How to use Steri Strips

   In a remote setting minor cuts and lacerations can be a huge nuisance or worse transform into a major illness. Having the skills and toys available to clean and close minor cuts can be a benefit for expedition medics.
   Steri Strips, Benzoin Tincture and a Tegaderm dressing can be your best friend.

   *WARNING*
   This blog is not a substitute for treatment from a doctor. If you have a cut DO NOT try this unless you are trained to at least the Wilderness Emergency First Responder level AND unless you are in a Remote & Austere environment!

   Let me introduce you to the Wound Pack.

NPA used for suction

   During our WEFR course we introduce the skill of suctioning a compromised airway of a casualty. For the Wilderness First Aid level of training the best was to clear an airway is to roll the casualty over and let gravity do the dirty work.
   That is still the best option for the medical professional. The difference is that it is important to have a few more skills in your tool box to deal with situations where rolling a casualty might not be the best option.

Wilderness First Responder Course August 2011

We have just finished up with the latest WEFR course. We had eight students and three instructors come from around Ireland come to Killarney for six days of intense medical education.

Improvised head mirror

   Before the use of electronic lights, physicians used a head mirror to look into the patients, eyes, ears, nose and throat. They would have this mirror strapped to their head all day. In fact, most of us older types can remember going to the GP and having them use this device to exam you.
   In the wilderness improvisation is the key. How can one use this obsolete technology in the practise of Austere Medicine?

Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine

   One of the RMI instructors has decided to enrol into the Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine offered by the Wilderness Medical Society. This award is offered for medical professionals who wish to validate their training and experience in Wilderness Medicine.
   The award is primarily designed for doctors but is open for the motivated medic or nurse. Since it is research based and requires academic achievement is more difficult for non physicians to achieve.

RTE filming improvised stretchers

   Over the past couple of weeks, Aebhric has been filming for the RTE kids programme Elev8. One of the 3.5 minute episodes was on how to make a stretcher in the wilderness. We had six kids ages around 10-12 who were broken down into two teams of three.
   My challenge for them was to build an improvised litter or stretcher out of wood harvested from the wilderness.

Be Here Now

  There are many approaches to survival and wilderness psychology. It is important to have the skills and dirt time to deal with emergencies in remote settings.

   The ability to accept and internalize the realities that you are lost or in danger is the first step to survival. Acknowledging the fact that you are lost, unable to return to safety, or simply in a rough situation is rarely done quickly. People tend to refuse the realities of a harsh situation.