Forestry and Natural Resources
Unit 18: Outdoor Safety and Survival Skills
Unit 18: Outdoor Safety and Survival Skills
Lesson 2: First Aid
Duration: 3 Hours
Students will be able to:
1. Define first aid.
2. List the major injuries/accidents that they may encounter outdoors.
3. List symptoms and treatments of commonly occurring injuries/accidents.
Suggested Activities:
18.2A Red Cross Trainer: Have a Red Cross Trainer visit the classroom to teach the students
basic first aid skills.
18.2B First Aid: A local certified first aid instructor presents basic first aid procedures to the
class. The students role-play emergency situations, then upon completion of the unit,
they complete the test for certification.
Teaching Outline
I. Basic First Aid (The instructor should refer to The American Red Cross manual: Standard
First Aid and Personal Care for specific instructions)
A. Definition - the immediate care given to a person who has been injured or suddenly taken ill.
B. Where to Get Training
1. American Red Cross offers courses in Standard First Aid.
2. Some work places and schools offer training, as well as the local fire department.
C. Wounds - internal fluids and tissues must be protected from bacteria and other
microorganisms to prevent multiplication and infection.
1. Techniques to stop severe bleeding.
a. Direct pressure and bandaging
b. If possible, elevation the wound above the heart
c. Pressure to the supplying artery
2. Severed limbs - pack part in damp, cool (not frozen) sterile cloth and bring along with
patient to the hospital.
D. Shock
1. Definition - a condition occurring because of a depressed state of many body
functions, possibly leading to death, though the victim's injuries would not otherwise
be fatal.
2. Symptoms: pale skin or bluish cast in the color of the mucous membranes; moist and
clammy skin; weakness of victim; rapid but weak pulse (over 100 beats per minute);
quick but shallow breathing; nausea leading to dilated pupils and unconsciousness.
3. Treatment - Keep the body flat; keep body warm; administer fluids
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E. Respiratory Emergencies
1. Definition - when normal breathing stops or oxygen intake is too low to support life.
2. Causes
a. Mechanical obstruction
b. Low oxygen or toxic gas
c. Electrocution, drowning, heart disease, poisoning
3. Artificial Respiration (AR)
a. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (TM p 10)
b. Silvester resuscitation- to be used only if mouth-to-mouth resuscitation cannot be
used.
4. Choking Treatment
a. Verify that there is an obstruction
b. Sharp back slaps
c. Four abdominal thrusts
F. Poisons - any substance (solid, liquid, gas) that impairs health or causes death when taken
up by the body.
1. Swallowed or inhaled poisons
a. Important to obtain immediate advice from hospital emergency room, Poison
Control Center or physician; if the victim is conscious, have the victim drink a
glass of water or milk to dilute the poison; Do NOT try to neutralize it.
2. Contact poisons
a. Characteristics - redness of skin, itching, a rash, physical burns.
b. Poisonous plants - identification and symptoms (poison oak, poison ivy, poison
sumac) headache and fever, itching, redness, a rash, weeping from lesions.
c. Treatment - important to use a liberal water application.
3. Poisonous Bites and Stings
a. Snakes (TM p 10)
1.) Identification - rattlesnakes, copperheads, coral snakes, water moccasins.
2.) Treatment - apply l-inch wide constricting band snugly between bite and heart,
check band tightness, seek medical help and do not attempt to remove venom.
b. Insects and arachnids (spiders) (TM p 11)
1.) Spider and scorpion treatment - same as for snakes except remove band after
30 minutes.
2.) Tick treatment - cover tick with heavy oil, remove with tweezers, if necessary,
after 30 minutes.
3.) Bee treatment - remove stinger with scraping motion of a knife; do not
squeeze poison sac or victim's stung skin; seek medical help immediately if
allergic reaction occurs.
G. Burns
l. Definitions - injury to flesh from heat, chemical agents or radiation.
a. 1st degree - redness, discoloration, mild swelling and pain.
b. 2nd degree - deeper than 1st degree, red or mottled, development of blisters,
swelling and pain.
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d. 3rd degree - deep tissue destruction, white or charred skin or flesh, complete loss
of skin of all layers.
