First aid for hiking, first aid kit for hiking

Modern man has generally become somewhat unaccustomed to being in the wild. Even our fathers and grandfathers had much more experience in terms of hiking and traveling in the wild. However, there are many people who are attracted by the majestic, endless expanse of the steppes, the mountains reaching for the sky and the shady forests. Good preparation is necessary for such trips. When preparing for a trip, you should collect a special first aid kit. The general set is simple:

• sterile bandage;
• cotton wool;
• elastic bandage, which can be used as a tourniquet if necessary;
• antiseptic;
• insect repellent;
• a simple set of medicines, including a mild painkiller, activated charcoal;
• if any of the participants in the hike suffers from specific ailments, for example, asthma, it is necessary to take special medicines.

It would be a good idea to make an appointment with a general practitioner to undergo a course of vaccination against diseases carried by insects. A certain amount of time should pass between the vaccination and the hike, so you should not go for this procedure the day before departure. The main thing in a hike is to be prepared for the unexpected and to know the features of the environment.

Bruises and other soft tissue injuries, as well as fractures and dislocations

The most common injuries that a hike can cause are related to bruises and other injuries to muscle and bone tissue. In case of a severe bruise, it is necessary to cool the injured area. It is best to do this with clean water, if available. Then apply a tight bandage that does not interfere with blood flow. After 24 hours, the injured area should be warmed up. The same rule applies to muscle strains.

In case of dislocations, it is necessary to fix the injured limb in the position that causes the least pain to the victim. If you have the skills and experience, then you can set the dislocation. But only a person who is absolutely confident in his abilities should do this, otherwise you can aggravate the condition of your comrade. In case of fractures, it is necessary to apply a splint and take the victim to the hospital. A consultation with a traumatologist and qualified treatment will help to avoid any serious complications. If the lower limbs were damaged, it is necessary to construct a stretcher from improvised materials.

Penetrating wounds

Various types of penetrating wounds often occur during a hike. In this case, the wound must be cleaned. Its edges should be treated with iodine or vodka, and the wound itself should be washed with hydrogen peroxide, after which a bandage should be applied. If there is no sterile bandage, a piece of clean cloth that has been repeatedly passed over a fire and then treated with an antiseptic will do. A tourniquet is applied only in case of arterial bleeding, which must be stopped as quickly as possible. To do this, it is necessary to compress the artery at the point where it approaches the surface of the skin. The tourniquet should not completely obstruct blood circulation in the limb. Venous bleeding is stopped with a tight bandage. You can also distinguish one type from another by the color of the blood, but it is more reliable to do so by the intensity of the bleeding. The pressure in arterial bleeding is much greater.

If there is no antiseptic, ash and cinders will do, which are natural disinfectants that also provoke blood clotting.

Bite of a poisonous snake

In the case of a bite by a poisonous snake, there is increasing swelling and redness of the skin. There is an increase in those lymph nodes that are closest to the bite site. Over time, necrosis develops at the site of the bite itself, and a little further around - hemorrhage. The body temperature of the victim rises.

In the case of a snake bite, as much poison should be removed as possible. To do this, you need to suck out the poison from the bite site. This should be done by a person who does not have any wounds in his mouth. The poison should be spat out, but swallowing it does not cause poisoning. If the poison is difficult to extract from the wound, you can prick the wound two or three times with a sterile needle.

A tourniquet should not be applied - the poison spreads too quickly, so a tourniquet will only worsen the condition of the victim. The injured area should be immobilized. The victim should remain at rest, drink a lot, it is best to make him sweet tea. A healthy adult can overcome the effects of the poison of most local snakes on his own, but you cannot neglect medical care and serum. For children and people with weakened immune systems, any poisonous snake poses a potentially fatal threat.

Human Strike by Lightning

If a person is struck by lightning, lay him on his back, tilt his head back and open his mouth so that the lower teeth protrude in front of the upper ones. Then, through a handkerchief or gauze, perform artificial respiration mouth to mouth or mouth to nose. Blow every 3-5 seconds, allowing the victim to exhale. After breathing is restored, seek help immediately.

Sunburn and Fire Burns

If a person gets burned while hiking, the first thing to do is to cool the area of the injury with clean water. This should be done longer than is generally believed - at least 15 minutes. Only after this can special gels be applied or, in the case of serious burns, a sterile bandage.

Acute food poisoning

In the case of mild food poisoning, which is accompanied only by slight malaise and mild abdominal pain, you need to drink activated charcoal or its analogue. In the case of severe poisoning, you need to wash out the stomach, induce vomiting and drink special medicines from the first aid kit. It is better not to use various solutions for this, but simply drink water and then induce vomiting. The appearance of bile in the vomit will mean that the stomach is completely cleansed. The patient needs rest, he needs to be warmed up and given plenty of fluids, strong tea or warm water with lemon is best. Firstly, it will get the stomach going, and secondly, it will prevent the development of dehydration, which is a threat in case of poisoning.

Heatstroke and sunstroke

The victim should be moved to the shade, free his neck and lower his body temperature. To do this, he should be fanned with a damp towel, sprayed and wiped with a damp cloth. You can pour cold water over him, wrap him in a wet sheet or make a cold compress on his head, forehead, neck. It is necessary to give the victim rest. For prevention, it is worth wearing a hat and light-colored clothes made of natural materials on a hike. You should monitor the time spent in the open sun and drink plenty of fluids.