Equipment Outfitters

Blisters

Blisters are the bane of outdoor people and as with most problems, prevention is far better than cure.

Break your boots in until they are completely comfortable and always wear well-washed, well-fitting socks. Pamper your feet, keeping the nails trim, the feet clean and the socks dusted with powder. Hot feet blister more easily than feet in dry, cool socks.

If, or rather, when, you get a blister, act as follows: At the first sensation of an imminent blister, or a ‘hot spot’ on the foot, remove the boot and sock. If the skin is merely red and tender, cut a square of ‘Moleskin’ and cover the area, which may prevent further trouble.

Ifthere is a blister, but it has not yet broken, pad the skin with cotton wool and a piece of moleskin. This may prevent the blister from bursting, and it should soon subside. Do not prick the blister with a needle, for although this will let the fluid out, it also lets infection in. Remember that one of the aims of first aid is to prevent an injury from becoming worse.

If the blister is raw, trim off the spare skin with your scissors, and if you have the time, leave it open to the air to dry. If you must press on, then cover the raw area with a dry dressing.

Blisters are almost inevitable, but curiously enough after a while, they cease to matter. No blistering is ever as bad as the first time, and I speak as one whose first blistering was bad enough to soak the socks with blood! Some people recommend toughening the skin of the feet by the application of rubbing fluid or methylated spirits, but this only seems to lead to blistering underneath the hard skin. Well-fitting boots and socks, and when all else fails, some ‘Moleskin’, is the best treatment

Broken bones

It depends, of course, on which bone is broken, but the treatment for breaks is always the same : immobility. The broken bones must be immobilized, or the ends of the break will cause further injury.

Apart from the pain, a break or a severe sprain is usually indicated by sudden swelling. This is caused by blood flooding the tissues in the area of the break. In the case of a fracture to a limb, it must be immobilized by ’splinting’ or tying the limb. A splint is a firm support which must stretch beyond both adjacent joints, and prevent the broken bones from moving. Do not try and set the break, just immobilize it. Pad the limb with anything available and bind it firmly but not too tightly to the splint. A broken limb may swell, and you must be careful not to cut off the blood supply to areas beyond the break. Use your initiative and splint the limb with anything which comes to hand, an ice axe, a tent pole section, even a tent peg or pencil for a broken wrist or finger. One leg can be tied to the other; a broken arm can be strapped across the body. Once the limb is secure, send for help, or, if possible, take the casualty directly to hospital, for X-rays will be necessary to set the break.

Skull and back injuries

A fractured skull, or a broken back is a very serious injury. In this situation well-meant but incorrect first aid can very easily make the situation worse.

A hard blow to the head may not leave the victim unconscious, but unconsciousness can develop later. The skull itself may be intact, but there may be injury to the neck or vertebrae. More possibly, there may be bleeding within the skull which can lead to increasing pressure on the brain. The best indications of this are found in the eyes. Does the victim find it difficult to focus? Are both his pupils dilated, or is one pupil enlarged? These signs would indicate pressure on the brain. Concussion may also develop and prompt medical assistance is vital.

There is no first-aid treatment, other than to watch carefully for symptoms and get the casualty to hospital or medical aid as quickly as possible.

Back injuries are very serious, particularly if they involve the spine. The spine is the bony tunnel which protects the spinal cord. This cord relays messages to the body from the brain and if that cord is cut, total and irreversible paralysis below the break is almost inevitable.

As with all breaks, immobility is the answer. If someone has a very bad fall, do not pick him up. Leave him and see if he can get up by himself.

All ‘back injuries‘ should be treated as suspected spine injuries. It is far better to be sure than sorry. Keep the casualty flat, and unless he is in real danger where he is, say from a rock fall, do not move him. Send for help, stating that a back injury is probable. This will enable the rescue party to bring the appropriate equipment.

If you must move the casualty, keep him as straight and flat as possible, rolling him over like a log. Above all do not bend his spine, and personally, I would be most reluctant to move anyone with a suspected spine injury.

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