Ok, you’re out in the Australian bush, kilometres from help, and the unexpected happens. You might be well-trained in first aid, but what if you don’t have all the right gear? Yep, you planned well, but some of the kit is sitting pretty… back home on the kitchen bench, or perhaps you’ve got a scenario so big you just don’t have the equipment for it. That’s where the improvised first aid kicks in.
In remote first aid, being able to think on your feet and use what’s available is essential. This guide explores practical ways to tackle first aid emergencies with a bit of resourcefulness and a lot of common sense.
This guide is designed for all outdoor adventurers and workers in remote areas who might one day find themselves needing to treat injuries with whatever they have on hand. Let’s dive into the essentials of improvised first aid.
1. The Foundation of Improvised First Aid: Prepare and Adapt
Before heading out into the wild, always prioritise being prepared. A good first aid kit and basic first aid training are the best foundations for handling injuries or emergencies. However, as every adventurer knows, things don’t always go according to plan.
Pre-trip Safety Essentials
- Basic Kit: Take along essentials such as bandages and antiseptics. If you have space, throw in extras like duct tape and plastic wrap – two versatile items that can save the day.
- Communication: Always leave an itinerary and emergency contacts with someone reliable. In remote areas, having a satellite phone or personal locator beacon can make a critical difference.
When things go sideways and you’re caught without equipment, here are some top improvisation techniques that can help.
2. Managing Cuts and Bleeding with Improvised First Aid Bandages
Bleeding wounds are a common injury, especially in rough, remote areas. If you’re without sterile dressings, a bit of ingenuity goes a long way.
- Clothing as Dressings: Any clean part of your clothing, like a T-shirt or bandana, can act as a makeshift dressing. Ideally, clean the cloth first by rinsing it with clean water if possible.
- Securing the Dressing with Duct Tape: Duct tape is one of the most useful items to have in your kit (or to find in your pack). Use it to secure cloth bandages over cuts, hold a pressure dressing in place, or even support a splint in a pinch.
- Using a Triangular Bandage or Torn Cloth: A triangular bandage is incredibly versatile and worth keeping a couple on hand. If you’re out, a strip of fabric can be transformed into a sling, a collar-and-cuff sling, padding for pressure, or even folded into a donut shape for padding a penetrating wound or eye injury.
- Improvised Tourniquet with a Triangular Bandage: In severe cases of bleeding, a triangular bandage or torn cloth can act as a temporary tourniquet. Tie it above the wound, apply firm pressure, and secure to slow bleeding while you seek additional help. Remember, tourniquets should only be used in life-threatening situations and only as a last resort.
Scenario: A Slip Leads to a Deep Cut
You or a friend slips and cuts their leg on a sharp rock. With no bandages on hand, apply pressure with a clean piece of clothing, securing it tightly with duct tape or strips of cloth to minimise blood flow. If bleeding is severe, try to elevate the limb and keep pressure on the wound until help arrives or further support is available.
3. Treating Burns: Cool Water and Plastic Wrap
In the wilderness, burns can happen from a campfire, cooking, or even a hot engine. Immediate cooling and covering can make all the difference.
- Cool the Burn with Water: Find a clean water source if possible, and cool the burn for at least 20 minutes. If no running water is available, use any drinkable water you have to gently pour over the burn.
- Cover with Plastic Wrap: Plastic wrap is a surprisingly useful item for burns, as it protects the burn from contamination without sticking. Apply a loose layer of plastic wrap over the cooled area to keep it clean and help reduce pain.
Scenario: Campfire Burn
While cooking over a campfire, someone accidentally burns their hand. Rinse the area with cool water for as long as possible, then loosely wrap it in plastic wrap or a clean plastic bag, securing it gently to avoid pressure on the burn.
4. Splinting with Natural and Everyday Materials
In case of fractures or sprains, immobilising the injured area is crucial. When you don’t have a splint handy, nature and creativity come to the rescue.
