Intro to 10 Essentials

Intro to 10 Essentials

There are 10 things that are really important to take with you when you go out into the wilderness because they help you take care of yourself and those around you. What do you think some of those 10 things might be?

(Give 3-4 minutes for girls to offer suggestions, we can write them down as they give them. Hopefully they will come up with first aid kit...)

1. First aid kit - we're going to talk a bit about what to do for some common things that might happen when you're out in the woods...etc

a. strains, sprains, splinting (10-12 min)

i) use of the SAM splint

ii) make sure that whatever's hurting can't move

iii) to help immobilize, use foam sleep pad, use magazines, use sticks, walking /

ski poles

iv) sling and swathe, use safety pins, use own shirt as a sling

b. simple wound care

i) clean wound with cleanest water you've got

ii) stop the bleeding

- pressure on the wound

- elevate if possible

- dressing - band-aid, pressure dressing, 4x4s, gauze, cling wrap, ace

wrap, tape, webbing strap, strip of shirt/skirt, sash

c. poison oak, others - post-exposure wash it off immediately, don't touch what touched

the plant (boots, pants, dogs, etc)

d. epi-pens and albuterol - focus on how to help someone use these two things

e. burns - put it out and keep it cool. Wrap it loosely and keep it wet.

f. stings and bites - remove the offending agent, try and keep calm, don't move the limb

2. Signal device

a. cell phone -

i) if possible get to high ground

ii) call 911. Texts go easier than calls, using less battery. Text your mom, send group text. Try to indicate where you are, even if it's just "I'm next to a lake"

iii) turn off wifi and bluetooth

iv) get a flashlight app for your phone, use it sparingly if you forgot a real flashlight

v) you can use the screen as a weak signalling device

b. whistle

c. small mirror (maybe a makeup mirror??)

3. map and compass

a. what the map symbols all mean

b. how to orient the map to true north

c. how to guesstimate your location on the map

d. if you're lost, DON'T MOVE (hug a tree)

4. sun protection - sunglasses and sunscreen, lip balm,

5. extra clothes

a. cotton kills

b. get out of wet clothes and into dry ones

c. try and protect yourself from the elements

d. demo a bivy sack or emergency blanket

e. stay hydrated

6. extra food and water

a. Gu, protein bars, gorp, etc

b. demo water filtration examples

c. stress that you can go days without food, but not long without H2O

7. light / headlamp

a. bring various headlamps, etc

b. flashlight vs headlamp - demo with having hands available, like starting a fire or collecting firewood or holding your heat blanket around you, etc

8. fire

a. what do you need for fire? Fuel, oxygen, heat

b. fuel: gather tinder, oil soaked cotton balls, dryer lint, fire starter sticks

c. oxygen: make your fire pile "airy"

d. heat: magnesium sparker, lighter, waterproof matches