2. Treatment
a. First degree - cold water and dry dressing and bandage.
b. Second degree - cold water; do not disturb blisters or tissue; do not apply any
medication.
c. Third degree - do not apply water; do not disturb tissue or imbedded particles;
cover with sterile or freshly laundered cloth; do not apply medication; treat for
shock; seek medical help immediately.
d. Chemical burns - flush liberally with clean water for at least five minutes; follow
directions on container label if available; apply dressing, seek medical aid.
H. Frostbite
1. Definition - frozen crystals in body fluids or flesh of victim.
2. Grayish or yellow-white patches of flesh accompanied by numbness, blisters or glossy
skin.
3. Treatment - cover frozen part; bring victim indoors quickly; give victim warm drinks;
thaw quickly with warm water, 102-105°, not hotter; DO NOT RUB the part.
I. Hypothermia
1. Definition - a lowering of the body's inner core temperature
2. Symptoms - persistent, uncontrollable shivering; exhaustion; loss of control of hands;
loss of judgment; stupor; collapse; death.
3. Treatment - shelter victim; remove wet clothing; put on dry clothing or in pre-warmed
sleeping bag; administer hot sugary drinks; be careful not to burn victim with rewarming procedures.
J. Heat Problems
1. Heat cramps - muscle cramps of legs or abdomen; massage area and give victim 1/2
tsp. salt in 4 oz. water (not water alone) every 15 minutes for an hour.
2. Heat exhaustion - near normal body temperature; pale clammy skin; profuse
perspiration; headache or nausea; give victim above salt solution.
3. Heat stroke - high body temperature; skin hot, red and dry; may be unconscious;
undress and cool victim with cold liquids on skin, fans or ice packs immediately.
K. Sudden Illness
1. Heart attack
a. Signs and symptoms - persistent chest pains or unusual discomfort (usually under
sternum); pain may radiate to shoulders, arm, neck, or jaw; nausea, vomiting
gasping or shortness of breath; bluish discoloration of lips and fingernail beds;
shock.
b. Treatment - call for ambulance with oxygen; make victim comfortable, sitting up
if conscious; reassure victim; provide AR if necessary; if no pulse, begin CPR if
you are trained to do so; do not transport victim unless you are advised to do so.
2. Fainting - treatment: lie down or sit with head between knees; loosen tight clothing;
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maintain an open airway; examine patient for injury during fall; seek medical
assistance.
4. Epileptic Seizures
a. Symptoms - rigidity of body muscles, followed by jerking movements; victim
might bite own tongue, lose bladder or bowel control, or stop breathing.
b. First aid - push away nearby objects; do not force materials into victims closed
mouth (a rolled handkerchief may be used if mouth is open); loosen clothing when
jerking is over; keep victim down and comfortable; keep an open airway; begin
AR if breathing stops, seek medical help.
5. Diabetes - administer sugary foods to known diabetic if unusual behavior is observed.
6. Altitude (mountain) Sickness - accompanying strenuous exercise in high altitudes of
thin air without time for acclimatization
a. Symptoms - headache, insomnia, irritability, vomiting, and/or disturbance of breathing.
b. Treatment - let victim rest; administer oxygen if available; bring victim to lower
elevation.
L. Bone and joint injuries
1. Fractures
a. Closed fractures - without open wounds on the surface of the body although there
may be lacerations in the area.
b. Open fractures - with open wounds, may or may not have bone protruding through
skin.
2. Joint Injuries
a. Dislocation - displacement of a bone end at a joint.
b. Sprain - injury to a joint ligament or muscle tendon near a joint.
3. Signs and Symptoms
a. Fractures - Patient heard or felt a bone snap; pain and tenderness; difficulty in
moving part; a grating sensation of bones rubbing together; swelling deformities
b. Dislocation - swelling; obvious deformity at joint; pain upon motion; tenderness;
discoloration
c. Sprains - swelling at joint; tenderness; pain upon motion; discoloration; difficult
to tell from fracture without an x-ray
4. Treatment
a. Fractures - seek help; prevent motion of area and joints, elevate if possible; apply
splints if there is delay in transportation; don't set or move bone; treat open wound
by stopping bleeding and cover with sterile or clean dressing; never wash or probe
wound.
