Facebook Pixel
Searching...
English
EnglishEnglish
EspañolSpanish
简体中文Chinese
FrançaisFrench
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
PortuguêsPortuguese
ItalianoItalian
한국어Korean
РусскийRussian
NederlandsDutch
العربيةArabic
PolskiPolish
हिन्दीHindi
Tiếng ViệtVietnamese
SvenskaSwedish
ΕλληνικάGreek
TürkçeTurkish
ไทยThai
ČeštinaCzech
RomânăRomanian
MagyarHungarian
УкраїнськаUkrainian
Bahasa IndonesiaIndonesian
DanskDanish
SuomiFinnish
БългарскиBulgarian
עבריתHebrew
NorskNorwegian
HrvatskiCroatian
CatalàCatalan
SlovenčinaSlovak
LietuviųLithuanian
SlovenščinaSlovenian
СрпскиSerbian
EestiEstonian
LatviešuLatvian
فارسیPersian
മലയാളംMalayalam
தமிழ்Tamil
اردوUrdu
Bushcraft First Aid

Bushcraft First Aid

A Field Guide to Wilderness Emergency Care
by Dave Canterbury 2017 256 pages
4.33
100+ ratings
Listen
Listen to Summary

Key Takeaways

1. Prioritize Prevention and Preparation for Wilderness First Aid

The best treatment is prevention!

Planning is Paramount. Before venturing into the wilderness, develop a detailed emergency plan, inform someone of your itinerary, and establish a buddy system. Understanding the local environment, weather patterns, and potential hazards is crucial for minimizing risks.

Essential Gear. Equip yourself with the "Ten Cs"—cutting tool, combustion device, container, cordage, cover, cotton material, candling device, compass, cargo tape, and combination tool—to address various emergencies. A well-stocked first-aid kit tailored to the specific environment and activities is also essential.

Self-Aid First. Prioritize self-aid as the cornerstone of your first-aid training. Being able to care for yourself ensures you can also assist others and prevents you from becoming a burden in an emergency situation.

2. Master Basic Survival Skills for Wilderness Emergencies

Fire can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation.

Fire Mastery. Practice fire-starting techniques to create a sustainable fire in under five minutes, crucial for warmth, water purification, and signaling. Tinder selection, bird's nest construction, and sure-fire fire starters are essential skills.

Shelter Construction. Learn to build a five-minute shelter using emergency blankets or improvised materials to protect against the elements. A well-constructed shelter can prevent hypothermia, hyperthermia, and exposure.

Water Purification. Master the five-minute water boil technique to ensure access to potable water for drinking and wound irrigation. Boiling water effectively eliminates harmful bacteria and pathogens.

3. Assess the Emergency Scene Methodically and Prioritize Care

Losing your calm is the worst thing you could do as it may lead to you making poor decisions or feeling as if you can’t act at all.

Scene Safety. Upon approaching an injured person, prioritize your safety by surveying the scene for hazards such as falling rocks, unstable terrain, or dangerous animals. Ensure the environment is safe before administering first aid.

Triage and Assessment. In multiple-casualty situations, use triage to prioritize treatment based on the severity of injuries. Assess the injured person's level of responsiveness (AVPU), airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs) to identify life-threatening conditions.

Physical Examination. Conduct a thorough physical exam, starting from the head and working down the body, to identify all injuries. Use the DCAP-BTLS system (Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, Swelling) to guide your assessment.

4. Control Bleeding and Treat Wounds with Available Resources

The main goal in treating any bleeding injury is to stop the bleeding.

Direct Pressure. Apply direct pressure to the wound using a clean cloth or improvised dressing to control bleeding. Elevate the injured limb above the heart to further reduce blood flow.

Wound Cleaning. Irrigate the wound with clean water to remove debris and prevent infection. Use soap to wash around the wound, but avoid harsh disinfectants like alcohol or peroxide.

Bandaging and Dressing. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing and secure it with a bandage. Improvise bandages using cloth strips, cargo tape, or other available materials.

5. Manage Common Wilderness Injuries: Blisters, Burns, and Bone Trauma

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

Blister Prevention. Prevent blisters by ensuring proper boot fit, using padding, wearing moisture-wicking socks, and applying tape to friction-prone areas. Treat blisters by sterilizing a needle, draining the fluid, and covering with a bandage.

Burn Treatment. Cool burns immediately with clean water. Classify burns based on severity (superficial, partial-thickness, full-thickness) and apply appropriate dressings. Seek medical attention for burns covering more than 5% of the body.

Bone and Joint Injuries. Stabilize fractures and dislocations by splinting the injured limb. Improvise splints using branches, cargo tape, and padding. Treat sprains and strains with RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).

6. Address Circulatory and Respiratory Issues Promptly

All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.

Shock Management. Recognize the signs of shock (rapid pulse, cool skin, altered mental status) and treat by maintaining a clear airway, elevating the legs, keeping the person warm, and providing reassurance.

Breathing Difficulties. Assist individuals with asthma by helping them use their inhaler and positioning them for optimal breathing. Treat hyperventilation by encouraging slow, deep breaths.

Heart Attack Recognition. Recognize the signs of a heart attack (chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea) and assist the person in taking their prescribed medication. Evacuate immediately for professional medical care.

7. Recognize and Respond to Neurological and Abdominal Emergencies

Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live in.

Stroke Identification. Use the FAST acronym (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call for help) to identify stroke symptoms. Evacuate immediately and position the person with the paralyzed side down.

Seizure Management. Protect individuals experiencing seizures by moving them to a safe area and preventing injury. Do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth. Monitor their breathing and provide reassurance after the seizure.