- Tree Branches and Hiking Poles as Splints: Select a strong branch or even a hiking pole to create support. Padded with cloth for comfort, these items work well for immobilising an arm or leg.
- Duct Tape to Secure the Splint: Duct tape or strips of fabric from your clothing can be used to hold the splint in place. Ensure it’s tight enough to provide stability but loose enough not to cut off circulation.
Scenario: Ankle Injury on a Hike
A friend twists their ankle on uneven ground. Find a sturdy branch to act as a splint, use a T-shirt or bandana for padding, and secure it with duct tape or cloth strips. They can use this support to stabilise their ankle while you find additional help.
5. Making the Most of a Triangular Bandage or Torn Sheet
The humble triangular bandage is one of the most flexible tools in improvised first aid, especially when in the wilderness. It’s great to find additional uses for it in improvised first aid. Here’s how to use it when you’re in a pinch, or even improvise with a torn-up shirt or sheet.
- Slings and Immobilisation: Use a triangular bandage to create a sling for an injured arm, or secure it around the neck to form a collar-and-cuff to keep the limb stable.
- Pressure and Padding: Roll up a bandage or sheet into a donut shape to pad wounds, especially for eye injuries or where foreign objects are embedded.
- Securing a Bleeding Wound: For larger bleeding injuries, a triangular bandage can apply pressure and protect the area until proper care can be accessed.
Scenario: Eye Injury from Low Hanging Branch
A branch scrapes close to someone’s eye, causing pain and minor bleeding. Use a triangular bandage (or torn fabric) folded into a donut shape to provide padding around the eye and prevent further injury.
6. Improvised Transport Techniques
If you need to transport someone with a serious injury, creating an effective makeshift stretcher is essential, especially when resources are limited.
- Camp Chair as a Carrier: If you have a camp chair, it can double as a support to help carry someone. Have two people hold the chair securely while the injured person sits. This works best for short distances over relatively even terrain.
- Using a Jacket and Branches as a Stretcher: Lay the jacket out flat and run two long branches through the arms. This creates a basic stretcher to transport someone lying down.
Scenario: Leg Injury Needing Transport
A fellow hiker falls and cannot put weight on their leg. Use a camp chair to carry them back to camp or to an area where they can rest safely while waiting for further help.
7. Signalling for Help When Stranded
Getting help in remote areas is often challenging, but there are ways to attract attention even without specialised equipment.
- Bright Clothing as a Signal: Lay out brightly coloured clothing in an open area to increase visibility from the air.
- Creating Noise: A whistle, banging rocks together, or even yelling at regular intervals can help draw attention if there are people nearby.
- Ground-Based SOS Signals: Use rocks, branches, or even draw in the sand to spell out “SOS” in large letters. Position it in an open area where it’s more likely to be spotted by rescuers. Like these people who found themself on a micronesian island.
Scenario: Stranded After Sundown
After becoming separated from the group, a person uses their flashlight in an SOS pattern and lays out bright clothing to attract attention. Regularly blowing a whistle can also be heard from a distance.
8. Everyday Items as First Aid All-Rounders
Household can be used for improvised first aid. Here’s a few to consider.
- Duct Tape: A versatile option, duct tape can secure splints, hold makeshift dressings, and even waterproof small areas.
- Plastic Bags: Useful for protecting injuries, keeping items dry, or as an emergency ice pack when filled with cold water or snow.
- Belts or Scarves: Work well to immobilise limbs, secure makeshift splints, or even as a tourniquet in extreme cases.
Stay Safe Out there: skills that could save a life
When venturing into remote areas, nothing replaces proper first aid training and a well-prepared kit. But as you’ve seen, a bit of resourcefulness goes a long way when things don’t go as planned. Knowing improvised first aid can make all the difference.
Ready to level up your remote survival skills? Book your spot in our HLTAID013 Provide First Aid in a remote or isolated site course. This course provides hands-on experience with emergency response techniques in remote areas, building the confidence and skills needed to adapt and improvise when it counts.
