News

When to Call for the Bird: A Go/No-Go Framework for Helicopter Evacuation
In a wilderness emergency, few decisions carry more weight than the call to request helicopter evacuation. Call too early and you burn resources for a walk-out. Wait too long and a stable patient becomes a critical one. This framework gives you a repeatable process for making that call with confidence. Why This Decision Is Hard Helicopter evacuation is fast, expensive, and not always possible. Weather, terrain, daylight, and aircraft availability all work against you. The pressure to "wait and see" is real — but so is the risk of a... Read more...
Common Homesteading Injuries and How to Handle Them
Homesteading comes with real injury risks — from cuts and burns to animal bites and heat exhaustion. Learn how to recognize and respond to the most common homestead injuries, and discover how wilderness first aid training can prepare you for emergencies far from help. Read more...
You Are Your Own First Responder
In an emergency, the most important person in the room is the one already there. When a car accident happens on a remote highway, when someone collapses on a hiking trail, when a coworker goes into cardiac arrest in the break room — the first person to respond isn't a paramedic. It's you. The bystander. The coworker. The hiking partner. The person who was already there when it happened. That's not a burden. That's an opportunity. The Gap Between "Help Is Coming" and Help Actually Arriving The average EMS response... Read more...
Splinting in the Wilderness: Principles and Techniques
A properly applied splint can mean the difference between a manageable evacuation and a worsening injury. Learn the core principles of wilderness splinting, what materials to use, and how to splint common injuries in the field. Read more...
Evacuation of Patient to Elevated Care
When Evacuation Becomes the Treatment In wilderness and remote settings, there comes a point where the most important intervention you can make is getting your patient out. Evacuation to elevated care — whether that's an urgent care clinic, emergency department, or trauma center — is itself a critical medical decision that requires planning, communication, and execution under pressure. Indications for Evacuation Not every injury or illness requires an immediate evacuation, but certain conditions demand it. Evacuate urgently when your patient presents with: Altered mental status or decreasing level of consciousness... Read more...
SMARCHE: The Trauma Algorithm Built for When It Matters Most
Breaking Down SMARCHE S — Scene Safety Before you approach any patient, assess the scene. Is the threat that caused the injury still active? Are you about to become a second casualty? No matter the environment — a car accident, an industrial site, a remote trail — a responder who goes down is a net loss. Confirm the scene is safe, or make it safe, before you move in. M — Massive Hemorrhage Uncontrolled external bleeding is the leading cause of preventable traumatic death. It kills in minutes. Address it... Read more...
When Seconds Count: How Trauma Medicine Differs Between Everyday Emergencies and the Wilderness
Every year, thousands of people die from traumatic injuries that were potentially survivable — not because help wasn't available, but because the right help wasn't available in time. In an urban setting, that window is measured in minutes. In the backcountry, it can stretch into hours or days. Understanding how the leading causes of traumatic death differ between everyday life and the wilderness — and how trauma medicine must adapt — is the foundation of wilderness medicine training. Top 10 Causes of Traumatic Death in Everyday Life In urban and... Read more...
Understanding the MIST Report in Wilderness Medicine
Learn how the MIST Report — Mechanism, Injuries, Signs & Symptoms, Treatment — is used in wilderness medicine to communicate critical patient information during handoffs. Read more...
DOTS: A Wilderness First Aid Assessment Tool
What Is DOTS? DOTS is a systematic physical assessment tool used in wilderness first aid to identify injuries and medical conditions during a head-to-toe patient exam. The acronym stands for: D — Deformities: Abnormal shapes, angulations, or asymmetry compared to the opposite side of the body. O — Open wounds: Cuts, lacerations, abrasions, punctures, or any break in the skin. T — Tenderness: Pain or discomfort when pressure is applied to a specific area. S — Swelling: Localized or generalized puffiness, which may indicate inflammation, fracture, or internal injury. Why... Read more...
The Dangers of Daily Life: Why First Aid Training Belongs at Home Too
Emergencies don't only happen in the wilderness — they happen in kitchens, workplaces, and backyards every day. Learn why first aid training is essential for everyone, everywhere. Read more...