Four First Aid Tips for the Hiking Trail

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

Although people usually take up hiking for the exercise, the natural sights, or the companionship, it’s important to remember that there’s more to hiking than walking up a trail. This is even more true the more seriously you take your hiking: any time you’re out in the wild by yourself or with a limited group of people, it helps to know some basic first aid tips. Safety is the name of the game, and with the right mindset and knowledge, you can do a lot to help someone in need.

Tip #1: Remain calm.

It doesn’t take long to do, and if you’re mindful of being calm, you can spread that to other people. If you have the most first aid knowledge of your group, many people will probably be looking to you for a clue about how to behave. If you panic, they will believe that it’s time for everyone to panic. Don’t. Remain calm – you can still administer first aid, but do it with a sense of purpose and not panic.

Tip #2: Ask the injured person what’s wrong.

If something is seriously wrong, the person might not be able to answer you, but if someone was bitten or tripped, they should be able to tell you what they felt and where on their body the injury occurred. Note: It is important that you make sure that the threat of danger has passed. For example, if someone was bitten by a snake, it’s not wise to go administer first aid before the danger is gone and get bitten yourself.

Tip #3: Check for vital signs.

You’ll want to see that the person is breathing and has a pulse. You can tell they’re breathing simply by looking at them and watching for exhalation. Even if there’s not much you can do about these vital signs, you should be able to give medical personnel some answers when they arrive on the scene.

Tip #4: Send for help as soon as possible.

If the victim is in danger, use your own cell phone or ask someone nearby if they have one, and call the nearest medical response team. Oftentimes, the best thing to do for first aid is simply to gather the details and wait until medical help arrives. The less you know about medical emergencies, the more you’ll want to leave to the professionals.

First aid is a very important thing, and it pays to know the basics. It’s not always guaranteed that you’ll be able to help someone in medical need, but the knowledge that you can help someone helps build confidence. If you really want to learn about first aid, try taking a certification course.

Photo Credits: Yai&JR