Essential first aid techniques for remote emergencies. Covers trauma care, wound management, and improvised medical supplies.
Why Wilderness First Aid Differs from Standard First Aid
Standard first aid training assumes help is minutes away. Wilderness first aid prepares you for situations where professional medical care may be hours or days away. In a survival scenario, grid-down event, or remote wilderness emergency, you become the first and possibly only medical responder. The skills covered in this guide bridge the gap between basic first aid and professional emergency medical training. These 10 survival first aid skills address the most common and most dangerous injuries and illnesses encountered in emergency situations. Learning these techniques could save the life of a family member, friend, or stranger when calling 911 is not an option. We strongly recommend supplementing this guide with a hands-on wilderness first aid course from organizations like NOLS or SOLO.
Skill 1: Patient Assessment System
Before treating any injury, you must systematically assess the patient to identify all problems and prioritize treatment. Use the MARCH protocol: Massive hemorrhage, Airway, Respiration, Circulation, and Hypothermia. First, check for and control any life-threatening bleeding. Then ensure the airway is open and the patient is breathing. Check circulation by feeling for a pulse and assessing skin color and temperature. Finally, protect against hypothermia, which complicates every other injury. After addressing immediate threats, perform a thorough head-to-toe examination checking for additional injuries that may not be immediately obvious. Document your findings and monitor the patient regularly for changes. This systematic approach to trauma care prevents the common mistake of focusing on dramatic but non-life-threatening injuries while missing subtle but deadly conditions.
Dr. Amanda Foster
Dr. Foster is an emergency medicine physician and certified Wilderness First Responder instructor who has provided medical care in remote locations worldwide.