Mountaineering And Tropical First Aid Tips And Suggestions

Mountaineering And Tropical First Aid Tips And Suggestions

Embarking on a journey is an exciting time for anyone, especially when you look at the range of thrills to be had in Central America. The activities are simply awesome and the nature is stunning.

Danger can be only a second away - some of the most lethal creatures on Earth call Central America home. The coral snake is one example; one step out of line in the rainforest could go horribly wrong. Worrying would only spoil the excitement, so don't. Basic first aid and the tips below should help you to make the most of every moment, confident that you could deal with any emergency that may arise!

SNAKES: If one does bite you, don't panic. Snakebite kits aren't very effective so use this technique instead. Use a tourniquet to tie just above the bite as tight as you can, raise the limb if possible (if it's your arm for example) and get help. A medic can remove any venom in the wound, but the tourniquet would limit its ability to get into the blood stream.

CUTS: Any cut or scratch that breaks the skin should be covered immediately with a sterile dressing and betadine solution. Betadine is a surgical antiseptic and will kill any germs in the area before they get into your blood stream. A tiny scratch can just as easily become infected as a large one so treat them equally.

SPRAINS: If you twist your ankle or wrist when trekking or mountaineering, just strap it up as tightly as possible to immobilise it. Rest it for a couple of days and then you should be good to go. If you have Ibuprofen on hand, take one tablet three times a day for the first two to three days. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and will help reduce the swelling.

DEHYDRATION: If you become dehydrated, good old sugar water always works. A tablespoon of sugar in a glass of water will restore your body's natural balance in no time. Try drinking a glass every 30 to 40 minutes for one to two days.

INSECTS: Treat insect bites with insect bite cream if you have some. If not, seal the area by placing a sterile dressing over the bite and securing with tape until you can get to a medic. Use betadine to kill any bacteria if you do not have bite cream.

There is one golden rule of tropical first aid: if in doubt, see a medic! Every adventure should end on a high of excitement and exhilaration. A trip to the hospital can totally spoil your vacation so be sure to respect the dangers of nature. If you make note of the mountaineering and tropical first aid tips and suggestions above your travels should be problem and worry free!