Wilderness Arena > Skills > First Aid

First Aid

First Aid

Environmental Injuries

Introduction to Environment Type Injuries Heatstroke, hypothermia, diarrhea, and intestinal parasites are environmental injuries you could face in a survival situation. Read and follow the guidance provided below. Heatstroke The breakdown of the body’s heat regulatory system (body temperature more than 40.5 degrees C [105 degrees F]) causes a heatstroke. Other heat injuries, such as…

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Treating Skin Diseases and Burns

Introduction Boils, fungal infections, and rashes typically do not pose serious health problems unless poor hygiene results in a secondary infection. They cause discomfort though and may be treated to reduce discomfort and accelerate healing time. Boils A boil is a localized infection in the skin.  Over time, it will become firm and hard with…

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Treating Open Wounds

Introduction Open wounds are serious in a survival situation, not only because of tissue damage and blood loss, but also because they may become infected. Bacteria on the object that made the wound, on the individual’s skin and clothing, or on other foreign material or dirt that touches the wound may cause infection. By taking…

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Treating Snakebites

Snake Bite Concerns The chance of a snakebite in a survival situation is rather small, if you are familiar with the various types of snakes and their habitats. However, it could happen and you should know how to treat a snakebite. Deaths from snakebites are rare. More than one-half of the snakebite victims have little…

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Treating Spider and Scorpion Stings

Treatment for Black Widow spider bite The black widow spider is identified by a red hourglass on its abdomen. They grow to about 1/2 inch long and have a shiny, black, globular shaped abdomen.  Only the female bites, and it has a neurotoxic venom. The initial pain is not severe, but severe local pain rapidly…

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Treating Bee and Wasp Stings

If stung by a bee, immediately remove the stinger and venom sac, if attached, by scraping with a fingernail or a knife blade (yellow jackets, wasps, and hornets do not leave the stinger). Do not squeeze or grasp the stinger or venom sac, as squeezing will force more venom into the wound. Check for allergic…

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Treating Bites and Insect Stings

Insect Hazards Insects and related pests are hazards in a survival situation. Insects bite as a defensive mechanism or to feed off of the host.  They not only cause irritations, but they are often carriers of diseases that cause severe allergic reactions in some individuals. In many parts of the world you will be exposed…

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Treating Sprains

The accidental tearing or stretching of a tendon or ligament (tissues that connect bones at the joint) causes sprains. The signs and symptoms are pain, swelling, tenderness, and discoloration (black and blue).  You may feel a pop or tear when a sprain occurs.   When treating sprains, you should follow the letters in RICE as…

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Treating Dislocated Bones and Joints

Signs and Symptoms of a Dislocated Bone Dislocations are the separations of bone joints causing the bones to go out of proper alignment. These misalignments can be extremely painful and can cause an impairment of nerve or circulatory function below the area affected. You must place these joints back into alignment as quickly as possible.…

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Treating Broken Bone Fractures

Types of Fractures and Broken Bones There are basically two types of fractures: open and closed. With an open (or compound) fracture, the bone protrudes through the skin and complicates the actual fracture with an open wound. Any bone protruding from the wound should be cleaned with an antiseptic and kept moist. You should splint…

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