Wilderness First Aid and Emergency Response Flashcards

In Wilderness First Aid, the patient assessment system (PAS) begins with scene size-up. What is the PRIMARY purpose of scene size-up before approaching a patient?

Answer: Ensuring the scene is safe for both rescuer and patient before entry

Scene safety is always evaluated before approaching. If the scene is not safe — due to falling rock, swift water, or a dangerous animal — rescuers who rush in become additional patients. Only after confirming safety does the responder move to patient contact.

A participant on a backcountry trip stops shivering despite being cold and wet, and becomes confused and lethargic. These signs indicate progression to:

Answer: Moderate-to-severe hypothermia — requiring aggressive warming and evacuation

Loss of shivering in a cold, wet patient combined with altered mental status signals moderate-to-severe hypothermia. The cessation of shivering is a dangerous sign — the body can no longer generate heat — and field rewarming plus urgent evacuation are required.

A student is stung by a bee and reports throat tightening, hives, and dizziness within minutes. The FIRST intervention by a trained outdoor educator with a prescribed auto-injector available should be:

Answer: Administer epinephrine via auto-injector into the outer mid-thigh and call for evacuation

Throat tightening, hives, and dizziness after a sting indicate anaphylaxis — a life-threatening allergic reaction. Epinephrine (not antihistamines) is the first-line emergency treatment; the outer mid-thigh is the standard injection site, and evacuation must begin immediately afterward.

When making a field evacuation decision using the WFA framework, which patient finding MOST clearly indicates the need for urgent (non-delayed) evacuation?

Answer: An altered level of consciousness that does not return to normal within minutes

Persistently altered mental status is a red-flag sign indicating potential serious head injury, severe systemic illness, or other life-threatening conditions. It requires urgent evacuation. The other findings are serious but manageable in the field.

The 'STOP' mnemonic used in outdoor emergency response stands for:

Answer: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan

STOP (Stop, Think, Observe, Plan) is a foundational decision-making framework taught in wilderness first aid and survival courses to prevent panic-driven mistakes. It slows the responder down to assess before acting.

A hiker develops a severe headache, nausea, and ataxia after ascending rapidly to 11,000 feet. The outdoor educator's BEST initial intervention is:

Answer: Descend to a lower elevation immediately, even if only 1,000–2,000 feet

Headache, nausea, and ataxia (loss of coordination) at altitude indicate Acute Mountain Sickness progressing toward High-Altitude Cerebral Edema. Descent is the definitive treatment; even 1,000–2,000 feet of descent can be life-saving and should not be delayed.