3 Truths and a Lie: Wilderness First Aid

I just recently completed the Wilderness First Aid class as required by my Mountaineers scrambling course (I still have the separate scenario evening to complete).

I’m pretty proud of myself because not only did I pass (kinda hard to do as long as you show up) but I didn’t pass outduring the talk about bloody injuries. There is a reason I didn’t go in to the medical profession. I can’t even look when I have blood drawn or get a shot. I’ve taken multiple first aid classes over the years and blood talk gets me every time. I only got a LITTLE lightheaded.

Alright, now for lessons learned.

Truth #1 It was mentioned off handedly that taking the Wilderness First Aid would mean saying goodbye to your ultralight first aid kit. The more you know, the more you want to be prepared, I guess. And they are right. It has me thinking about the things I carry and what I would do in certain situations. This has been my kit for about 4 years now. Not probably considered ultralight by some, but fairly lightweight nonetheless.

I don’t think I have used much beyond bandaids and needles (yes, I pop my blisters). The mentality with ultralight is that you can improvise the items in your pack or in nature. How often are you actually going to need something to make it worth carrying around in your pack? But the truth is having the right tool just once to save someone’s life or lessen their injury would make it worth carrying, right?

Truth #2 is that your first response in an emergency should be to assess the safety of the scene. Your first thought before rushing in should be to STEP BACK and assess the situation and make sure it is not only safe for you to enter but safe to render aid. Who hasn’t heard of the would be rescuer who jumped into a situation only to lose their own life in the process? Also, this gives you time to put on personal protection (like gloves, not the other kind) and follow Universal Precautions or BSI (body substance isolation).

Truth #3 is that first aid is not ALL about you. First aid supplies are one of the 10 essentials, not just for YOUR survival but for others in your party or someone you might meet out there in the wilderness. No, you do not have a responsibility to help someone in need that you might encounter. But I would bet odds that you would want to be the kind of person who would and could.

And the lie? You seriously can not make a very effective splint with found objects in the woods and your gear. After practicing splinting in class, having something like a SAM splint and ace bandage is hands down better than using my hiking pole and bandana. I could be hiking out with an injury for MILES. I don’t think I want to rely on some haphazard set up when I can carry something less than the weight of 2.5 Lara bars instead that could mean the difference of injuring myself further. Yes, I know you can’t eat a SAM splint…but I have NEVER run out of food on a hike.

So, I’ve been to REI and picked up a SAM splint (with part of my dividend!). The most important mentality of going light (after leaving unnecessary items at home), is carrying things that are multi-purpose. How do I justify carrying a premade splint? Could it be a windscreen for my new stove? Internal support for my pack?

I already carry medical gloves, that’s a no brainer. They can double as a water container, rain gloves, etc. I think I may pick up the Steri-strips, there is no way I’m going to be able to do stitches (not that they taught us that, that’s a different course). Not sure they are multi purpose but they are cool. And light.

An ACE bandage is going in. Good for other things. Making a raft? Just kidding. I don’t plan on getting carried away, I did pass on the clearance priced face shield at REI. I’m debating the triangle bandage, however, I think a bandanna would be okay for that. I usually have two in my pack anyway.

One of the benefits to taking the Mountaineers course is having to take classes like WFA, who wouldn’t want to hike with me now? I used to have regular CPR/First Aid through work for years but they decided awhile back it wasn’t necessary for my job so they stopped paying for it and I had let it lapse. It felt good to not only have the refresher but learn how to take what I did know to the next level for events in the wilderness. It also made me realize the benefit of carrying a PLB and being able to possibly send for emergency care sooner than having to hike out to make contact.

What is your philosophy on first aid kits in the backcountry? What are some of the things you have used that made it worth the weight?

Editor’s note: My favorite thing about taking this class? I got to take it with my bf’s daughters who are in the Mountaineers climbing course. Both are on King County SAR and experienced in rescue but they still had the class as a requirement. They are some pretty fantastic young women and it was nice to have that time with them. Plus, one of them gave me the windscreen tip…

Thank you so much for stopping by Must Hike Must Eat!

If you need some healthy eating inspiration start here:..

Recipe Index

Need some eating out suggestions when friends want to stop after a hike? I have a Pacific Northwest Eating Guide here.

Find out what’s been happening outside the blog:

If you have a question you don’t want to post in the comments, you can ask them here:

Contact Me