The fresh air blows across your face, it's a hug from nature! Your heart is full of anticipation, as if you see yourself as a heroic figure in a wilderness adventure. However, in the wilderness far away from civilization, sometimes things don't always go as planned. Maybe you suddenly sprain your ankle on a rugged mountain road, or accidentally fall while exploring an unknown area, causing serious abrasions. Worse still, you may even hear your stomach suddenly "grumble", protesting that you forgot to bring enough food and water in a hurry. What you need is some basic first aid knowledge and preparation. You can carry some first aid supplies with you, learn some basic first aid skills, and be fully prepared before you set off to ensure that you are able to deal with any situation that may arise.

Be prepared for the worst

When we talk about being prepared for the worst, it’s not just an empty slogan, but a real action strategy. You’re on a long trip, and your first aid kit is your little guardian angel in your backpack, silently guarding you. This first aid kit should be small and light enough not to be a burden on your body, but at the same time it must be filled with the necessities to treat minor injuries and illnesses. For wound care, you need to prepare disinfectant wipes or disinfectant solution, which are used to clean wounds. Next, there are bandages of various shapes and sizes, which can deal with various situations from small cuts on fingers to large abrasions. Gauze pads are used to soak the wound to help absorb blood and exudate. Don’t forget medical tape, which can effectively fix the wound and prevent the bandage from falling off.

In addition to wound care, painkillers are also essential. Over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen are very effective in relieving headaches, muscle aches, and even unexpected sprains. They are like your portable doctor, allowing you to recover quickly in pain. Preventing blisters is also very important for long hikes or outdoor activities. Moleskin or blister pads are your good helpers. They can effectively reduce the friction between the feet and shoes and prevent small blisters from becoming eye-catching monsters. Remember to prepare pads of various shapes and sizes to cover any potential hot spots on the feet. Allergy attacks are also something we need to be vigilant about. If you react to bee stings or poison ivy, antihistamines can quickly relieve your discomfort and keep you calm in an emergency. In addition to the above, there are some emergency essentials that are also indispensable. A pair of blunt-tipped small scissors can be used to cut tape or bandages, which is very practical. Tweezers can help you remove those pesky splinters or thorns to avoid infection. And an emergency blanket can provide you with warmth when you feel cold.

Stop and calm down

When facing any outdoor medical situation, our first and most important rule is: don't panic! In the face of sudden accidents, keeping a cool head is the key to handling emergencies. At this moment, our first thing to do is to ensure the safety of ourselves and other people on the scene to avoid any further injuries. If we are facing a super serious injury, such as a broken bone or other life-threatening situation, we must quickly activate the emergency plan. This may include calling emergency services immediately, finding the nearest medical facility, or following the emergency rescue training we have received before.

For common minor injuries, we can follow the golden rule of first aid: stop, calm down, and repair. "Stop" means that we should not take any action that may make the injury worse. For example, if you are injured during mountaineering, you should stop moving immediately and find a safe place to rest to avoid aggravating the injury by continuing to move. Next, "calm down" requires us to carefully assess the injury. Observe whether the wound is bleeding? Does the injured part look deformed or misplaced? Can the injured person still move normally? Through these questions, we can initially judge the severity of the injury. Finally, "repair" is to use the first aid supplies at hand to perform preliminary treatment on the wound based on our investigation. For abrasions, we can clean the wound with clean water and sterilized cotton balls; for sprains, we can use ice to reduce swelling and pain; for minor discomfort such as headaches, we can use painkillers to relieve symptoms. We are not professional doctors. In an emergency, although we can take some basic first aid measures, we should never try to play the role of a doctor without professional knowledge and skills. If we are unsure of the severity of the injury, or the injury may involve life safety, we should immediately seek the help of a professional doctor to ensure that the injured person receives timely and effective treatment.

Common trauma quick treatment

For cuts and abrasions, clean the wound thoroughly with clean water or disinfectant wipes to remove all dirt and bacteria. Then, gently press on the wound with a disinfectant dressing to stop bleeding and prevent more bacteria from entering. Make sure the dressing covers the entire wound and bandage it well, which not only prevents dust and bacteria from entering, but also keeps the wound moist and promotes healing.

Sprains and strains are usually caused by overstretching or tearing of muscles, ligaments or joints. In this case, the RICE principle should be applied as soon as possible: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Let the injured part get enough rest and avoid further activities.

Blisters are formed due to the accumulation of fluid under the skin. For small, unbroken blisters, no special treatment is usually required, just avoid further friction or irritation. If the blister is large or painful, you can first carefully puncture one side of the blister with a sterilized needle to let the fluid flow out. But be careful not to remove the skin covering the blister, because that is the body's natural bandage that helps prevent infection and promote healing.

Insect bites and stings may cause redness, swelling, itching, and pain. If the insect has left a stinger (such as a bee sting), carefully remove it with tweezers. Then, wash the affected area with soap and water to remove the insect's venom and bacteria. Next, apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and itching. You can use ice cubes or ice packs for cold compresses, but again, be careful to prevent frostbite.