Skill pillar
Field First Aid
Injuries turn survivable trips into emergencies. First aid skill is calm triage: life threats first, then stabilise, then plan evacuation.
Scenario
Remote trail; partner with deep calf laceration; two hours to trailhead.
Best first move: Bleeding control
Direct pressure and packing beat clever herbal folklore. Then decide: can they walk with help, or do you need to signal for rescue?
Why it matters
The PSR calculator treats first aid as a gating skill—because a broken ankle or heat stroke ends self-rescue fast.
Compare the methods, then open the one that fits your ground.
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Compare at a glance
Open a method for its materials, numbered steps, common mistakes and biome fit.
Bleeding controlSkill ladder
Honest self-check using the same levels as the calculator.
None
No first-aid training; freezes or makes unsafe interventions.
Basic
Can manage cuts, pressure dressings and call for help.
Proficient
Wilderness first aid certified; handles environmental illness and evacuation planning.
Expert
Advanced wilderness medicine experience; leads team medical decisions under stress.
FAQ
Should I drink alcohol for cold?
No. It increases heat loss and impairs judgement.
When do I use a tourniquet?
For life-threatening bleeding from an arm or leg—spurting, pooling or soaking through dressings—apply it early, ideally a manufactured one, 5–7 cm above the wound and not over a joint. Note the time, never loosen it, and get emergency care. A Stop the Bleed or wilderness first aid course teaches this hands-on.
Rate yourself
Take the PSR assessment and score this skill honestly.