Running Head: WFR ASSIGNMENT ONE 1

Wilderness First Aid Scenarios

Algonquin College

Jay Bilton
WFR ASSIGNMENT ONE 2

Circulatory/ Respiratory Emergencies

Patient #1
 Who is my patient? A 45 year old female on a hiking trip.
 What happened to them? Had to sit down during the hiking trip.
 What is wrong with them? Feeling like they have a cold, experiencing pain in her jaw,
can’t catch breath, anxious/scared, slightly higher blood pressure.
 Why are you worried? Symptoms point to a possible heart attack.
 What do you need? Have the PT sit, with knees raised and lean them against a tree. Talk
to them the whole time to keep them calm. Do not allow the PT to walk. Loosen any tight
clothing they may be wearing and inquire as to whether they take any chest pain
medications. PT is still conscious and can be given one adult aspirin (crush or have PT
chew it before swallowing it down). Monitor their breathing, if at any point PT stops
breathing begin CPR. Seek medical assistance ASAP. PT can not walk so either use a
litter on hand or create a makeshift one from materials available and call carry them to
the trailhead for an ambulance or call for a helicopter.
 Additional Information: Levothoroxin (hypothyroid), Advil cold and Flu medication
taken

Patient #2
 Who is my patient? A 65 year old female.
 What happened to them? Dropped binoculars and then fell over attempting to pick them
back up.
 What is wrong? Doesn’t feel right, can’t stand up, says strange things, struggles to get the
right words out, increased pulse and respiration.
 Why are you worried? PT is incohesive and seems to be having a stroke, slightly
increased pulse and respiration.
 What do you need? Monitor PT’s breathing and begin CPR if they stop. Position PT on
her back with head and shoulders slightly raised. Loosen any tight or constricting
clothing. Be prepared to turn PT onto her side under the circumstance that any vomit or
drool needs to drain. If she is unresponsive but breathing she can be rolled onto her side.
Seek medical assistance ASAP.
 Additional information: PT takes Naproxin for arthritis and celexa for depression.

Patient #3
 Who is my patient? A 19 year old female.
 What happened to them? Hiking steep trail on narrow path and had to sit down.
 What is wrong? Pt is feeling dizzy, experiencing shortness of breath, and have an
irregular BP, and pulse/ respiration have increased.
 Why are you worried? Strong likelihood that PT is experiencing an asthma attack.
WFR ASSIGNMENT ONE 3

 What do you need? Place PT in an upright position, leaning slightly forward. Monitor
respiration. Inquire about any asthmatic medications they may take. Help PT use quick-
relief inhaler. Shake the inhaler several times, remove the cap and apply the spacer if
there is one. Holding the inhaler upright, tell PT to place their lips around the inhaler or
spacer. As the victim breathes in slowly and deeply, depress the inhaler to release the
medication. If using spacer, press down on the inhaler and then wait five seconds before
breathing in. Tell the PT to hold their breath for at least ten seconds before breathing out
slowly. Seek additional medical assistance if there is no improvement in condition,
repeated attacks occur, if there is no inhaler to use, or there is a severe and prolonged
attack. Best mode of transport in this situation is likely helicopter.
 Additional information: They take Advair for their Asthma

Patient #4
 Who is my patient? A 50 year old male.
 What happened to them? His legs gave out while hunting and though uninjured could not
get back up.
 What is wrong? He is short of breath, experiencing tingling and spasms in his legs
 Why are you worried? Pulse decrease, increase in respiration, and a high BP. Possibly
experiencing an aortic aneurism. If this is the case then the inability to use his legs may
be a result of blood clots.
 What do you need? Check over PT for abdominal mass. Call for medical assistance
ASAP. Get a helicopter, any ambulance or time used to create a litter to carry the patient
with will waste what little time they have. While you wait; monitor their vital signs, treat
for shock- elevate legs and maintain body heat. If unresponsive or vomiting, place on
side. Do not give them food or drink.
 Additional information: Tobacco smoker

Patient #5
 Who is the patient? A 20 year old.
 What happened to them? Fell off of horse in Monument Valley.
 What is wrong? Evidence of chest wall trauma, hurts for them to breathe.
 Why are you worried? Possible broken or bruised rib.
 What do you do? Help PT find a comfortable position. Stabilize chest by having PT hold
something soft against the area or placing arm on the injured side in a sling and binder if
necessary for pain control. Do not apply tight bandages around the chest. Give pain
medication. Have victim cough and take deep breathes, even if it hurts, a few times every
few hours to prevent pneumonia. Call for an ambulance and make your way to the nearest
road or trail head.
 Additional information: insulin dep, diabetes with insulin pump, advil for knee.
WFR ASSIGNMENT ONE 4

Patient # 6
 Who is the patient? A 26 year old.
 What happened to them? Fell while bouldering and landed on a rock.
 What’s wrong? Chest wall trauma, hurts to breathe and it’s only getting more difficult.
 Why are you worried? Pulse is decreasing quickly, respiration is very irregular (funky),
LOA changes. Possibility for pneumothorax.
 What do you do? Call for helicopter evacuation ASAP. Have PT avoid any movement
that will strain chest muscles. Perhaps provide manual aspiration if needed.
 Additional Information: Tagretol for seizure control, none for 6pm.

