Practical tips for backcountry first aid

Say you’ve cut yourself badly in the backcountry. The wound is bleeding profusely and you don’t have any bandages. The best place to start is probably a shirt — and not just by tearing off a sleeve. If one cuts the shirt in a circular motion from the bottom, you get foot after foot of bandage, with little work.

That was just one backcountry first aid tip EMT Bill Tidwell, a consultant and backcountry enthusiast, provided at the Back Country Horsemen’s state convention in Kalispell last week.

“Your ability to give care in the backcountry is limited to your imagination,” Tidwell said.

While riding a horse in places like the Bob Marshall Wilderness offers the adventure of a lifetime, it can also lead to a memorable injury. Horses can be dangerous creatures, Tidwell noted.

The best thing to do is plan for the worst and enjoy the best. A simple first aid kit and a few other accessories should be included in every backcountry pack. Aside from bandages, dressings and other items, backcountry visitors should take along a multi-tool, rope, antibiotic ointments and other medications that come in handy when medical help is days rather than minutes away.

One material that comes in handy is Vetrap. Used for wrapping bandages on horses, it’s great for humans, too. A piece of rope fashioned with half-hitches between two tree branches topped with a horse blanket makes a quick litter.

The sleeve of a hooded sweatshirt makes a great sling. A wound with profuse bleeding can be treated with a product called Celox. The powder is placed on the wound, then bandaged over to stop bleeding.

But what if bleeding won’t stop? Tidwell’s advice is to use a tourniquet if you must but tighten it just enough to stop the bleeding. A strap is available that allows more precise adjustment of the band.

Fish hooks have also ruined more than one trip. To remove a fish hook buried in your hand, align the shaft so it’s parallel to the skin, loop a piece of line around the curve and then jerk quickly. Don’t try to run the hook all the way back through and clip off the end — skin is much tougher than it looks.

For a fish hook in the eye, cut the line off and put duct tape with small holes on a pair of sunglasses. The holes will calm the person but still allow the person to see well enough to get out.

Getting out is important. Tidwell advised visitors to carry radios or satellite phones. A popular device is a SPOT Messenger GPS that sends an emergency signal when activated. The device also lets people at home you’re OK if you’re on a long-distance journey.

Parties calling for help should be ready, ALERT Helicopter pilot Ken Justus said. First, try to arrange a safe landing zone for the helicopter — the $2 million helicopter can’t land on a severe slope.

Also tie up stock and any loose items. The helicopter will scare animals. Provide GPS coordinates if possible or a geographical location and make a fire at night. The crew uses night vision goggles at dark and can see a fire from miles away.

When you see the helicopter, stay in sight of the crew and don’t approach the craft until motioned to do so. The blades can be deadly, and if the helicopter lands on a slope, the whirling blades can be just inches off the ground.

Justus said the ALERT crew flies about two dozen missions a year into the backcountry, including Glacier National Park. The rescue service can be expensive for those without insurance.

To help make up expenses, a fundraising banquet is held every year. This year’s is April 27 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. For more information, visit online at www.kalispellregional.org/foundation/alert-air-ambulance-program/annual-alert-banquet.