When you take a standard first aid course, you are taught that you can recognize a life-threatening emergency and quickly manage it until professional medical help arrives.
What if your situation is different from what you learned in your basic first aid course? What if you are unable to take care of a serious injury for hours or days?
Cuts
Depending on the injury, some cuts can be treated at home with basic first aid measures. However, larger or gaping cuts that don't stop bleeding require medical attention.
To prevent infection, the wound must be cleaned thoroughly and disinfected. A clean dressing should be used on the cut and it should be changed regularly.
In addition, you may want to apply a small amount of antiseptic to the cut or graze. Pine sap is an ideal choice.
A cloth or gauze can be used to 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
Everyone will get cut, scraped or puncture wounds from the outdoors. They are a common part of wilderness life, but it is possible to prevent infection and maintain your health by knowing how best to treat them.
In most cases, small cuts or scrapes stop bleeding quickly and easily with a few quick actions. To stop blood flow, you could use a gauze or clean cloth to press down on the wound.
You can also apply a bit of rubbing alcohol to a cut or scrape. This will help to remove dirt and other particles from the wound.
Also, rubbing alcohol will clean the skin and kill bacteria which could cause infection. Cover the wound with a gauze pad or sterile bandage. You should change the dressing or bandage every other day to prevent infection.
Burns
First aid is required if you are hurt by heat, flame, or liquid. You should immediately stop the burning, remove the burn, irrigate the area, and cover the area with a dressing.
You should not use ice to cool it as this could cause more damage to the skin and tissue. It may also cause shock (a sudden drop in body temperature).
You can protect the burnt person by taking off all tight clothing, belts, jewelry and other items from the area. If necessary, offer pain medication to reduce the symptoms of burning.
Call 111 if the burn is severe and affects the eyes or covers large areas of your body. If the burn is minor, second-degree, you can attempt to treat it at home using these steps.
Broken Bones
Bones are living tissue and can become bruised in many ways. If struck hard enough, they can also be damaged.
A cast or splint is used to prevent the fractured bone from moving during healing. This allows the bone to mend naturally and reduces pain and bleeding.
Surgery is required to treat broken bones. The location of the injury and the severity of your medical history will all play a role in the treatment.
You should seek professional assistance immediately you suspect a serious heart attack. For an ambulance, dial 999 or Triple Zero (000), if you cannot get to an A&E.
FAQ
What is your most important survival tool?
A sharp knife is essential for survival. A sharp knife is more than just any other knife. You won't get much out of it if you don’t know how to properly use it.
A knife that does not have a blade is useless. A knife without a blade is dangerous.
Master craftsmen are skilled in making the best knives. They take pride in their work and make sure that every knife is flawless.
They keep their blades clean and sharpen them regularly.
Make sure the knife feels comfortable in your hands before you purchase it. It should feel good in your hand.
The handle should not have any sharp edges.
If you do find such flaws, ask the seller to fix them. Accept a knife you don't like in your hands.
How do you choose the best knife to suit your needs?
It is not easy to choose the right knife for you. There are many knife brands that claim to be the best.
But which one is truly the best? How do they compare?
First, think about the type of tasks you will be using your knife for.
Do you have the ability to cut wood or skin animals?
Is it for fishing or hunting? Is it meant for camp cooking or kitchen cutting?
Do you intend to use it for opening bottles and cans? Do you intend to open packages and boxes?
Are you able to carry heavy loads with your knife?
You might want to clean it after each use. Do you plan to wash it frequently?
Does it need to retain its edge well over time.
How to stay calm in a survival situation?
Calmness and patience will serve you well in most situations. It's easy to panic in a survival situation, especially if you are stranded somewhere far from civilization. But being calm and patient will enable you to cope with any circumstance.
It is important to remember that it is impossible to change the outcome. The only thing you can control is how you respond to it. You can feel good about yourself, even if your goals weren't met.
If you find yourself in a survival scenario, it is important to remain calm and collected. This means being prepared mentally and physically.
Mental preparation means having a clear goal and realistic expectations.
Physical preparation involves ensuring that you have enough water, food, and fuel to last until rescue.
After you have completed these two steps, you can begin to relax and enjoy your experience.
What is the most crucial survival tool for you if you're lost?
The compass will tell you which direction north is. The compass also shows how far you have traveled from your starting point. The compass may not always help you find your way if you're travelling to a mountainous area. However, if you're in a flat area, the compass should be able to show you the way.
If you don’t have a map or compass, an object like a stone or tree could be used as a reference. Even though you still need a landmark to help you orient yourself, it's a good idea to have one.
What is the difference in a fixed-blade and a folding knife?
Folding knives fold down compactly so that they can fit into a bag or pocket. When not in usage, the blade folds down.
Fixed-blade knives are made to be used in normal usage. They often have longer blades then folding knives.
Fixed-blade knives are stronger but more difficult to transport.
What's the time taken to find help once you are lost?
It all depends on several factors.
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Where are you?
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Which terrain are yours?
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No matter whether you have cell reception
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How many people have seen you?
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Whether you're injured
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How dehydrated you are
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You have been drinking water?
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Whether you have eaten recently
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It doesn't matter if you are wearing the right clothing
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No matter if you're carrying a compass or a map,
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How familiar are your local surroundings?
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How long has it been since you lost your way?
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How long did you spend looking for help?
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What is the average time it takes for people to notice what you are missing?
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How fast they decide that you are available for them to search
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How many rescuers can you attract?
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How many rescues did you receive
Statistics
- 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)
- Without one, your head and neck can radiate up to 40 percent of your body heat. (dec.ny.gov)
- The Dyrt PRO gives 40% campground discounts across the country (thedyrt.com)
- Not only does it kill up to 99.9% of all waterborne bacteria and parasites, but it will filter up to 1,000 liters of water without the use of chemicals. (hiconsumption.com)
External Links
How To
How to Create a Fishtrap To Survive
A fish trap is an apparatus that is designed to catch fish. It is composed of two parallel bars ("trays") that form an oval shape. The water flows into one trap, and then settles on the bottom of first tray. This causes the water to rise. The water level rises and falls through the second bar. This allows the fish trapped to escape.
Fish traps were first used to catch salmon in ancient times. They still function, but they can now be used to catch many kinds of freshwater catfish.
You can make your own fish trap if you can access a large enough pond. To line the trap's interior, you will need some type of material. If you don't have a lot of space, then you can buy a commercial fish trap kit online. These kits come with everything except for the materials required to construct the trap.
If you do decide to make your own fish trap, here are some things to keep in mind when building it:
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So that the water doesn’t leak through the trap, make sure they are sturdy.
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Choose a spot that gets plenty of sun to warm the water.
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Avoid rough surfaces such as concrete and stone to trap sand particles.
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Keep the trap's area free from debris, so fish won't have any problems getting caught.
After you've constructed the fishtrap, you need to place it close to the edge. If the fish escape, don't panic. The trap should be left alone for a few more days to allow them to return in. It is not necessary to clean the trap, as it should remain moist. If you see any dead fish floating around the pond, you can remove them later.