Neurological Emergencies

Patient #1
 Who is the patient? A 12 year old male
 What happened to them? Sitting in a mini terrain park (beginner bowl) after a fall. Starts
convulsing shortly thereafter.
 What’s wrong? Kid is convulsing, loses consciousness one minute into assessment.
Waked up again after a few seconds.
 Why are you worried? PT appears to be having seizures, pulse has dropped, respiration
has dropped, BP is irregular, PT momentarily lost consciousness.
 What do you do? Protect PT from injury, place something soft and flat under their head
(possibly your coat). Loosen any restrictive, tight clothing. Do not open or place anything
in PT’s mouth. Do not restrain PT. Roll PT on side to drain fluids. Kid has epilepsy and
insists he is okay. Call immediate medical assistance if the attack persists or if PT is slow
to recovery. Otherwise escort them to the first aid building on site.
 Additional information: Medical alert- epilepsy.

Patient # 2
 Who is my patient? A 32 year old woman, 300lbs.
 What happened to them? Had a mild asthma attack and used someone else’s
inhaler.
 What’s wrong? After 30min she began to feel dizzy, nauseous, and panicked.
 Why are you worried? BP has lowered significantly, wearing warm clothes in hot
weather while likely doing an activity she is not acclimated to. She’s panicking,
high chance of heat stroke, loses consciousness.
 What do you do? Move the PT from the hot environment to a cool, shaded area.
Remove clothing down to PT’s underwear. Cool PT quickly with any means
necessary. Spray PT with cool water from the river and use a fan if one is
WFR ASSIGNMENT ONE 5

available. Apply cool, wet sheets or some type of cloth after dunking them in the
river. If at all possible, immerse PT’s body in the river (this option might not be
viable as the PT is very heavy). Do not give aspirin or acetaminophen as they are
ineffective in lowering the body’s temperature. Stop cooling when mental status
improves. Monitor the PT frequently because high temperatures can rise again
after cooling. Seek medical help ASAP. Check the trip plan for the closest
emergency services and evacuation method and use it.
 Additional information: 30 degree day and wearing wetsuit top

Patient #3
 Who is the patient? 19 year old male.
 What happened to them? Fell off ladder while painting.
 What’s wrong? Assessment reveals trauma, bleeding from nose/ears, loses consciousness.
 Why am I worried? Pulse lowered significantly, respiration increased then weird, BP
heightened and irregular, pupils blown out.
 What do you do? Don’t attempt to wake. Call for immediate helicopter transport, control
scene. Don’t move them and clear area in case they experience a seizure.

Patient #4
 Who is it? 15 year old.
 What happened to them? Fell off of trailer while loading a canoe for takeout 4pm. Fell on
butt then hit the back of their head on a rock.
 What’s wrong? Back of head pain, fatigue, nausea, squinting from the sun.
 Why are you worried? Likely a concussion, crabby complexion, history with
concussions.
 What do you do? Check if a neck injury exists or if the PT is unresponsive. PT is tired
and has a headache so call for immediate transport.
 Additional information: hot day, no lunch, later than expected. 3 previous concussions,
little water.

Patient #5
 Who is the patient? 60 year old.
 What happened to them? Headache for a couple of days now, no trauma.
 What is wrong? Headache is now severe and scary and PT is nauseous.
 Why are you worried? Erratic pulse, shallow breathing, BP slightly erratic, likely severe
migraine.
 What do you do? Give them some pain medication such as Tylenol, ibuprofen (advil),
ect. Have them lie down and maybe give them some sunglasses to wear. Place them in a
shaded area. Call for transport to ER.
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 Additional information: Takes Diovon (high blood pressure. For 6 years)

Patient #6
 Who is the patient? A 30 year old.
 What happened to them? They complained of a headache, not coming to dinner.
 What is wrong? Headache, crabby skin.
 Why are you worried? Possible hemorrhagic stroke, hasn’t come down for dinner.
 What do you do? Go check in on patient. If passed out call for helicopter or ambulance
assistance immediately.
 Additional information: Long second day of rafting trip, not used to exercise, no meds,
hx migraine.