The Survival Series #1: First Aid
There is a reason that Scouts are often looked to as leaders and the voice of reason on adventures, whether those adventures happen in the backcountry or the backyard.
In celebration of Scout Shop’s “Survival Series”, let’s talk about First Aid. First aid is more than having a pre-made kit on hand at all times. It is about having the knowledge to use that kit, and anything else on hand and available to care for accidents and injuries.
First and foremost, the easiest way to be prepared is to make sure you have training in first aid. Both first aid and wilderness first aid training will give you the “mental” tools to make sure you are ready for emergencies!
Next, grab yourself a first aid kit (I know – simple, right?!). This is something that you should always have stocked and ready to go, and you can tailor your kit size based on what you are up to. A couple of my favorite kits are the Scouting America Scout First Aid Kit for a lighter weight, smaller pack and the Scouting America First Aid Roll Kit is awesome for a very comprehensive, longer-term set up. It also has the space to add your own extra gear and specialize it to your needs.
So then, what happens when you are out hiking and roll an ankle? These kits (unfortunately) aren’t like magic Harry Potter trunks where you can whip out a splint and crutches! This is where you can get a bit creative and work with your surroundings to safely create a short-term solution to get you to a doctor. If you are in a bind, you can use adhesive tape and to create an emergency splint.
Emergency Splint
If you have a piece of cardboard handy, awesome! You can take it and lay it on the ground, and then pad the piece of cardboard using what you have available (an extra shirt or two would be perfect). Then, place your leg on the piece (this also would work for a knee splint as well). Fold the 2 sides up and around your leg, so it is almost like a 3-sided box, leaving the front of your leg open. If there are spaces where there is extra wiggle room, add a rolled or folded up shirt or towel to pad that area so it is fully immobilized. Use the roll of adhesive tape to secure it in place by taping strips across the open front. If you have an ice pack, ice the sprained area and elevate. Get medical assistance immediately if you are unable to bear weight on your leg, it feels unstable or numb, or you can’t use the joint.
Some alternatives that can be used: shoelaces, belts, rope, and strips of cloth instead of tape.
Oh! What’s that? You don’t have access to a piece of cardboard because you are in the middle of the woods? Well luckily, you probably have fallen branches and sticks available. Tent poles also can make great splints! If you end up using fallen branches or sticks, be sure to check and make sure that there is no poison ivy, oak, anything on it, and be sure to wrap the branches or sticks fully so they don’t cause an abrasion. Then, proceed in the same manner as above. Be sure to splint both sides of the joint (so with the knee or ankle, for example, a stick to the right and the left side of the leg).
Some Additional Items
If you’ve got your favorite first aid kit, maybe you are wondering what sort of goodies you can tuck in to help make it more robust, if you will. These are a couple of my favorite add-ons:
- Craft sticks (great for splinting smaller joints like fingers!) and SAM splints (for larger joints)
- Frogg Toggs Chilly Mini (cool down in a flash)
- Emergency blanket (like this one or this 2-person one)
- Hand warmers
- Extra band aids
- Sanitizing Wipes (for cleaning the area around the wound)
A couple of notes – always check your kit to make sure that everything is current and up-to-date (at least once a year!), and I love the easy check list in the Scouts BSA handbook for first aid kits (both personal and home/patrol/troop kits)! It is the perfect go-to, and I have listed it below.
From the Scouts BSA Handbook: Personal First-Aid Kit
- 6 latex-free adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
- 2 sterile, 3x3” gauze pads
- A small roll of latex-free adhesive tape (some people are allergic to latex!)
- A 3x6” piece of moleskin
- A small bar of soap or small bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizing gel
- A small tube of triple antibiotic ointment (be sure to ask permission before applying, as some people are allergic)
- A small tube of hydrocortisone cream (again, ask permission before applying due to allergies!)
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Disposable latex-free gloves
- CPR breathing barrier
- Pencil and paper/small notebook
If there is one thing that Scouting teaches, it is to Be Prepared – not just with the gear, but also with the knowledge to use the gear! Check in with your handbook for a quick brush-up on skills and protocol, and remember to report all incidents that go beyond Scout-rendered first aid.
Have a sweet First-Aid kit to share with the Scouting America community? Tag us on social media by using the #ScoutShopBSA hashtag for your chance to be shared and get #ScoutShopFamous!
