First Aid When walking in remote areas and the high hills, it is essential that at least one person in your party has some basic competence in First Aid.
The application of those skills in remote areas, and in wet, cold and/or windy weather is the challenge we face in dealing with emergencies in the British hills where any illness or injury is potentially more dangerous and difficult to deal with.
On this page we included only basic guidance on incident management, diagnosis and general first aid treatment written for those who will be in the role of walk leader. Those of you who are interested in achieving a higher level of competency should consult a handbook on mountaincraft and leadership or take a course for Mountain Leaders.
Being Prepared You should always take with you a very basic set of first aid equipment. Select items which are versatile and multi-purpose. Balance commonly used items for minor problems with rarely used but potentially life saving items such as a plastic airway. For example, you should include : antiseptic creams, aspirin, tape, bandages, plastic bags, torch, plastic airway, light plastic gloves (to reduce transmission of infection).
Before setting out, it's also wise to find out if any of your companions are taking any medications and/or have any long standing illnesses such as diabetes or asthma. It's important that everyone understands what will be encountered during the day and is confident that this is within his/her abilities. | |
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