Pocket First Aid and Wilderness Medicine

This guide describes basic first aid techniques for those travelling in wilderness areas. Deals with fundamentals such as preparation, prevention, first aid kits and the use of medications and painkillers; and provides details on how to deal with a variety of accidents and illnesses.

Venturing into remote areas involves a degree of risk. Minimizing these risks, while feeling confident in your ability to deal with any potential injury or illness, is part of the challenge and satisfaction of wilderness travel. One definition of wilderness is ‘more than two hours from medical help’, so even backcountry travellers in developed countries may find themselves put to the test.

• First aid deals with the immediate aftermath of an accident, be it a minor injury or life-threatening trauma.
• Wilderness medicine means giving care to ill or injured people for an extended period of time without medical help and with limited resources. This calls on diagnostic skills and treatment well beyond the scope of first aid.

Pocket First Aid and Wilderness Medicine provides the basic information on a multitude of problems, while being small enough to be with you when you need it.

The book is divided into 3 parts:

Part 1. The fundamentals should be read thoroughly as it covers preparation, prevention, first aid kits and the use of medications and painkillers.

Part 2. Accident and illness procedure explains how to deal with any accident and illness, including emergency treatment for life-threatening situations.

Part 3. Problems and their treatment covers specific accidents and illnesses.