First Aid lessons from a concussion

Extreme sports and venturing out in the wild comes with its pleasures and rewards along with potential injuries. Meanwhile risk management is a priority for any outdoor enthusiast, first aid training is essential. Knowing some basics could make the difference between a tragedy and a story you will laugh about later on. Over the years of trekking, canoeing, snowboarding and working in the tourism industry I have seen many people get injured as well as hurting myself.

With my recent snowboard accident it made me rethink first aid and the power of the mind. I went in too fast into the terrain park’s x-large jump and this lead to my body spinning out of control 20 feet in the air and crashing on my hip and head. Unfortunately or fortunately I don’t remember much. My friends and Ski patrol rushed to my rescue and after some assessment and staring at my cracked helmet sent me to the hospital on a wheel chair. Interestingly enough, I was apparently walking and seemed coherent at first. But when I couldn’t remember my address and told them I was 6’3″ tall along with the first 2 hours being a blur it was clear that I had hit my head. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a concussion is very helpful along with monitoring the victim and any changes.

A few days confined to my bed and chair made me reflect on my first aid skills. It’s one thing reading about all those different injuries in a manual but experiencing them yourself is enlightening. Adrenaline and concussions are great pain inhibitors until you slowly come back to your senses. Make sure you do a good Primary and Secondary survey, especially when a head injury is involved. Aching from everywhere I did not even acknowledge my knee pain until late the next day. Turns out I had a damaged meniscus and no broken bones, just some hyper-extended muscles and sensitive bones.

With so many outdoor activities to choose from and wanting to push your limits, having a good understanding of at least a few basic first aid skills is key. Plus refreshing and testing those skills on a regular basic is super important. Run simulations with your friends and share your experiences, what was done right and what needs improvement. We can all learn from each others. Furthermore knowing that your adventure partners have some first aid training is comforting.

There are a few organizations such as Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance and SIRIUS wilderness medicine which offer anything from basic first aid training to advanced wilderness first aid. So pick a good course which suits your needs and adventure style.

Check out our videos on backcountry snowboarding.

Alex

Live Wildly Intrepid!

Carpe Diem