When a person is injured or under great stress, the circulatory system might not provide

enough blood to all parts of the body. That’s called shock. The person will feel weak. The

face may get pale. The skin will feel cold and clammy. He or she may shiver or vomit.

 

Don’t wait for these signals to appear. Give any badly injured person first aid

for shock:

• Call 911 for emergency help immediately.

• Have the person lie down on his or her back.

• Raise the feet slightly, unless you think there are injuries to the head, neck, back, hips, or legs.

• If you don’t know, have the person lie flat.

• If the person is not awake, turn him or her on the side. But first, be sure the person has no head, neck, or back injuries.

• If the weather is cool, cover the person with a sheet. If it’s hot, don’t.

• Do not give the person anything to eat or drink.

• Stay with the person until help arrives.

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Below you will find treatments for basic injuries you might occur in outdoor activities. 

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CUTS AND SCRATCHES

Cuts and scratches are openings in skin. They can let in germs that cause infections. When treating cuts and scratches, be sure to wear disposable, latex-free gloves and eye protection. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and

water after treating any wounds. For small wounds, wash the wound with soap and water.

Then apply antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection if you have the victim’s permission

and know that he or she doesn’t have any allergy to the medicine. Keep the wound clean with

an adhesive bandage. Change the bandage as often as needed, but at least once daily. For

larger cuts, first stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure. Keep the wound as clean as

possible to limit infection. Cover an open wound with a sterile gauze pad or a clean cloth

folded into a pad. Hold the pad in place with tape or a bandage made out of a neckerchief.

Any bandage should be loose enough that you can slide two fingers between it and the

person’s body. An adult leader should evaluate any large wound. Once the bleeding has

stopped, clean the wound as described above.

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BURNS AND SCALDS

Burns and scalds range from simple sunburn to very dangerous third-degree burns. What kind of first aid to give depends on the severity of the burn.

• First-Degree Burns: First-degree burns only affect the outer surface of the skin, which gets red and sore. Put the burned area in cold water until the pain stops. If you don’t have any water, cover the burn with a clean, dry, loose dressing.

• Second-Degree Burns: With second-degree burns, which are also called partial-thickness burns, blisters form on the skin. Put the burned area in cold water until the pain stops. Gently dry the burned area. Cover it with a sterile gauze pad, and hold the pad loosely in place with a bandage. Be careful not to break open blisters, which could cause infection. Don’t apply creams, ointments, or sprays. If needed, treat for shock. Second-degree burns should be evaluated by an adult to determine the need for additional medical help.

• Third-Degree Burns: With third-degree burns, which are also called full-thickness burns, the skin may be burned away, and the flesh may be charred. The victim may feel no pain because nerve endings have been burned. You will definitely need to call 911 or local emergency responders and have an adult evaluate the situation. Don’t remove clothing from around the burn. Wrap the victim in a clean sheet. Cover him or her with blankets if the weather is cool. Treat for shock if needed, and stay with the victim until professional medical help arrives.

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SUNBURN

Sunburn is a common but potentially serious result of overexposure to the sun. Long-term exposure can result in skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer. In survival situations, serious or extensive sunburn can be painful enough to limit a person’s ability to function well. Sunburn is a common injury among people who enjoy being outdoors. Most sunburns are first-degree burns, although severe sunburn is a second-degree burn and should receive prompt medical attention. All sunburns are dangerous because they can lead to long-term skin damage and even skin cancer when you get older. People with lighter skin are most at risk of getting sunburned, but no one is immune. You can prevent sunburn by using plenty of broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outside and every two hours while you’re outside. Reapply it after swimming or if you are sweating a lot. A broad brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, and long pants will give you even more protection.

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Treating Sunburn

The best treatment for sunburn is prevention. Limit your exposure to the sun, wear loose-fitting clothing that covers your arms and legs, and wear a broad-brimmed hat to shade your neck, ears, and face. Protect exposed skin by liberally applying sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15; reapply it often. If you have no sunscreen, stay in the shade as much as possible, especially in the middle of the day when the sun’s rays can be most damaging. Smoothing a layer of mud on exposed skin can offer some protection, too.

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BLISTERS ON THE HAND AND FOOT

Blisters are pockets of fluid that form as the skin’s way of protecting itself from friction. Blisters on the feet are common injuries among hikers. You can avoid getting blisters by wearing shoes or boots that fit well, by changing your socks if they become sweaty or wet, and by paying attention to how your feet feel. A hot spot is a warning that a blister might be forming. As soon as you notice it, cover the hot spot with moleskin. If a blister forms, you can protect it with a doughnut bandage. To make one, cut moleskin in the shape of a doughnut, and fit it around the blister. Shape several more doughnuts, and stack them on top of the first. Cover with an adhesive bandage.

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TICK, CHIGGER, SPIDER BITES, AND STINGS

The bites or stings of insects, ticks, chiggers, and spiders can be painful. Some may cause infection. Learn more about each of these insects at White Mountain - Compass Cove. 

 

Treating Stings

To treat bee stings, scrape away the stinger with the edge of a knife blade. Don’t squeeze the sac attached to the stinger—that might force more venom into the skin. Use an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling.

 

Treating Tick Bites

Ticks are small, bloodsucking creatures that bury their heads in the skin. Protect yourself whenever you are in tick-infested woodlands and fields by wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Button your collar and tuck the cuffs of your pants into your boots or socks. Inspect yourself daily, especially the hairy parts of your body, and immediately remove any ticks you find. If a tick has attached itself, grasp it with tweezers close to the skin and gently pull until it comes loose. Don’t squeeze, twist, or jerk the tick, as that may leave its mouth parts buried in the skin. Wash the wound with soap and water, and apply antiseptic. After dealing with a tick, thoroughly wash your hands.

 

Treating Chigger Bites

Chiggers are almost invisible. They burrow into skin pores, causing itching and small welts. Try not to scratch chigger bites. You may find some relief by covering a chigger bite with calamine lotion or by dabbing it with clear fingernail polish or mud.

 

Treating Spider Bites

The bite of a female black widow spider can cause redness and sharp pain at the wound site. The victim may suffer sweating, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain and cramps, severe muscle pain and spasms, and shock. Breathing may become difficult and convulsions may occur. The bite of a brown recluse spider might not hurt right away, but within two to eight hours there can be pain, redness, and swelling at the wound. An open sore is likely to develop. The victim may suffer fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, and a faint rash.

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Treating Bee and Wasp Stings

Scrape away a bee or wasp stinger with the edge of card, such as your Whittling Chip card, or ask an adult to help. Another method is to put a piece of tape on top of the sting to pull out the stinger. Don’t try to squeeze it out. That will force more venom into the skin from the sac attached to the stinger. An ice pack might reduce pain and swelling. Some people have severe allergies to bee and wasp stings. If someone has trouble breathing after being stung or feels his or her throat swelling or closing up, seek medical help immediately, and alert an adult. Find out if the person is carrying a kit for treating anaphylactic shock, and help him or her administer the medication.

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SNAKEBITES

If you are bitten by a snake, assume that it is venomous unless it can be absolutely identified as nonvenomous. Learn to recognize venomous varieties to know when there is danger and what action to take. Two types of venomous snakes are found in the United States. Pit vipers (rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths) have triangular-shaped heads with pits on each side in front of the eyes. Coral snakes have black snouts and bands of red and yellow separated by bands of black. Pit viper venom affects the circulatory system; coral snakes inject a powerful venom that works on the victim’s nervous system.

 

Treating Nonvenomous Snakebites

The bite of a nonvenomous snake requires only ordinary first aid for small wounds—

scrub with soap and water, then treat with an antiseptic. Snakes are not warm-blooded

and so cannot carry rabies.

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Treating Venomous Snakebites

Get the victim under medical care as soon as possible so that physicians can neutralize the venom. A person who has been bitten by a venomous snake might not be affected by the venom for an hour or more. Within that time, the closer to medical attention you can get the victim, the better off he or she will be. The victim might be able to walk, but carrying the victim also might be an option. Before setting out, do the following:

• Encourage the patient to stay calm; reassure the person that he or she is being cared for.

• Remove rings and other jewelry that may cause problems if the area around a bite swells.

• Immobilize a bitten arm with a splint and a sling, keeping the wound lower than the level of the victim’s heart.

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If the victim must wait for medical attention to arrive, have the victim lie down and remain still. Position the injured area lower than the victim’s heart, and immobilize the bitten limb with a splint. For the bite of a coral snake, to slow the spread of venom, wrap the area with a bandanna or strip of cloth at least 1 inch wide, 2 to 4 inches above the bite (between the heart and the bite). This is not a tourniquet; it is intended to impede the lymphatic system but not the circulation of blood. Make the band comfortably snug but loose enough to slip a finger under easily. Periodically check for a pulse on both sides of the band. You must not cut off blood circulation entirely. Do not use a constriction band around a finger, a toe, the head, or the trunk.

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NOSEBLEEDS

A nosebleed can look bad, but it will usually stop in just a few minutes. Have the victim sit up and lean forward to prevent blood from draining into the throat. Pinch the nostrils together for 10 minutes to maintain pressure on the flow and stop the bleeding. Apply a cool, wet cloth to the victim’s nose and face above where you are pinching. (As always, wear latex-free, disposable gloves.) Watch for symptoms of shock and treat if needed. Call for help if the bleeding doesn’t stop after 15 minutes.

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FROSTBITE

A frostbite victim may complain of pain on the ears, nose, fingers, or feet and then numbness, but sometimes the victim won’t notice anything. You may see grayish-white patches on the skin—a sure sign of frostbite.

 

Treating Frostbite

Get the victim into a tent or other shelter, then warm the injury—and keep it warm. If an ear

or cheek is frozen, remove a glove and warm the injury with the palm of your hand. Slip a

frostbitten hand under your clothing and tuck it beneath an armpit. Treat frozen toes by

putting the victim’s bare feet against the warm skin of your belly. Avoid rubbing frostbitten

flesh, as that may damage tissue and skin. You can also warm a frozen part by holding it in

warm—never hot— running water. Or wrap it in a dry blanket. Have the victim exercise
injured fingers or toes, and do not let the injured area freeze again. Get the victim to a doctor.