LESSON 2: SAFETY PRACTICES IN OUTDOOR RECREATION

What you should you do with a Medical Situation?

Danger -  Always check the danger to you, any bystanders and then the injured or ill person.
Responsive - Is the person conscious?
Send - Send or shout out for help
 Airway - Is the person’s airway clear? Is the person breathing?
Breathing - make sure that the person victim is breathing by looking at breathing signs
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) - If the victim is unconscious, no pulse and not breathing
How CPR is administered?
- 30 compression in 18 seconds or less (rate of 100 compression in one minute)
- After compression, give two rescue breaths
First Aid Common Injuries and Illnesses in The Outdoors
1.Cuts, Scrapes, And Punctures
– can be caused anywhere from rock climbing, cutting self from a knife and stumbling.
To treat minor cuts, scrapes and punctures:
- Clean cuts with soap and water then apply antibiotic cream then cover with sterile bandage and secure using
medicinal tape.
- If wound is on the arm or leg, raise limb above the heart to slow down bleeding.
2. Sprains, Strains, and Fractures
Sprains Strain contracts such as one is
- Injuries involve the - twisting or pulling of a running or jumping.
stretching or tearing of ligament muscle or tendon. Fractures
- Usually occurs when a - happens when a muscle – Involves the breaking of
joint is overextended from its is stretched and suddenly a bone
usual range of motion.
3.Concussion
- a traumatic brain injury that is often caused by a blow or bump to the head or body. Cuts and bruises may be
seen on the head or the face.
First Aid:
 Treat Cuts  Rest until symptons disappear
 Apply ice or compression if no ice is  Watch out for symptons that need
available emergency action.
4. BLISTER
- is a small pocket of body fluid (lymph, serum, plasma, blood, or pus) within the upper layers of the skin.
Often results form of ill-fitting footwear.
 Do: Cut circle of molefoam  Put anti-biotic cream
 Place a foam of donut over the  Wrap with athletic tape
blister.

5. Burns Or Scalds
- injuries on the skin caused by hot liquid or heat. black patches
Immediately call medical help if the following occurs:  Burn blister is larger than two inches or oozes
 Burn penetrates layers of skin  hands, feet, face, or genitals are burned.
 Skin is charred looking, with white, brown, or  The person is infant or senior
AILMENTS OR ILNESSES
1.FEVER
– If the temperature is 38 degrees Celsius or 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or below is considered a low grade or
no fever and does not require you to do anything much except to let the person drink lots of fluids.
- If the fever is 102 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.8 degrees Celsius or higher, have the patient take oral medicines.
Emergency should be sought when the person is:
 unresponsive  Experiences convulsions or seizures
 Having difficulty breathing or is wheezing  Seems confused
 Has lips turning bluish  Observes sudden offset of rashes
2. Headache
– often experienced in trekking or hiking due to lack of eye protection from the sun’s rays, tension in the neck,
dehydration, swelling of brain tissue, and consumption of large amounts of water without taking salt tablets.
-over the counter medicines may be taken such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, or aspirin to prevent further d
iscomfort. However one should also observe the source of problem as it may just be a symptom
of something else.
3. Altitude/ Mountain Sickness
– happens because the rate of ascent into higher altitudes
HAPE- High Altitude Pulmonary Edema
- occurs after one day spent high altitude.
HACE- High Altitude Cerebral Edema
- refers to the build-up of fluid in the brain causing dwelling and changes the persons mental state.
Loses coordination, becomes comatose and then dies.
4. Hyperthermia
- condition where the body produces or absorbs heat or more than it can dissipate.
a. heat cramps- usually happen in heavy activity in hot environments.
b. heat exhaustion- when water is not sufficient in the body’s demand in a particular activity, the body
becomes dehydrated and salt- depleted.
c. heatstroke- the most serious degree of hyperthermia.
5. Hypothermia
- occurs when the body chills faster than the body’s ability to produce heat due to exposure of cold, wet
6. Diving- Related Sicknesses
a. barotrauma - is a serious injury that can occur because of pressure differences between the
body’s air.
b. decompression sickness ( DCS)- happens when the diver fail to follow prescribed dive profiles, and can
also happen after a rapid scent.
Aquatic Hazards or Drowning
1. Jellyfish/ Portuguese Man-Of-War/ Fire Corals
- people stung by jellyfish will experience swelling, burning, and severe pain
Heal by: -Get out of the water -Stop the stinging:
2. Sea Urchin/ Weever Fish
 sea urchin puncture and weever fish stings  scrub wound with soap and rinse with fresh
are treated in a similar way. water.
 remove large spines carefully with tweezers  do not close the wound with tape.
3.Stingray
–call a lifeguard and seek speedy medical help as there is no antidote for stingray venom.
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
1. Poison ivy/ poison oak/ poison sumac/ wood nettle
- these plants have a substance called the urushiol which causes which causes the rash.
 If the plant left some stinging hairs, remove fast as this is how the poison enters.
 Wash for 10 minutes the exposed area with soap and warm water.
 Remove contaminated clothing, as the oil of the plant can continue to spread from clothing
 Ease the itching by applying cool compress for 25-30 mins.
2. Leeches
- locally called “limatik” are common sights in the Philippine forest
- hikers usually comes across leech already clinging and sucking blood on their skin
3. Snake Bites
4. Drowning
- UNICEF survey ranked as fourth leading cause of death in the Philippines.
What to do with victim of a lighting strikes?
 Call for help
 Assess situation. If necessary, move the victim to a safer and covered location.Check if the victim is
breathing or has pulse. If both are not present, do CPR.
BASIC THINGS TO CARRY IN OUR FIRST AID KIT
EMERGENCY NUMBER IN THE PHILIPPINES: Changed to 911 last August 1,2016