Backcountry First Aid and Extended Care

Foreword     viii
Acknowledgments     x
Introduction     1
Action Checklist     2
Patient Assessment System     3
Stop! Size Up the Scene     3
Perform an Initial Assessment: ABCDE     4
Perform a Focused Exam and History     6
Patient Exam     7
Vital Signs     8
Sample History     10
SOAP: The Written Report     11
SOAP: The Verbal Report     12
Airway Obstructions and CPR     13
Airway     13
Airway Obstruction: Conscious Patient     14
Airway Obstruction: Conscious Patient Becomes Unconscious     15
Airway Obstruction: Unconscious Patient     16
Breathing     18
Circulation     19
Adult CPR: One Rescuer     20
Spinal Injuries     21
Signs and Symptoms of Spinal Injury     22
Managing the Spine-Injured Patient     22
Focused Spine Assessment     25
Evacuation Guidelines     26
Head Injuries     26
Mild Head Injury     26
Severe Head Injury     27
Signs of a Skull Fracture     27
Signs and Symptoms of Brain Injury     27
Evacuation Guidelines     28
Shock     29
Signs and Symptoms of Shock     29
Treatment Principles for Shock     30
Evacuation Guidelines     31
Chest Injuries     31
Evacuation Guidelines     32
Abdominal Injuries     33
Signs and Symptoms of Serious Abdominal Injury     33
Management of Abdominal Injury     34
Evacuation Guidelines     35
Wound and Wound Infection Management     35
Bleeding     35
Wound Cleaning     37
Wound Closure     38
Wound Dressing     39
Notes on Specific Wounds     40
Wound Infection     41
Evacuation Guidelines     42
Burns     42
Initial Care     42
Evaluation of the Burn     43
Depth     43
Extent     44
Treatment for the Burned Patient     44
Evacuation Guidelines     45
Musculoskeletal Injuries     46
Strains     46
Sprains     47
Fractures      50
Splinting     51
Specific Fractures     52
Complicated Fractures     57
Dislocations     58
Specific Dislocations     59
Evacuation Guidelines     62
Hypothermia     63
Signs and Symptoms of Hypothermia     63
Management of Hypothermia     63
Prevention of Hypothermia     65
Evacuation Guidelines     66
Local Cold Injury: Frozen and Nonfrozen     66
Frostbite     66
Partial-Thickness Frostbite     66
Full-Thickness Frostbite     67
Prevention of Frostbite     68
Nonfreezing Cold Injury     68
Evacuation Guidelines     69
Heat Illness     69
Heat Exhaustion     69
Heat Cramps     70
Heat Stroke     71
Hyponatremia     72
Prevention of Heat Illness     73
Evacuation Guidelines     74
Lightning     74
Evacuation Guidelines     76
Submersion Incidents     76
Evacuation Guidelines     77
Bites and Stings     77
Small Insects     78
Bees and Their Relatives     78
Spiders     79
Scorpions     80
Ticks     80
Snakes     81
After a Snakebite     82
Rabies     82
Altitude Illness     83
Mild Altitude Illness     83
Severe Altitude Illness     84
Prevention of Altitude Illness     85
Evacuation Guidelines     85
Medical Emergencies     86
Abdominal Pain     86
Allergic Reactions/Anaphylaxis     87
Asthma     88
Diabetes     89
Heart Attack     90
Hyperventilation Syndrome     91
Seizures     91
Unconscious States     92
Gender-Specific Problems     93
For Women Only     93
For Men Only     94
Common Simple Problems     96
Blisters     96
Diarrhea     97
Dehydration     98
Dental problems     99
Ear Problems     101
Eye Problems!     101
Fishhook Removal     102
Headache     103
Nosebleed      103
Snowblindness     103
Splinters     104
Sunburn     104
Water Disinfection     105
First Aid for Children     106
Kids and Heat     106
Kids and Diarrhea     107
Kids and Dehydration     108
Kids and Sunshine     108
Kids and Insects     110
Kids and Poisons     111
Kids and Medications     112
Kids Get Lost     112
Kids and Ouchies     112
Advice to International Travelers     113
Vaccinations     113
Malaria     114
Food and Water     115
Sources of Information     115
Medical Kits     116