75
votes
Accepted
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
Eventually some part of your brain is going to start thinking, "Holy (expletive), Rattlesnake! I'm gonna loose an extremity! I'm gonna die! What's going to happen to my family? Why did I even come ...
- 5,168
44
votes
Accepted
How to treat a severe allergic reaction while hiking?
Anybody who has severe allergies which could lead to anaphylaxic shock should carry appropriate medication with them. Typically, that would consist of:
An antihistamine (e.g. benadryll)
An ...
- 8,700
33
votes
First aid: alternatives to hydrogen peroxide
Water.
The American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid courses in 2021 recommend irrigating wounds with at least a liter of potable water, using an irrigation syringe. If you don't have enough potable ...
- 1,124
25
votes
How do you remove a fishhook from a human?
I disagree greatly with all previous answers. Pushing the hook the rest of the way through is very painful and takes much longer than the method I describe below.
My preferred method is to wrap some ...
- 721
23
votes
How do you remove a fishhook from a human?
Often the best solution is to get some fine nosed pliers and push the point of the hook out and through, making an 'exit wound'. This is often preferable to trying to pull a barbed hook back the way ...
- 6,202
22
votes
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
Practice.
I watched my dad nearly slice his thumb off while cutting wood, in the middle of nowhere in France, with a meat cleaver when I was about 10. He turned to me and said 'Go to your mum, ask ...
19
votes
Accepted
What are the first signs that you are headed for heat exhaustion, and what should you do?
Serious heat related illness in wilderness medicine is broken up into two categories, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
This blog post from NOLS has a pretty good overview of the two (including signs &...
- 3,998
18
votes
Accepted
Is whiskey a good disinfectant?
This was done on the American Frontier, and during the American Civil War. According to this journal from the American Medical Association printed in 1893, it is a good antiseptic. Apparently, alcohol ...
- 69.2k
18
votes
Duct tape as adhesive bandage
Yes you can. Just be aware that Duct tape is very sticky in comparison to regular medical tape, so when you go to peel it off, it puts a lot more stress on the healing wound and is likely to re-open ...
- 9,514
16
votes
Accepted
What are the different stages of frostbite?
First I will describe the stages of frostbite focusing on how to detect them and what are the implications of each. Secondly I will address handling frostbite.
Classification
Stages of frostbite are ...
- 21.7k
16
votes
Is whiskey a good disinfectant?
Is whiskey a good disinfectant in an emergency situation while in the outdoors?
Ideally any strong alcohol, whether whiskey, vodka, tequila or some other strong liquor should not be used to clean ...
- 9,589
16
votes
First aid: alternatives to hydrogen peroxide
When someone is so badly injured that they need immediate professional medical treatment, and you are able to get them that treatment within a day, then wound disinfection isn't a priority. Infections ...
- 983
15
votes
Accepted
Is there anything specific required for a dog first aid kit?
They are often basically the same but there are often three additional items listed:
tick tweezers
louse-comb
foldable cone (to be preferred), muzzle or strips of cloth to prevent biting (its wounds ...
- 23.5k
12
votes
How do you remove a fishhook from a human?
The usual place this happens is a finger, ear, occasional other places.
If you are close to town, and have good insurance by all means, tape it in place to minimize movement, and go see a doctor. I'...
12
votes
Accepted
How do you remove leeches from your eyeball?
This story says that a saline solution was used and it was not pulled off.
Dr Fogg says tweezers were not an option as simply pulling the leech off could leave its head lodged in the eyeball, ...
- 69.2k
12
votes
I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?
Know what to do
Make an effort to know how to deal with the risks of <activity>
The most important thing I learn when I attend first aid courses is not the treatment of the injury, but knowing ...
- 221
12
votes
What first aid steps should you take for someone who faints after being injured in the cold rain?
Send someone to get help, even if it's hours away. The casualty's life may depend on it.
Someone needs to grab a phone and start walking. They should check periodically for signal, including at ...
- 25.9k
11
votes
How do you treat frozen lungs?
First of all, stop strenuous activity.
If possible, get back into a warmer environment.
If not, breathe through your nose as much as possible. This can also be used as a preventative measure.
Hydrate ...
- 5,153
11
votes
Accepted
How do you treat frozen lungs?
Typically runners exert their lungs the most if compared to Mountaineers. I am strictly not comparing with Swimmers of course.
First, why would it happen, how do you know whats happening:
Do we ...
- 31.7k
11
votes
Why are tourniquets not recommended as a first aid for a snakebite?
I keep on telling people that they should never try to restrict the blood flow by using a tourniquet or a tight restricting bandage.
It has been a stupid myth among people, visualizing that the snake ...
- 31.7k
11
votes
Accepted
What to do if someone gets impaled in the stomach?
To quote from the Wilderness First Responder manual,
Large objects found impaled in a wound should be left in place if you can get to a medical facility with relative ease. Yanking on an object can ...
- 69.2k
11
votes
Accepted
Can sanitary pads be a better alternate to gauze to reduce or stop bleeding?
They'd be a decent substitute (and indeed may be carried when first aid supplies aren't, or available to buy in smaller shops), but proper dressings (not merely gauze) would be better for several ...
- 25.9k
10
votes
How do you stop blood-flow from a leech bite?
Unlikely to help unless a tea bag is handy but the tannins in black tea bags contain tranexamic acid which helps clot blood. Just had 5 hours of bleeding from a leech which didn't stop with heavy ...
- 101
10
votes
Accepted
How to create a cast or splint to aid a broken bone?
A cast is meant to promote long-term healing of a broken bone, and getting a cast typically requires a doctor in a definitive care environment. A splint is the preferred treatment for fractures and ...
- 8,700
10
votes
What are the different stages of frostbite?
Basically people look at the frostbites in 4 principle stages.
First Degree Frostbite - Frostnip: Fingers/toes/nose feel very cold, prolonged exposure would numb them. This isn't deep in your body, ...
- 31.7k
10
votes
Accepted
What first aid can be done for Crab Bite?
First control the bleeding with gauze or a cloth and light pressure
Elevate the foot
Clean with soap and water
Apply an antiseptic
You can get single packs
Bandage/bandaid(plaster) if necessary
If ...
- 7,156
9
votes
Accepted
Heal burn wounds in the wild
I've been out in the woods with companions who have suffered severe burns. You first priority is to relieve the pain, you accomplish this by removing the heat from the burn. Cool clean water is your ...
- 53.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible