"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see" - Henry David Thoreau

Blisters

Blisters are a common injury and can hamper a successful attempt to reach safety. Blisters occur when the harder surface skin starts to separate from the softer skin underneath. The warm and sweaty conditions inside our footwear while walking back to safety are conducive to the formation of blisters.

Upon noticing you have a blister wash the area and use an alcohol pad if available. Sterilize a sharp point with alcohol or a flame and lance the blister being careful not to stick yourself (or the patient). To help with this come upwards from the base of the blister towards its roof. Allow the blister to drain on its own or assist by applying gentle pressure. Leave as much of the skin as intact as possible to provide a protective cover over the inner layers of skin. Apply some antibiotic ointment and either your second skin blister pad or your moleskin donut to protect the area and you're ready to continue.

The saying "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure" is highly relevant in these circumstances. Ensure that your footwear fits properly. Consider applying a moleskin patch to the areas you feel are susceptible to blisters before you start moving to prevent them occurring in the first place. You'll travel a lot further and faster if you're not hobbling.

Burns

A burn is an injury to the skin or other tissue caused by thermal, chemical, electrical or ultraviolet radiation (sunburn). Open flames and scalding from boiling liquids are the leading causes of burn injuries and are potentially the two most likely causes of burns in a survival scenario.

Burns are categorized in degrees and range from 1 - 6. See the table below:

Most of us are only familiar with degrees 1 – 3 as these are the most common. These are the ones we'll focus on as afar as treatment goes. In all circumstances the first thing we need to do is separate the victim from the heat source.

First degree – hold the burn site under cool (not cold) running water or use a compress if running water isn't available. Cover with a clean cloth or sterile bandage as necessary. Apply a petroleum based ointment two or three times a day. Over the counter pain medicine can be taken as required.

Second degree – immerse in cool water for 10 – 15 minutes or use compresses if running water isn't available. Do not apply ice or break blisters. Cover the site loosely with a sterile, non-stick bandage. Do not apply ointments to the site. Consider the removal of items that might cause further complications should swelling occur – rings, watches etc.

Third degree – Cover the area loosely with a sterile bandage. Separate burned fingers or toes with dry sterile dressings. Do not soak in water or apply ointments due to the risk of infection.

Having the victim go into shock for 2^nd and more serious degree burns is an additional possibility. Lay them flat and elevate the legs approximately 12 inches. If possible, elevate the burn above the heart and cover them to keep them warm. More extensive medical attention should be sought at the earliest opportunity.

Depending on the severity of the injury, most people recover from burns without serious health consequences. It goes without saying that the more serious the burn, the greater the urgency for emergency medical care at a proper facility. In a survival situation, we have to do the best we can with the resources and knowledge we have.

Make some flash cards and play a game with the family so you can build knowledge together. Everyone needs to know what to do, we might be the victim needing treatment!

"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us" - Henry David Thoreau