Bushcraft First Aid

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: March 12, 2025