Emergency Medical Skills Every Prepper Should Learn

Emergency medical skills can be beneficial for yourself or for saving someone else’s
life. Most of these skills are very basic, like using first aid med kits, while there is
some complex paramedic training involved which as well might be crucial for saving
someone's life. So, in this guide, we will explore the best emergency medical skills
that everyone should learn to deal with survival situations.

Top 10 Emergency Medical Skills Every Prepper Should Learn

1. Learn how to use the basic first-aid kit.

Knowing what's in your first aid kit and how to use it is very important. Bandages,
antiseptics and pain relievers are among the things that you should be familiar with.
These are necessary equipment in daily life so that you can treat minor injuries such
as cuts and scrapes to burns and stings with practice. Take time to go over your kit
regularly, making sure everything is up-to-date and working. Your first aid kid may not include everything you need in lifesaving situations, so get the pack stack bag to manage everything in one place inside your backpack without wasting any space.

2. Develop shock management skills and know how to react immediately

Shock, caused by insufficient blood circulation, must be dealt with right away. Learn to recognize its symptoms:

Pale skin
Rapid pulse beating to over 10 times a minute
Shallow breathing
Confusion

Lie away on your back and keep the patient warm. Don't give anything to eat or
drink. Call emergency services immediately if possible. Practicing regularly and
taking courses can boost your response capability.

3. Fracture and sprain management

Fractures and sprains are painful and leave the person unable to move. Learn to
apply splints or bandages to stabilize the afflicted region. If it is a fracture, keep the part as stationary as possible and get medical help. For sprains, remember to implement the RICE principle: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Distinguishing between a fracture and a sprain is crucial to good care during emergencies.

4. Wound management

Wound management is a necessary skill since a simple wound can spread further if left untreated. Deep wounds may require pressure to stop any bleeding and cleaning to prevent infection or even trips to the doctor. Know how to detect symptoms of infection, such as redness, swelling, and pus. Knowing how to use suitable bandages or dressings and when to see a doctor for further care is very important. While treating wounds, it is crucial to protect them from insects and germs. So, if you don’t have anything to cover them, you can repair your clothes with NOSO patches for a quick and easy fix.

5. CPR

In emergencies like cardiac arrest, CPR works as a lifesaving technique. If you have paramedic training, learn the correct hand placement and depth of chest
compressions. Learn proper mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, if possible, to perform it. Such practice on dummies, as well as taking certified courses, will help ensure readiness for CPR in real-life situations. Also, don't forget that immediate CPR can double or even triple the chances of survival.

6. Life Support Beyond CPR

CPR isn't all there is to basic life support. Basic Life Support includes airway
management, manual ventilation and the use of automated external defibrillators
(AEDs). Paramedic training courses teach how to deal with choking, loss of
consciousness and respiratory arrest. Many emergencies require BLS skills. If professional medical help is delayed or you are first on the scene, you can maintain a patient's basic life functions until more qualified assistance arrives.

7. Burn and cold burn treatment

Giving prompt treatment can prevent serious damage from burns. In case of
thermal burns, place the area under running water. If possible, cover with sterile,
non-adhesive bandages and treat pain. As for frostbite (cold burns), slowly warm
the affected area, but don't rub it. Both could become serious if not quickly treated. Knowing how to distinguish the degrees of burns and frostbite severity is important for proper care

8. Managing extreme weather effects like heat stroke and hypothermia

Knowing how to deal with the effects of extreme weather is necessary. High body
temperature, red mental state, and nausea are all symptoms of heat stroke.
Take the person to a cooler spot, bring them down in temperature and call for
medical assistance. Shivering, slurred speech and slow breathing are signs of hypothermia. Gradually warm the person and seek immediate medical attention. A timely, appropriate response is life or death for the person going through either of these situations.

9. Clean hydration management

Safe water and normal fluid intake are both important to one's health, especially in emergencies. Adequate hydration management is key for health. So, learn some purification methods, such as boiling, chemical treatment or filtration. Understand the signs and prevention of dehydration by making sure to have a
regular clean water supply for drinking and cooking. This is knowledge critical to
health, especially when ordinary water sources are disrupted.

10. Hygiene and disease prevention skills

Disease prevention requires good hygiene practices, which are most urgently
needed in crowded or unsanitary circumstances. You must learn how to wash your hands properly and remove germs, as well as sanitation methods. Knowing how diseases are spread and taking isolation measures for infectious illnesses can avoid outbreaks. Overall, health safety is increased by medical education for everyone in the family. Keeping your knives clean is also a part of hygiene and disease prevention, and Wicked Wax can prevent corrosion on knives and protect multiple materials from external contamination.

Final Thoughts

Paramedic training and medical education to a certain level is vital for everyone,
whether you have a medical background or not. It is because some individuals don’t even know how to use first aid med kits. Hence, learning these emergency medical skills will prepare them to deal with any situation that life puts them through. When you learn these as a prepper, you not only become able to save your life, but you can save others as well.

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