First-Aid

First Aid should be simple and straight forward, which is how Troop 60 trains Scouts and Adults.  Unfortunately, much of the information found on the web is a bit out of date or presented in a way that is less than perfect. 

We recommended that ALL adults who intend to go on outings and ALL Scouts 14 years and old attend our Council's Wilderness First-Aid Course.  This is taught by medical professionals using up to date medical protocols. 

All Scouts should complete the First-Aid Merit Badge their first year in Scouting. 


How to Handle an Emergency

Victim Assessment

Rule Number 1 in Victim Assessment

Protect you and your team.  Do not approach a dangerous area or place you or your team at risk.  

Wear personal protective devices such as gloves to protect yourself from disease. 

Check for Consciousness and for Breathing

Ask if victim is OK.  If they don't respond, they may be unconscious and in need of help.

Check Airway and Breathing to see if victim is breathing.  If they are not breathing, you should call for help and perform CPR. 


Severe Bleeding

Eval and treat for Severe Bleeding.

Severe bleeding needs to be stopped right away!

Fractures

Use DOTS to help identify if a victim has a fracture.

D Deformity

O Open Wounds

T Tenderness

S Swelling


Hurry Cases

Life-Threatening Emergencies

These require quick action and rapid transport to a hospital:

Treat Victim

Cuts and Abrasions

Cuts and Abrasions need to be cleaned and dressed with a clean piece of cloth, ideally sterile gauze.

Fishhooks

Accidents happen with fishhooks and they are challenging to remove.  It's best to get help for these.

Removal of a fishhook depends on how the hook is embedded and the tools and skills at hand.  Some will need to be removed at a hospital. 

Here are two ways of removing a fishhook.  In the first picture, a string is tied to the hook to help pull it out.  If you pull from where the fishing line usually is attached, it will likely drive the hook deeper into the body.

In the second picture, this hook is more easily removed if the barb is first removed. 

Blisters

Blisters are best treated by not getting them in the first place.  Avoid by wearing properly fitted shoes and quality socks.  

If you develop a hot spot when walking, stop and apply moleskin to prevent a blister from forming.   

If you develop a blister, may may need to apply a "doughnut" of moleskin around your blister to take pressure off the blister.  Taking pressure off a blister will make it easier to walk and less likely the blister will expand in size. 

Some blisters will need to be drained.  We teach this in our Wilderness First-Aid Course. 

Moleskin applied to prevent blister formation
Moleskin doughnut applied around blister

Poisonous Plants

There are several poisonous plants in Washington State.  Of these, plants, we focus a lot on Poison Oak and Poison Ivy.  Poison Ivy grows in Eastern Washington and most of the US.  Pacific Poison Oak grows on the west coast from California all the way up to Canada.

Know what poisonous plants look like and don't touch them.  If you touch them, wash your skin with soap and water.  You will also need to change your clothes and place them in a plastic bag so they don't contaminate your other clothing and sleeping bag. 

Ticks

Ticks spread many diseases, such as Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and several others.  It is important to remove ticks as soon as possible to reduce the chance of contracting a disease.  Do this by using tweezers to slowly pull the tick off.  Make sure you grasp them close to their head so that you don't squeeze the contents of their stomach back into your body. 

Wear appropriate insect repellent to reduce tick bites.  DEET and picaridin and know to be effective.  Other replants are either not very effective or don't last very long.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes can dry you crazy with their buzzing and itchy bites.  Mosquitoes also spread diseases such as West Nile Virus.  West Nile Virus can cause really nasty neurological problems and is sometimes deadly.  It is best to avoid bites by using DEET or Picaridin to avoid bites.  A mosquito net is important at night to avoid bites and to maintain your sanity. 

Snakes

We don't have venomous snakes in Western Washington, but they have them East of the mountains and all over the rest of the US.  Venom from snakes can cause severe problems and can sometimes be fatal.  It's best to avoid getting bitten. 

If someone gets bit, call 911 and wait for an ambulance.  Keep the victim calm and wait for help.  They need to get to the hospital and may need antivenom. 

Sprains and Strains

These are very common injuries in the backcountry.  Treat these with RICE:

R Rest - Stop or minimize use of joint

I Ice - Use ice 20 minutes and repeat throughout day

C Compression - Elastic bandage to reduce swelling

E Elevation - Elevate injured area above level of heart if possible


Fractures and Dislocations

Fracture and Dislocations should be immobilized and victims need to go to the hospital for evaluation.

Use sticks or tent poles to reduce the amount of movement at the fracture site.  Make sure you use plenty of padding to prevent pressure sores. 

Environmental Injuries

Cold Injuries

Frostbite 

Frostbite is when tissue freezes and crystalizes.  This causes a block in blood flow which in turn leads to loss of fingers, toes and other exposed body parts.  

The best treatment is to avoid getting frostbite in the first place.  Cover exposed skin and keep your body's core temperature up.


Hypothermia 

Hypothermia is when the body cools down to the point that your body and brain are no longer functioning correctly.  Those in hypothermia are not able to care for themselves.  Avoid hypothermia when possible.  Be gentle with victims in hypothermia as rough movements can trigger life threatening heart rhythms.  

Mild hypothermia can be treated with Slow Warming, while moderate or servere hypothermia needs to be treated in a hospital. 

Heat Injuries

Heat Exhaustion

Heat Exhaustion is when your body's ability to effectively cool itself while maintaining good circulation is overwhelmed.  Victims will feel weak and may pass out.  

Treatment includes taking them to a shaded area and allowing them to rest.


Heat Stroke

Heat Stroke is when the body overheats to the point that the body is so hot that tissue and organs are damaged.  Rapid Cooling is necessary to reduce the amount of permanent damage to the body.  Delays in cooling may lead to permanent brain damage or death.  

Cool First, Evac Second.