When the Best First Aid is NO First Aid…

First aid is a skill best practiced in first aid class… NOT in the Wilderness!

The Aussie bush is unpredictable and unforgiving. Outdoor adventurers are often lured by the element of danger and the unpredictability of the Australian bush. Presumably, these risks are duly noted, and either:

A) mitigated, or
B) ignored altogether.

I recommend option A.

Why? While a certain degree of risk can add excitement to an activity, excessive or uncontrolled risk can lead to disaster. Level of risk in the outdoors is determined by a combination of unsafe conditions, reckless acts, and poor judgement. Reducing risk involves taking steps to prevent an incident in the first place, minimising the severity if one does occur, and maximising the chance of recovery.

In other words:
Prevention
Preparedness
Providing first aid!

The first 2 can be achieved by doing the following:

• Research the conditions: Avoid going out in adverse weather or extreme seasons conditions, or certain seasons for example, a multi-day hike in bushfire season, or a canoeing trip in flood season.
• Know your way: If you are going to be leading a group, do a reconnaissance trip. Assess the intensity of the activity and suitability of the terrain for your participants’ ability. Stay on the marked track, (or your planned route if you are navigating off-track).
• Have a realistic itinerary: It should allow for any unexpected events, such as adverse weather, closed tracks or injury/illness.
• Assess your party: Be aware of your participants’ previous injuries or medical history and apply preventative measures where appropriate (e.g. strapping, medications, etc). Take the time to read your group’s mood, energy levels and physical ability.
• Have the right equipment: This may involve researching your intended destination to determine local conditions and requirements. E.g. How cold/hot does it get? Activity-specific equipment such as climbing or paddling gear, should be checked for condition and suitability. Appropriate footwear is a must (wear in your footwear BEFORE the trip) and if going off-track, consider long pants and gaiters for snakebite safety.
• Prepare yourself physically: Overexertion is a major cause of illness and mortality in the bush. Make sure you are physically conditioned for the task and have allowed adequate time for acclimatisation.
• Have appropriate first aid supplies: The most suitable first aid kit will depend on the environment, the duration of the trip and numbers in your party. Bandages for stopping a bleed or applying pressure immobilisation should be the bare minimum, but a decent wilderness first aid kit will have supplies that may stop a small injury from becoming a major problem.
• Get trained in Wilderness First Aid (WFA): Without knowledge of how to use a first aid kit, it will be no more than an expensive footrest or uncomfortable pillow. Response times in a remote area could range from hours to days. A WFA course will enable you to deal with the changing needs of a patient over a long period of time.
• Pack a little extra: It is advisable to take enough food and water to allow you to survive an extra night or two in the bush. A clever student once showed me their emergency rations they had wrapped in several layers of electrical tape to reduce temptation to break into their ‘emergency stash’. That’s dedication!
• Adopt situational awareness: As you walk/paddle, etc, take notice of access and egress points, suitable locations for emergency campsites, water sources and major landmarks. Sometimes backtracking to known areas is a sensible move in an emergency, so it helps to be familiar with where you’ve been as well as where you are going. Be alert for hazards, both potential and actual.
• Carry reliable communications: Going ‘off-the-grid’ doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to get back on the radar if things go ‘pear-shaped’. The following are some examples of options available to make that critical call out:

– Mobile phones
– Satellite phones
– Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio
– High Frequency (HF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) radio
– Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
– Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)
– Satellite Personal Tracker (SPOT)
– Garmin InReach

You should not rely on just one form of communication, as the reliability of battery-operated devices can be affected by moisture and temperature. Your choice will depend on the environment and activities undertaken as well as the requirements of your workplace,

The most basic and reliable way to ensure help will come if you don’t return home, is to leave your itinerary with someone back home. Let them know your planned time of return and give them instructions on when and how to raise the alarm if you do not return.

When help is hindered by ridges, valleys, gullies, terrain and distance, making sensible choices is paramount. In my time as an outdoor educator, I was fortunate not to encounter any significant incidents in the wilderness. You could call it good luck but I prefer to call it good management. No matter how careful you are, one day ‘Lady Luck’ may not be on your side. Applying preventative tactics measures? – and being prepared in the case of an incident happening unfolding – could be the difference between life and death or serious injury. Literally!

Article written by Christie Pisani – Manager Wilderness First Aid Consultants, 2024