Expedition Medic

I see that gleam in your eye, that desire to read about how to stab a ball point pen into someone’s chest to save their life or how to use your Hi-Lift jack handle to splint that broken leg as the helicopter descends in a whirlwind of dust and noise. But before we get to those juicy details, and trust me we will, I want you to go practice the single most important bit of back country medicine (and front country for that matter) there is. Please go wash your hands, right now, yes I said wash your hands! Those things are stomach churning, infection imparting, death dealing monsters!

In all seriousness, thinking like an Expedition Medic is all about prevention over treatment. A well stocked first aid kit pales in importance to a well trained mind. Knowledge is a candle in front of a searchlight compared to not having to deal with illness or injury in the back country. So from now on, your role as Expedition Medic will flow from Perception to Prevention to Treatment to Evacuation.

The first component, Perception, deals with your time at home where you are thinking about taking that Wilderness First Aid class. It also covers making sure you have a well stocked Medic Kit, as well as thinking about all the hazards that could be faced on your upcoming trip (especially those related to terrain and weather). Once you are on the trail, your Powers of Perception will be focused on the hazards of your current and future activities. For example, tire changing could crush a hand, cooking a hot dog could cause a blister. Even a quick dash behind a bush to pee could be very interesting if that bush is poisonous or thorny.

Prevention is the active result of your perception. It is the sunblock applied in the desert, the water forced into the hand of a buddy while he is rigging winch cable, and the hand washing everyone does before eating (those things are killers, remember!), and even the yell that moves a kid out of the way during a dynamic recovery. Prevention requires that you be a part of the action and be willing to deal with small problems before they become emergencies. And while you may feel like a nag, trust me, that is far better than being regarded a Hero for something you knew deep down inside should have never happened. And I am serious about that hand washing, either with soap and water or gel hand sanitizer. Either way, your hands go everywhere and touch everything on their way to bringing food to your mouth. Clean them first and your stomach will thank you.

Reference material aside, you do need some basics in your kit since you are in a vehicle and often with other people. Please make sure you have quality goods in a quality container. Really you will have to deal with only a few groups of injuries. Internal vs external, broken skin vs unbroken and treatable vs evacuation. Internal are the aches of muscles, gut, bones, tendon and such that are usually painful but not trip ending, your biggest concern would be something with the gut that doesn't improve within 24hrs, that equals seeking medical help. External include problems you can see so you know how severe they are and what should be done. Broken skin vs unbroken divides your wound care between things that require lots of water, washing and clean bandages or blisters, sunburns and such that require watching. Lastly, treatable vs evacuation is that tough call you have to make that ends someone’s trip, maybe even your own but that leaves you alive to travel again someday. As someone who has called in a helicopter, I can tell you that the fuss over ending a trip is nothing compared to the guilt you could live with if death or dismemberment occurs.

As for the actual gear you should have, well think back over your problem groups and you will need something for internal (water, pain killers, stomach meds), something for external (water to wash a wound and a roll of gauze) and something most people don't think of as part of a first aid kit, you need a way to call for help. Personally I really like the Spot Global Messenger for this 911 button that works almost anywhere on the planet! Even as someone who works in the medical field and has access to anything I could want I still like to buy my kits so that I get a nice assortment in an easy to transport and well organized pack. But please check your kit frequently and restock it as time goes by. Adventure Medical kits sells refills on their website that are great for any brand setup.

And for all of you who read every word waiting in anticipation for the part about the ball point pen chest tube or hi-lift jack leg splint, well take a Wilderness Medical Course! I told you I would mention them again and that is only to say that just like I didn't cover how to treat a blister, a crushed hand or a stomach ache, I won't talk about the more exciting stuff either. You need training, and this article is not long enough and you aren't in front of me to demonstrate your knowledge, so get to a class, even a 1 day affair will help you learn to use a t-shirt to hold a broken arm or how to know if a stomach ache is just bad chili or a perf'd colon. Your life and your family & friends are counting on you as the Expedition Medic, because if not you then who?

Lance Blair

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Phoenix, Az 85008

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