In February 2010, Wilderness Medical Consultants travelled to Fort Providence, NWT, to teach Wilderness First Aid to outdoor education teachers and students. Many of us think of wilderness activities to include hiking, backcountry skiing and camping. To this group, their town of Fort Providence was the definition of Wilderness, “More than one hour from definitive medical care”. The town is located 3 hours south of Yellowknife and has a population of just over 700.
Popular activities in this community include ice fishing, snowmobiling, trapping, logging and hunting. It is common for individuals to travel long distances from town in the winter to engage in these activities so our focus for this group revolved around cold management and evacuation strategies. Medical tape doesn’t have the same adhesive properties in -30C as it does at room temperature and managing wounds outside with thick outer clothing proved to be a challenge. The group perfected the skill of working efficiently to ensure that wounds were given the proper first aid and their patient did not experience hypothermia.
Student Comments From the Course
“Thank you so much John and Shelley. No kidding, this is the best course I’ve ever taken. This course was educational, fun, exciting and memorable. I feel so much more confident as a leader in a first aid situation.” Teacher from Fort Simpson
“Honestly, it was all done professionally, the best first aid course I have taken” Teacher from Fort Providence
TIPS for First Aid in Cold Weather Environments
1. For cuts on fingers try using sterile gauze and a finger condoms. Finger condoms are made from latex and roll over your finger to secure the gauze in place. Band-Aids may not stick in cold weather and tape can be too constrictive, leading to increased risk of frostbite.
2. Check for frost nip regularly. Pick a buddy and have them check you for any signs of frost nip on your face and ears. These areas often go unchecked and could lead to frostbite if unattended. If you have frost nip warm the area until the discolouration is gone. Often an ungloved hand can warm the area quickly but be careful not to leave your glove off for too long.
3. For mountaineers you may recall a time when your hand that was gripping your mountaineering axe got extremely cold. The metal from the head of the ice axe can quickly absorb large amounts of heat from your hands, even through the warmest gloves. To limit this heat loss, cut a 10cm square of closed cell foam and drape it over the top of your tool. Use athletic tape to secure the foam in place. If placed in position properly it should not interfere with the function of the axe.
“Thank you so much John and Shelley. No kidding, this is the best course I’ve ever taken. This course was educational, fun, exciting and memorable. I feel so much more confident as a leader in a first aid situation.” Teacher from Fort Simpson
“Honestly, it was all done professionally, the best first aid course I have taken” Teacher from Fort Providence
TIPS for First Aid in Cold Weather Environments
1. For cuts on fingers try using sterile gauze and a finger condoms. Finger condoms are made from latex and roll over your finger to secure the gauze in place. Band-Aids may not stick in cold weather and tape can be too constrictive, leading to increased risk of frostbite.
2. Check for frost nip regularly. Pick a buddy and have them check you for any signs of frost nip on your face and ears. These areas often go unchecked and could lead to frostbite if unattended. If you have frost nip warm the area until the discolouration is gone. Often an ungloved hand can warm the area quickly but be careful not to leave your glove off for too long.
3. For mountaineers you may recall a time when your hand that was gripping your mountaineering axe got extremely cold. The metal from the head of the ice axe can quickly absorb large amounts of heat from your hands, even through the warmest gloves. To limit this heat loss, cut a 10cm square of closed cell foam and drape it over the top of your tool. Use athletic tape to secure the foam in place. If placed in position properly it should not interfere with the function of the axe.
