Table Of ContentWilderness and Remote First Aid
Emergency Reference Guide
Wilderness and Remote First Aid
Emergency Reference Guide
Special thanks to the Boy Scouts of America for facilitating the task force that produced the
Wilderness First Aid Curriculum and Doctrine Guidelines.
The following organizations provided review of the materials and/or support for the
American Red Cross Wilderness and Remote First Aid program:
Content in the Wilderness and Remote First Aid Emergency Reference Guide is based on the 2010
Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Wilderness First Aid Curriculum and Doctrine Guidelines and reflects
the 2010 Consensus on Science for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care and the 2010
Guidelines for First Aid. The Wilderness First Aid Curriculum and Doctrine Guidelines were developed
through a task force facilitated by the BSA. The Wilderness and Remote First Aid course carefully
follows these guidelines.
The emergency care procedures outlined in this manual reflect the standard of knowledge and
accepted emergency practices in the United States at the time this manual was published. It is the
reader’s responsibility to stay informed of changes in the emergency care procedures.
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Published by Krames StayWell Strategic Partnerships Division
ISBN: 978-1-58480-629-5
Acknowledgments
The American Red Cross Wilderness and Remote First Aid program and supporting
materials were developed through the dedication of both employees and volunteers.
Their commitment to excellence made this program possible.
Contents
Skill SheeTS
Removing Gloves 2
Checking an Injured or Ill Adult 3
Checking an Injured or Ill Child 5
CPR—Adult or Child 7
AED—Adult or Child 8
Conscious Choking—Adult
or Child 10
iNjuRieS ANd illNeSSeS
As Reflected in Boy Scouts of America Wilderness
First Aid Curriculum and Doctrine Guidelines
Wilderness and Remote First
Aid Kits 12
CheCk—CAll—CARe for
the Wilderness 15
Abdominal Problems 20
Allergies and Anaphylaxis 22
Altitude Illnesses 26
Bone and Joint Injuries 29
Burns 40
Chest Injuries 43
Head (Brain), Neck and
Spinal Injuries 47
Heat-Related Illnesses 56
Hypothermia 59
Lightning 62
Shock and Heart Attack 64
Submersion Incidents (Drowning) 67
Wounds and Wound Infection 73
iv WILDERNESS AND REmoTE FIRST AID EmERGENCY REFERENCE GUIDE
SpeCiAl SiTuATioNS
Abdominal Injuries and Illnesses 86
Asthma Attack 88
Cold-Related Emergencies 90
Confined Spaces 92
Diabetic Emergency 93
Emergency and
Non-Emergency Moves 94
Emergency Childbirth 98
Eye, Mouth and Lip Injuries 99
Poisoning 101
Seizures 104
Snow Blindness 106
Stroke 107
Wound Care 108
iNdex 109
CoNTENTS v
Photo Credits
Select Photography: Barbara Proud
Table of Contents Photography: iperdesign, Inc.
Injuries and Illnesses Section Opener: © iStockphoto.com/Arthur Carlo Franco
Special Situations Section Opener: Image Copyright robcocquyt,
2009 Used under license from Shutterstock.com
Many thanks to keith Van derzee and the YMCA Camp ockanickon
staff for opening the camp to us and providing assistance with the
photography shoot.
vi WILDERNESS AND REmoTE FIRST AID EmERGENCY REFERENCE GUIDE
Skill
Sheets
s
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g REMOVING GLOVES
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AFTER GIVING CARE AND MAKING SURE TO NEVER TOUCH THE BARE
SKIN WITH THE OUTSIDE OF EITHER GLOVE:
PINCH GLOVE
Pinch the palm side of one glove near the
wrist. carefully pull the glove off so that it is
inside out.
S LIP TWO FINGERS
UNDER GLOVE
Hold the glove in the palm of the remaining
gloved hand. slip two fingers under the
glove at the wrist of the remaining gloved
hand.
PULL GLOVE OFF
Pull the glove until it comes off, inside out,
so that the first glove ends up inside the
glove just removed.
4 D ISPOSE OF GLOVES AND WASH HANDS
after removing the gloves:
■■ dispose of gloves in the appropriate biohazard container.
■■ wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm running water, if available.
■■ if soap and running water are unavailable and hands are not visibly soiled,
rub hands thoroughly with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2 wilderness and remote first aid emergency reference guide
t
l
u
d
COHRE ICLLK AINDGU LATN INJURED an r ill a
g o
nd
APPEARS TO BE UNCONSCIOUS CheCkiinjure
Use disposable gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
AFTER CHECKING THE SCENE FOR SAFETY, CHECK THE PERSON:
CHECK FOR RESPONSIVENESS
tap the shoulder and shout, “are you ok?”
I F NO RESPONSE, CALL 9-1-1 OR THE LOCAL EMERGENCY
NUMBER
send someone to get an aed, if possible.
■■ if an unconscious person is face-down, roll him or her face-up keeping the
head, neck and back in a straight line.
if the person responds, obtain consent and call 9-1-1 or the local emergency
number for any life-threatening conditions. check the responsive person from
head to toe and ask questions to find out what happened.
OPEN THE AIRWAY
tilt head; lift chin.
Continued on next page
skill sHeets 3