b. Dislocations - splint; apply a sling or immobilize in position found; elevate if
possible; never try to correct it, as further injury may result.
c. Sprains - immobilize joint (loosen or remove shoe in the case of an ankle injury);
apply ice packs (do not submerge in ice or hot water); elevate limb.
d. Spinal injuries - seek help immediately; do not move head, neck or back or further
injury may result; apply AR in position found with the jaw-thrust method;
transportation should be performed with the use of specialized equipment only.
e Unconscious victims - don't attempt to move unless in a life-threatening
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emergency; if movement is necessary, treat as if a spinal injury has occurred, i.e.
do not bend neck or back to prevent spinal injury.
f. Upper leg, pelvis or knee cap - injuries here require a splint and stretcher;
professional help should be sought.
g. Immobilization and use of splints and slings. (TM p 12)
M. Basic Dressings and Bandages
1. Dressing - protective cover placed directly over the wound, sterile material preferred;
also called a compress.
2. Bandage - strip of material used to hold a dressing in place; should be clean and
strong.
3. Application Principles
a. Dressings - should adequately cover past the edges of the wound; place directly
onto the wound; do not slide on from the side; discard if it touches skin or drops
to the ground; do not breath on the area surrounding wound.
b. Bandages - don't wrap tape completely around limb (it may constrict circulation);
it should be snug, but not interfere with circulation; leave fingers or toes exposed
to check for swelling or discoloration (due to interference with circulation);
loosen if patient complains of numbness or tingling; never stretch elastic bandages
too tightly (as it will constrict circulation); wrap gauze on a limb from the
narrowest part to the widest limb part; never wrap a bandage around a patient's
neck; frequently check wound area while transporting patient.
N. Short-Distance Transfer
1. Emergency Transfer - to be performed only when there is immediate danger to the
victim's life.
2. Non-emergency transfer - to be performed only after the following procedures have
been completed: the victim is breathing properly, bleeding controlled, checked for
other injuries, wounds dressed, fractures splinted. (TM p 13)
3. Transfer methods
a. Pull the victim - don't bend or twist victim, pull along body axis.
b. Lift the victim - one arm under knees, one below shoulders.
c. Supporting the victim - victim's arms around your neck.
d. Seat-carry - two person technique, two or four arms locked.
e. Three- person or four- person lift - support and lift in unison.
O. First aid Kit
1. Dressings
2. Bandages
3. Tools - scissors, tweezers, needle, thermometer
4. Medication - aspirin, antihistamines, antiseptic
5. Matches
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Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation
1. Check for consciousness
2. Tilt back head, look, listen and feel for breathing (for five seconds).
3. Pinch victim’s nose and blow four quick full breaths into victim’s
mouth.
4. If resistance to ventilation, look for obstruction; apply abdominal
thrusts if necessary.
5. With head still tilted back, look again, listen and feel for breathing
and check for pulse at the carotid artery.
6. If no pulse, begin CPR if you have been trained to do so.
7. If there is a pulse but no breathing, continue with one breath every
five seconds for adults, slightly quicker for children.
8. As you inhale between breaths, turn your head to watch the victim’s
chest fall and listen for escaping air.
9. If the victim’s stomach becomes distended with air, turn the victim’s
head to the side and press on their stomach area to force the air out.
This may induce vomiting so be prepared to clear their mouth of
vomitus.
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Poisonous Snakes
Note: Rattles
Note: Triangular or
hourglass patches on
body.
Copperhead or
“Highland Moccasin”
Western Diamondback
Rattlesnake
Cottonmouth or
“Water Moccasin”
Note: Usually dark in color with
indistinct body pattern.
Texas Coral
Note: Red and black bands
bordered with yellow bands.
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Poisonous Insects and Spiders
Black
Widow
Spider
Scorpion
Tick
Poison Bite: Constricting Band
Carries for ShortDistance Transfer
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Unit 18: Outdoor Safety and Survival Skills
Scapula or Clavicle Injuries
The arm sling and immobilization board.
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Forearm and Wrist Injuries
Wrist Injuries: The splint and armsling.
First aid for upper arm injuries: Splint
and
Foot or ankle
blanket splint
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armsling