First aid in nature: 5 life-saving techniques (that we often forget to learn)

We think about knives, stoves, tents, and headlamps. We invest in the best sleeping bag, compare water filters, and test fire starters. But how many of us have taken first aid courses before heading out on a camping trip? Very few. Yet, in the wilderness, far from any hospital, it's this skill that can make the difference between a manageable incident and a disaster. Here are five essential life-saving techniques to master, techniques we too often forget to learn.

1. Recognize and treat hypothermia (before it's too late)

Hypothermia isn't just for polar expeditions. It can occur at 10°C, in the rain, with wet clothes and poor nutrition. And it kills silently.

The signs: Uncontrollable shivering, mental confusion, incoherent speech, clumsiness, drowsiness. If the victim stops shivering but is still cold, it's serious: the body is giving up the fight.

Life-saving actions: Insulate the victim from the cold (shelter, tarp, etc.). Remove wet clothing and replace it with dry clothes or a survival blanket (gold side facing the victim). Warm the victim gradually with a hot, sweetened drink (never alcohol), and if necessary, provide skin-to-skin contact in a sleeping bag. Never attempt sudden rewarming: this can cause cardiac arrest.

2. Immobilize a sprain or fracture (and prevent further damage)

A fall on the trail, a misstep on a root, and the ankle gives way. Severe sprain or fracture? Hard to say at the time. But if left untreated, it can turn a minor injury into a lasting disability.

The signs: Sharp pain, rapid swelling, inability to put weight on the foot or move the joint, visible deformity.

Life-saving actions: Immobilize immediately with an improvised splint (rigid stick, hiking poles), secured with bandages or clothing. Apply cold for 15-20 minutes (never directly to the skin). Elevate the injured limb. Never attempt to "push back into place" a bone or joint. Evacuate or call emergency services (112).

3. Stop bleeding (before the victim loses too much blood)

A deep knife cut, a fall on a sharp rock: in a few minutes, bleeding can become critical.

The signs: Heavy bleeding, pale victim, rapid pulse, feeling of weakness.

Life-saving actions: Apply immediate direct pressure with a clean cloth, sterile compress, or clothing. Maintain pressure for at least 10 minutes without releasing it. Elevate the injured limb. If compression is insufficient, apply a pressure dressing (several compresses held together with a tight elastic bandage). As a last resort for massive bleeding: apply a tourniquet (a wide band, never thread or thin cord), placed over the wound, note the time, and evacuate immediately.

4. Managing dehydration and heatstroke (even in winter)

People think dehydration only happens in deserts. Wrong. When bivouacking, during intense exertion, you can lose 2-3 liters of water per day without realizing it.

Signs of dehydration: Intense thirst, dark and infrequent urine, fatigue, headache, dizziness.

Signs of heatstroke: Red and dry skin (no more sweating), confusion, body temperature above 40°C, rapid pulse.

Life-saving actions: For dehydration, rehydrate gradually with plain water and a little salt and sugar. Drink in small sips. Rest in the shade. For heatstroke, move the victim to the shade immediately. Cool them with water (not ice-cold), and apply damp cloths to their forehead, neck, and wrists. Give them small amounts to drink. If they become confused or lose consciousness, call emergency services immediately.

5. How to react to stings and bites (insects, snakes, ticks)

In the forest, encounters with wildlife are inevitable. Wasps, ticks, etc.: most of the time, it's not fatal, but if poorly managed, it can become so.

Insect bites: Remove the stinger with a rigid card (not with your fingers). Clean with soapy water. Apply a cold compress. Watch for signs of an allergic reaction (significant swelling, difficulty breathing): this is an emergency, call 112.

Ticks: Remove them with a tick remover (never with your fingers). Disinfect the area. Monitor the area for 3 weeks: if a circular red rash appears, consult a doctor (Lyme disease).

Your outdoor first aid kit: the essentials

Sterile bandages and compresses, elastic compression bandage, disinfectant, tick tweezers and tick remover, survival blanket, scissors, disposable gloves, pain reliever (paracetamol, ibuprofen), blister plasters, whistle to signal your location... your outdoor first aid kit already contains the essentials. You can, of course, enhance it with other items such as an Israeli bandage, tourniquet, first aid splint, etc., as found in our VonGuard Tactical First Aid Kits, whether it's the Outdoor Emergency , Polysafe , or Advanced Crisis , or the Family , Mountain , or Emergency versions, from Care Plus.

Training: where to learn these skills?

Reading an article is a start... But practicing is essential ;-) !

In France

• PSC1 (Prevention and Civic First Aid level 1) : Basic training, 7 hours, approximately €60. Provided by the Red Cross, Civil Protection, and firefighters.
• PSC1 "special outdoor": Some organizations offer PSC1 courses adapted for hiking and bivouacking.
• First aid courses in remote areas: training provided in survival courses

In Belgium

• BEPS (European First Aid Certificate) : 12-15 hour training course, €80. Provided by the Red Cross.
• First aid certificate: for the most motivated. 24 hours, €90, obtaining the BEPS (Basic First Aid Certificate) is a prerequisite.
• First aid training in remote areas : courses offered in survival training programs

Conclusion: The best equipment is your training.

You can have the most complete kit on the market, the most high-tech tent, the sharpest knife. But if you don't know how to react in a medical emergency, it will all be useless. First aid in the wild isn't an option; it's a responsibility. To yourself, to your hiking companions, to those you encounter on the trails.

At WildTactic, we believe that self-reliance starts with good equipment... but also with competence. Before heading into the woods, get trained. It takes a day, costs less than a camping stove, and could save a life. Yours, or someone else's.