Video Preview - Disc Two

PREPARED TO SURVIVE

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BASIC FIRST AID
Your first priority in a survival situation is to treat any injuries the best you can with what you have and what you know. Stabilizing the injury will allow you to concentrate on getting out of the situation and minimize the distractions of medical problems. Wilderness or first-aid medical training will provide you with important skills that could save your life or that of a companion.

"First, do no harm" is the best approach to rendering medical assistance in a survival situation. Knowing the limitations of your abilities and situation can keep you from making the situation worse. Treat any injury as soon as you can. Minor problems can develop into major ones quickly.

When you are treating an injury or multiple injuries you should treat them in the following order of importance:
1. Restore and maintain breathing and/or heartbeat
2. Stop bleeding
3. Bandage wounds and burns
4. Repair bone fractures
5. Treat shock

Few pre-assembled first-aid kits will include everything you need. First-aid kits should be customized to the hazards specific to the area you will be in, the dangers of the activity you will be participating in, and your personal medical needs including prescriptions. The amount and type of materials you include has much to do with the training and experience of those on the trip. Remember that the person who knows the most, may be the injured person who can no longer answer questions about what to do. How far away you are from help and how fast it can get to you will also affect what to include in your first-aid kit.

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