The most serious heat related illness is heat stroke. In simple terms, heat stroke is a breakdown of the cooling mechanisms of the body, induced by high body temperature. Someone who is experiencing heat stroke may stop sweating altogether and the skin will appear dry and hot. The pulse is usually strong but rapid. The person may have …
Health and safety should be your top priorities in any survival scenario. You must be aware of your body and address any issues immediately to avoid complications. One commonly overlooked skin issue is prickly heat rash. It is usually mild and goes away on its own. Still, it can lead to severe complications if you …
Heat Exhaustion is a serious state of heat illness. It is caused by low levels of body fluid and salts resulting from exposure to intense heat or the inability to adjust to heat. Heat exhaustion may or may not include collapse with or without consciousness. Symptoms include excessive sweating, cold clammy skin, normal or slightly …
What are heat cramps, exactly? Knowing what heat cramps are can enable you to save you from terrible pain as well as potential muscle tears and hospitalization. Heat cramps are muscle spasms that occur during exercise in environments that are really hot. Exercising in extreme heat is dangerous for this reason and more, as of …
Like frostbite, frostnip is associated with ice crystal formation in the tissues, but no tissue destruction occurs and the crystals dissolve as soon as the skin is warmed. Frostnip affects areas such as the earlobes, cheeks, nose, fingers, and toes. The skin turns pale and one experiences numbness or tingling in the affected part until warming …
When winter comes and temperatures drop, people who spend time outdoors can become incredibly susceptible to frostbite. However, with the proper identification and prevention strategies, you can keep yourself safe and healthy from the dangers of frostbite. But what does frostbite look like? Keep reading to learn what frostbite looks like, how to treat frostbite, …
When frost nipped skin isn’t warmed up, it’ll often develop into superficial frostbite. At this stage, the tissue under the skin has begun to freeze and will appear white and bloodless, although it will remain soft and pliable when you touch it. The affected part feels very cold and numb and may tingle, sting or ache. …
Fainting, also called syncope, is a sudden, brief / temporary loss of consciousness and posture caused by decreased blood flow to the brain. Fainting may have a variety of causes (just to name a few):Emotional stressHyperventilationLow blood sugarAnemiaCardiac problemsSevere painStanding up too fast Before fainting, you may experience:NauseaGiddinessExcessive sweatingDim visionRapid heartbeat or palpitations If you think …
Drowning is a scary scenario, both for victims and onlookers. If you encounter an active drowning scenario in the wild, you want to know how to save someone from drowning so you can safely and effectively intervene. Read on to learn the important things to bear in mind and the steps to rescue the victim …
Dehydration isn’t often a concern in our everyday lives—after all, most of us have access to potable water 24/7. But when you’re out exploring the wilderness, that situation can change very rapidly, especially if you find yourself stranded. When you end up lost or otherwise trapped in the wilderness, there are many health concerns to …
Exploring the wilderness is an exciting prospect for any outdoors enthusiast. Unfortunately, even when you take all the precautions possible, there’s always a risk of injury when you’re out hiking in the wild—you simply can’t control your surroundings. One such injury that can occur is crush syndrome. While this injury can’t be treated fully outside …
There are different methods of CPR, depending on the age of the victim. They are described as follows: Ask the victim, “Are you all right? Can you speak?” Shake the victim gently by the shoulders. Open airway using head tilt-chin lift. Place your upper hand on the victim’s forehead, pushing it back. Fingers on lower hand …
If you were with someone who had a heart attack or almost drowned, would you know what to do? If you know how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), you could save a life. CPR is an emergency procedure for people whose heart has stopped or is no longer breathing. It consists of • Rescue breathing, …
When it comes to survival situations, you’re likely more familiar with the dangers of sunburn. Overexposure to the sun can leave you with terribly painful skin irritation, potentially cause blisters, worsen dehydration, and more. But even if you’re hiking or camping in an area where the sun isn’t as much of a concern—particularly a cold …