Abdominal Injuries. Suspect internal abdominal injuries with pain, tenderness, rigidity, or swelling. Do not give food or drink. Treat for shock and evacuate immediately.

8. Handle Urinary, Reproductive, Acute, and Chronic Illnesses in the Wild

It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.

Urinary Issues. Encourage hydration and consumption of acidic fluids for urinary tract infections. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist or worsen.

Menstrual and Pregnancy Issues. Manage heavy menstrual bleeding with rest and fluids. Seek immediate medical attention for bleeding during pregnancy, as it may indicate a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

Chronic Illnesses. Ensure individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes have adequate supplies of medication and snacks. Be prepared to manage hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

9. Mitigate Environmental Hazards: Heat, Cold, and Altitude

People need to be cautious because anything built by man can be destroyed by Mother Nature.

Hypothermia Prevention. Dress in layers, stay dry, and seek shelter to prevent hypothermia. Treat hypothermia by removing wet clothing, providing warm blankets, and administering warm fluids.

Heat-Related Illnesses. Avoid overexertion in hot weather, stay hydrated, and seek shade to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Treat heat stroke by cooling the person down with water or cold packs and evacuating immediately.

Altitude Sickness. Ascend gradually to allow for acclimatization to high altitudes. Treat altitude sickness by descending to a lower elevation, resting, and staying hydrated.

10. Identify and Treat Insect and Animal Bites Effectively

In my life outdoors, I’ve observed that animals of almost any variety will stand in a windy place rather than in a protected, windless area infested with biting insects. They would rather be annoyed by the wind than bitten.

Insect Bite Prevention. Wear long sleeves and pants, use insect repellent, and avoid areas with high insect populations.

Spider Bite Treatment. Clean spider bites with soap and water and apply cold packs. Seek medical attention for bites from venomous spiders like black widows or brown recluses.

Tick Bite Removal. Remove ticks carefully with tweezers, grasping close to the skin. Clean the bite area and monitor for signs of Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

11. Recognize and Avoid Poisonous Plants

Poison is in everything, and no thing is without poison. The dosage makes it either a poison or a remedy.

Plant Identification. Learn to identify poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Remember the saying, "Leaves of three, let it be," for poison ivy and oak.

Contact Prevention. Wear protective clothing and avoid touching unknown plants. Wash skin immediately after potential exposure with soap and water or an alcohol-based cleaner.

Reaction Treatment. Apply calamine lotion or other anti-itch creams to relieve symptoms of contact dermatitis. Seek medical attention for severe reactions or infections.

12. Utilize Plant Medicine for Common Wilderness Ailments

You know what they call alternative medicine that’s been proved to work? Medicine.

Herbal Knowledge. Familiarize yourself with common medicinal plants in your area and their uses. Learn to identify plants by their taste, habitat, and physical characteristics.

Tissue State Treatment. Understand the five tissue states (dry, cold, wind, hot, wet) and select plants with appropriate properties to address imbalances.

Herbal Preparations. Master basic herbal preparations such as poultices, infusions, decoctions, and tinctures to extract and administer medicinal compounds.

Last updated:

Review Summary

4.33 out of 5
Average of 100+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Bushcraft First Aid receives positive reviews for its comprehensive wilderness emergency care information. Readers appreciate the combination of modern first aid and traditional herbal healing methods, practical scenarios, and plant identification photos. The book is praised for its organization, easy referencing, and focus on survival without typical first aid supplies. Some reviewers note it's not for beginners and wish for more emphasis on correct plant identification. Overall, it's considered a valuable resource for outdoor enthusiasts and those interested in wilderness first aid.

Your rating:

About the Author

Dave Canterbury is a renowned survival and bushcraft instructor who has authored several books on outdoor skills and wilderness survival. His expertise in teaching practical survival techniques has earned him a reputation as a respected authority in the field. Canterbury's approach combines traditional wilderness skills with modern knowledge, making his teachings accessible and relevant to contemporary outdoor enthusiasts. His work often focuses on self-reliance and adapting to challenging environments using minimal resources. Canterbury's books, including Bushcraft First Aid, are known for their comprehensive and practical information, designed to equip readers with essential skills for outdoor survival and emergency situations.

0:00
-0:00
1x
Dan
Andrew
Michelle
Lauren
Select Speed
1.0×
+
200 words per minute
Create a free account to unlock:
Requests: Request new book summaries
Bookmarks: Save your favorite books
History: Revisit books later
Recommendations: Get personalized suggestions
Ratings: Rate books & see your ratings
Try Full Access for 7 Days
Listen, bookmark, and more
Compare Features Free Pro
📖 Read Summaries
All summaries are free to read in 40 languages
🎧 Listen to Summaries
Listen to unlimited summaries in 40 languages
❤️ Unlimited Bookmarks
Free users are limited to 10
📜 Unlimited History
Free users are limited to 10
Risk-Free Timeline
Today: Get Instant Access
Listen to full summaries of 73,530 books. That's 12,000+ hours of audio!
Day 4: Trial Reminder
We'll send you a notification that your trial is ending soon.
Day 7: Your subscription begins
You'll be charged on Mar 21,
cancel anytime before.
Consume 2.8x More Books
2.8x more books Listening Reading
Our users love us
100,000+ readers
"...I can 10x the number of books I can read..."
"...exceptionally accurate, engaging, and beautifully presented..."
"...better than any amazon review when I'm making a book-buying decision..."
Save 62%
Yearly
$119.88 $44.99/year
$3.75/mo
Monthly
$9.99/mo
Try Free & Unlock
7 days free, then $44.99/year. Cancel anytime.
Settings
Appearance
Black Friday Sale 🎉
$20 off Lifetime Access
$79.99 $59.99
Upgrade Now →