Remote Situation First Aid – Being prepared for anything!
Having lived in Brisbane now for many years and being a keen camper, fisherman and boatie I have found myself in many situations where I needed first aid and many of those whilst I was with my family and friends.
Having also been a key leader in a boot camp program that took me to remote situations throughout Southern Queensland and northern NSW for several years I have learned that anything can and will happen and we need to be thoroughly prepared for what our harsh Australian environment can throw at us.
Remote Situation First Aid is not always about being in the outback though. An urban bush walk, a four wheel drive trip on Moreton or Fraser Island, a trip out in Moreton Bay for the day in your boat, a canoe paddle down the Brisbane River can all require first aid training. Injuries, bites, stings, dehydration, hypothermia and many more challenges can and do occur and our best defence against such things is good preparation.
So you need to plan for the unexpected. Before commencing a trip ask yourself the question how prepared am I? Obvious to some but not all is firstly the need to check the weather. Here in Brisbane and throughout Queensland we have a very hot harsh climate and care needs to be taken to think through all contingencies as part of your planning. Having checked the weather from a reputable source such as the BOM make up a checklist of what to take. Things I would suggest include:
- A good quality remote situation First Aid and snake bite kit.
- Appropriate clothing and footwear
- A quality good fitting back pack if required
- A quality tent or shelter
- Appropriate amounts of food and water (including electrolytes).
- A mobile phone with a backup charging system
- A GPS, flares & 2 way radio or satellite phone if you plan to go out of mobile range. Whistles, mirror reflectors, laminated maps, a compass, a good head torch with spare batteries and a space blanket.
- Waterproof matches, sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses, a hat & pocket knife.
You then need to think through the environment you are heading into and ask what challenges may I need to prepare for. For example:
As part of the boot camp program I was involved in we regularly took groups on a three day 42 kilometre paddle down the Brisbane River leaving from the Twin Bridges at Fernvale and pulling out at the Kholo Bridge near Ipswich. Before leaving we would watch the weather carefully and ensure it was going to be safe with no sudden rainfalls predicted. Gear was packed in sealed barrels and dry bags. Life Jackets were essential as was throw bags and paddle training including handling a capsize safely. All of the above gear was taken and risk assessments carried out covering all possibilities.
And finally, one of the most important parts of your preparation is to complete a good Provide First Aid in Remote Situations First Aid Course HLTAID005. This course is suited to those who may be required to prepare for & provide a first aid response in locations beyond the reach of timely medical assistance. For many Aussies who love their four-wheel driving and camping, this course is the perfect fit.
The HLTAID003 Provide First Aid component of this course helps you to prepare and respond to a large variety of medical emergencies such as providing CPR, drowning, fractures, sprains, strains, bleeding, asthma, seizures, anaphylaxis, bites, stings, shock, dehydration, hypothermia, crush injuries and choking.
The HLTAID005 Provide first aid in remote situations training component helps with planning across a range of remote situations/environments and is designed to help you respond with extra considerations including: improvisation in first aid using available resources, navigation, communication, documenting and monitoring the casualty’s condition, creating shelter, moving the casualty, nutrition and hydration of the casualty and having the casualty removed by a Helicopter if required.
At My First Aid Course in Brisbane, we run our public HLTAID005 Provide First Aid in Remote Situations several times per week in Deagon, North Brisbane. We can also tailor a course for your group or company where we can come to you or your chosen location with years of experience working in remote situations. We can create scenarios that you can work through that simulate the type of environment(s) you will face and learn to overcome them working together as a team. Many corporate and community groups have reported that such days have been great team builders and plan them specifically as part of their annual staff development.
Want to know more or keen for a group booking quote? Contact us through our group bookings page or for public courses ‘enquire now’.