PADDLER 26
ABOUT CORY JONES
PADDLER 26
WELFARE FOR THE WHOLE GROUP
A first aid incident affects more than just the casualty. Check that the rest of the group is physically and emotionally ok. Offer food, water and warm layers. Address morale as well as injuries. A hot drink or snack can go a long way.
Encourage everyone to stay alert. Fatigue, cold and hunger can cloud judgment and increase risk. Take breaks, share loads, and rotate towing where possible.
And don’ t forget to check in with your own physical and mental state once the casualty is stable. First responders who fail to eat, hydrate or rest become casualties too.
After the incident, check in with the group members to ensure they are ok. Post-traumatic stress can often be minimised if a situation has been discussed openly by the group after the event.
BE YOUR OWN BACKUP
When paddling far from help, your group must act as its emergency response team. Recognising the slowerdeveloping threats like hypothermia, dehydration and friction injuries – and being ready to treat them – builds resilience and safety into every journey.
Invest in a practical outdoor or wilderness first aid course. Practice with your actual gear. Review your emergency plans. Gain confidence from thorough preparation.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
The water is unpredictable. But your response doesn’ t have to be. Assessing casualties, managing wounds and injuries and deciding when to call for help are skills any paddler can learn.
This is just the first part of a series of three articles on being first aid prepared, covering how to assess a casualty and basic casualty management. In parts two and three, we cover how to deal with specific injuries.
To download a free copy of our Outdoor First Aid manual, follow this link: https:// firstaidtrainingcooperative. co. uk / download-your-free-digital-first-aid-manual /
ABOUT CORY JONES
Cory is an experienced outdoor educator, expedition leader, and Director of both the First Aid Training Co-operative and Highland Experiences Ltd. With over 25 years of working across the UK and internationally, he specialises in first aid training for remote environments and is also a mental health first aid trainer. A seasoned paddler, Cory is a Paddle UK Endorsed guide. He has guided sea kayaking and canoe trips in Scotland, Canada, Baja and East Africa.
Cory is also a regular contributor to Wee Wild Adventures, where he blogs about paddling journeys, remote travel, and practical field skills for outdoor enthusiasts.