In today’s podcast, Sarah examines the importance of adequate training in wilderness first aid skills. She speaks with expert Michael Crawford, an instructor at Slipstream Wilderness First Aid in Victoria, BC. Michael points out some of the differences between regular first aid and wilderness first aid. Anyone performing first aid on a patient in a wilderness setting will likely need to care for them for a longer period of time than in a city situation. It is also important to know and differentiate between which health issues need to be addressed immediately and those that can wait.

In the courses, he emphasizes the importance of prevention to avoid potential health risks. Michael advises outdoor leaders to teach participants a daily tick checking routine in order to reduce their risk of contracting Lyme disease. This training includes knowing what ticks look like at different stages of their life cycle and where they are more likely to attach on humans. 

Read more: show notes