If you work or spend time outdoors in the UK, there is a good chance your first aid training follows a familiar pattern: complete a two-day Outdoor First Aid course, renew it periodically, and carry on. 

 

For many people, that is entirely appropriate. A good Outdoor First Aid course provides practical training for incidents where help may not be immediately available and, importantly for professionals, can provide the recognised certification required by an employer or governing body. 

 

But what happens when you want to go further? 

 

My own journey started with Outdoor First Aid every three years. From there came Mountain Rescue Casualty Care and six years as a member of a Mountain Rescue team, followed by Wilderness Medical Training's Far From Help course to better prepare for trips abroad. 

 

Today, I work clinically in both NHS primary care and pre-hospital care, alongside teaching first aid and outdoor skills. Throughout that journey, I've maintained a particular interest in wilderness medicine: what happens when an incident occurs in a remote environment, resources are limited and professional help may be some considerable time away? 

 

That question is becoming increasingly relevant. 

 

More people are taking on challenging adventures independently, in small groups or as part of organised trips. For those travelling further or operating in more remote environments, self-reliance, confidence and capability can become an important part of being properly prepared. 

 

So, if the traditional two-day Outdoor First Aid course is the starting point, what comes next? 

All perfectly normal parts of being outdoors. 

 

Until something goes wrong. 

 

Burns and scalds are injuries we often associate with the kitchen or workplace, but they present a particular problem outdoors. You may be miles from help, carrying limited first aid equipment and, importantly, have a limited supply of clean water. 

 

So what should you actually do if someone is burned while camping, hiking or travelling in a remote environment? 

A slip on wet rock. A shin scraped against a pedal. A hand caught on a sharp branch. 

 

Cuts and grazes are some of the most common injuries we deal with outdoors. Most aren't particularly serious, but they have one thing in common: the outdoors is remarkably good at getting dirt into wounds. 

 

Mud, grit, vegetation and whatever was living on the rock you just landed on can all end up where you don't want them. 

 

So, how do you clean a wound properly when you're miles from a sink, bathroom or first aid room? 

 

Fortunately, you don't need an elaborate wound-cleaning kit. 

 

In many cases, one of the most useful things you're already carrying is simply clean drinking water. 

It’s only a quick walk. 

 

We know the route. We’ve done it dozens of times. 

 

We’re not going far. 

 

So, do you really need to carry a first aid kit? 

 

I’d argue yes. But probably not the enormous first aid kit you’re imagining.