauze or other material to apply pressure to the wound. This will stop bleeding. You can stop bleeding by applying pressure to the wound using a cloth or gauze. If blood smears through the cloth place another cloth on top.
Scrapes
All of us will be exposed to cuts, scrapes and puncture wounds from time to time. They are often a part of life in the wilderness, but knowing how to treat them correctly can help prevent infection and keep you healthy.
Most small cuts and scrapes will stop bleeding quickly with just a few simple actions. To stop blood flow, you could use a gauze or clean cloth to press down on the wound.
A bit of rubbing aloe vera can also be applied to a cut. This will help remove dirt and other particles that may be stuck in the wound.
You can also use rubbing alcohol to clean your skin and kill any bacteria that could be causing infection. Use a gauze pad or sterile tape to cover the wound. The dressing or bandage should be changed on a daily basis to avoid infection.
Burns
If you are injured by contact with a hot object, flame or liquid, you will need first aid. The first steps are to stop the burning, remove it, irrigate it, then cover it with a bandage.
Don't use ice to cool the burn as this can further damage the skin and tissue. It could also cause shock (a sudden drop or rise in body temperature).
You can protect the burnt person by taking off all tight clothing, belts, jewelry and other items from the area. As needed, administer pain medication to relieve the symptoms of burning.
Call 111 for an ambulance if the burn is very severe or affects the eyes. If the burn is minor, second-degree, you can attempt to treat it at home using these steps.
Broken Bones
Bones are living tissues that can get bruised in many ways. If they are struck with enough force, they can be broken.
To prevent fractures from happening, a cast or brace is applied to the affected bone. This allows the bone and blood vessels to heal naturally, and it reduces pain and bleeding.
Sometimes, surgery is necessary to fix broken bones. Treatment will vary depending on the extent of the injury, severity, age, and medical history.
You should seek professional assistance immediately you suspect a serious heart attack. If you're unable to reach an A&E, call 999 and Triple Zero (000).
FAQ
How do I stay calm during a survival situation
Calmness and patience will serve you well in most situations. It is easy to panic when you are in a survival situation. Keep calm and be patient, you will be able to handle whatever happens.
It is important that you remember that you cannot control the outcome of a situation. Only you can change how you react to the situation. This will allow you to feel great about yourself, even if you don't achieve everything you want.
You must be calm and collected when you're in a survival situation. This means being prepared mentally and physically.
Mental preparation is about setting realistic expectations for yourself and setting clear goals.
Physical preparation involves ensuring that you have enough water, food, and fuel to last until rescue.
Now you can just relax and enjoy this experience.
What's the time taken to find help once you are lost?
This depends on several variables:
-
Wherever you are
-
Which terrain are yours?
-
No matter if you have cell phone reception
-
If someone has ever seen you
-
No matter if you're hurt
-
Whether you are dehydrated
-
You have been drinking water?
-
It doesn't matter if you have had food recently
-
Whether you are wearing appropriate clothing
-
No matter whether you are carrying a compass, a map, or a compass
-
How familiar are your local surroundings?
-
How many years have passed since you lost your keys?
-
How long did it take you to search for help?
-
How long does people take to notice you are gone?
-
You are amazed at how fast they find you and start searching for you
-
How many rescuers have you attracted?
-
How many rescues did you receive
What is the single most important thing for survival?
The most important thing you need to survive is food. Shelter from the elements is as important as food. If you don't eat, you won't live very long.
How to Navigate with or Without a Compass
A compass is not able to tell you where your destination is, but it can help guide you back home if necessary.
There are three options for navigation:
-
By landmarks
-
By magnetic North (using the compass)
-
By stars
These are objects you recognize immediately when you come across them. They are trees, buildings or rivers. Because they give you a visual clue about where you are, landmarks are very useful.
Magnetic North is simply the direction in which the Earth's magnetic field points. If you look at the sky, the sun appears like it's moving across the sky. However, the earth’s magnetic field actually causes it to move around the Earth. While it may appear that the sun moves across the sky, in fact, the sun actually moves around its horizon. The sun is overhead at noon. The sun is directly beneath you at midnight. The magnetic field of the earth is constantly changing. This means that the exact direction and orientation of the North pole magnetically changes each day. This means that your course could drift a lot in a single day.
Another way to navigate is with stars. Stars appear to rise and set over the horizon. These are fixed points in time that you can use for determining your location relative others.
How can I find the right knife for me?
It can be hard to find the right knife. There are many brands that claim their knives to be the best.
Which one is the best? Which one is the best?
Consider first what tasks you are going to be performing with your knife.
Do you plan to cut wood, skin or chop animals, or slice bread?
Is it for fishing or hunting? Are you going to use it for camping cooking?
Is it going to be used to open bottles or cans of beer? What about opening boxes and packages?
Are you able to carry heavy loads with your knife?
What about cleaning it after every use? Is it something you intend to do often?
Do they need to maintain their edge for a long time?
Statistics
- so you can be 100 percent hands-free, and there's less chance you'll put your torch down and lose it. (nymag.com)
- In November of 1755, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.0 and a maximum intensity of VIII occurred about 50 miles northeast of Boston, Massachusetts. (usgs.gov)
- We know you're not always going to be 100% prepared for the situations that befall you, but you can still try and do your best to mitigate the worst circumstances by preparing for a number of contingencies. (hiconsumption.com)
- The Dyrt PRO gives 40% campground discounts across the country (thedyrt.com)
External Links
How To
How to Build a Fishtrap to Survive
A fish trap is a device that is used to catch fish. It is composed of two parallel bars (the "trays") which form a funnel shape. The water flows through one trap end. Water collects at its bottom in the first tray. The water level rises as a result. As the water levels rise, the second bar is broken, allowing trapped fish to swim free.
Fish traps are an ancient invention that was originally used to catch salmon. They still work today, but now they're also used to catch many types of freshwater catfish, such as bass and carp.
You can make your fish trap yourself if you have access to a large enough pond. You'll want to use some kind of material to line the inside of the trap. A commercial fish trap kits can be bought online if you don’t have much space. These kits usually include everything you need except the materials to construct your trap.
Here are some guidelines to follow if you decide to build your own fishtrap.
-
Make sure the sides of your trap are strong so that water doesn't escape.
-
So that the sun warms the water, choose a spot with plenty of sunshine.
-
For the trap's bottom, use a smooth surface such as concrete or stone. Sand and gravel particles tend to gravitate to rough surfaces.
-
To ensure that the fish don't get caught, keep the trap area clear of any debris.
Once you've built the fish trap, you'll need to put it somewhere near the edge of the pond. It doesn't matter if your fish escape. You can leave the trap alone for a few weeks until they return. The trap shouldn't be cleaned as it should stay moist. If there are any dead fish in the pond, they can be removed later.