MED 1.1 Personal Wellness

Objective

Identify the contents of a first aid kit and outdoor clothing types.

Need

You need to know this so you can correctly identify and use a first aid kit and properly select clothing for the outdoors for your safety.

Scope

Contents of a first aid kit
Outdoor clothing selection
Quiz

References

NZ Mountain Safety Council Manual
www.stjohn.org.nz
www.kathmandu.co.nz

Part 1: First aid Kits

When going on any outdoor activity you need to carry a basic first aid kit. This is for your safety and the safety of your team. A first aid kit allows you to be ready as a first aider for the most common medical emergencies.

These are the items you should have in a basic first aid kit.

Crepe bandage

Provides compression
Used for joint injury (RICE)

Triangular bandage cloth

Slings
Compression (doughnut)
Control Bleeding
Most versatile Bandage

Band-aids (6-10pcs)

Treat small cuts and scrapes

Non-adherent Sterile dressings

Doesn't stick to skin/wounds
More versatility
Cover wounds
Prevent further trauma
Protect from infection

Gauze dressings

Lighter than normal dressings
Used to clean or cover wounds

Sticking tape

Easily secure dressings to patient
Only certain types of tapes should be used
Medical tape, cloth tape or scotch tape is best
These are reasonably strong and can be torn with hands or small scissors
Do NOT use duct tape!

Safety pins

Secure dressings easily

Scissors

Small pair is most space efficient
Used to cut material such as bandages, dressings and tape

Disposable gloves

Prevent the spread of infection between patient and first aider

Pain relief

Paracetamol is most accessible

Antihistamine tablets

Provide relief for allergic reactions

Sunscreen

Helps prevent sunburn

Lip balm

Prevents dry lips

Disposable CPR face shield

Prevent the spread of infection during CPR

Insect repellent

Prevent insect bites when outdoors

Personal medication

If required, a backup supply should be kept in your first aid kit
In case your readily accessible supply runs out

Notebook and pen

Note down everything you can while treating patient
Healthcare professionals have a detailed history
Commentary available for any legal issues that may arise

Part 2: Clothing

When choosing clothing for any activity, the most important factor that you take into consideration should be your safety. Another factor is the functionality of the clothing; pockets and freedom of movement will all play a part in your clothing selection for any activity. As part of safety, the weather conditions will greatly affect what clothing you choose, with factors such as temperature and precipitation affecting your choice.

In this section, you can scroll through the image carousels on the left to view different examples of each clothing type.

Base Layer

Your next to skin layer
Takes sweat away from your body
Keeps you dry and comfortable
Regulates your temperature
Snug fitting for cold conditions, loose fitting for warm conditions
Merino wool, synthetics

The base layer (you might also know them as thermals) is your next-to-skin layer. Its function is to wick sweat away from your skin so you feel dry and comfortable — rather than cold and clammy — which is especially important when wearing layers in winter.

Base layer clothing also regulates body temperature. In cold conditions, a snug-fitting base layer will trap body heat and keep you warm, while in warmer conditions a loose-fitting base layer will allow air to freely circulate and keep you cool.

Mid Layer

Breathable layer
Traps in body heat to keep you warm
Wool and fleece

Layering clothes with a quality mid-layer keeps you warm by trapping body heat in its fibres.

Fabrics like wool and fleece are great for this and have the added bonus of being highly breathable, light and moisture-wicking. This means that it will continue to move moisture away from your base layer and keep you dry as you sweat. This is ideal when moving from the early morning during a hike to mid-morning when the sun starts to heat you up and you start to sweat.

Wool and fleece also have a great warmth-to-weight ratio, providing comfort without the bulk. A lightweight fleece makes an excellent hiking companion: it's light in your pack and will keep you warm on gusty summits.

Outer Layer

Protects you from wind and cold
Waterproof
Windproof
Lightweight
Durable

The outer layer is generally a lightweight jacket that provides excellent protection from wind, rain and snow.

The best outer-shell options are made from durable, waterproof and windproof fabrics:

GORE-TEX® jackets are treated with a durable water repellent that makes water bead up and roll off, ensuring maximum performance in extreme conditions.
NGX® jackets are waterproof, windproof and breathable; keeping you dry inside and out.
Softshell jackets are another great option that hold in body heat and allow vapour to escape.

Part 3: Test yourself

Complete this Kahoot! Quiz with your instructor during the lesson. If you cannot attend the lesson, attempt the quiz in your own time by this Friday evening (17 APR 2020).

Click here to access the quiz

End of Resource

Prepared by CDTF/S H Boucher

Page updated

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