As someone deeply involved in outdoor activities, I’ve always had a strong sense of responsibility for ensuring safety during adventures. But until recently, I had never thought much about medical emergencies beyond the obvious—do a basic bandage, take the injured person to a doctor, or the hospital. My recent experience with a Wilderness First Responder course in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, changed all that, and I can confidently say it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. Beyond being fascinating, it opened my eyes to the vital importance of wilderness first aid. It’s something every citizen should know about.
In an environment with no easy access to immediate medical care, be it the mountains, forests, or an isolated area in the city, time and self-sufficiency are critical during emergencies. Wilderness first aid (WFA) equips you with the skills to handle injuries or medical conditions when access to professional care is delayed. It’s more than just dressing wounds or applying bandages; it’s about knowing how to assess, stabilise, and even improvise solutions with limited resources.
One of the key aspects of wilderness first response is managing immediate emergencies like broken bones, severe cuts, allergic reactions, or dehydration. For example, if someone experiences a serious fall while hiking, knowing how to stabilise them before professional help arrives can make a significant difference in the person’s recovery. For instance, in the recent Sahastra Tal accident that claimed the lives of nine trekkers, if the guides and trek leader had been trained in wilderness first response, they could have saved a few trekkers who died due to hypothermia, a condition where the core body temperature falls below 35 degrees Celsius, causing a quick death.
In such scenarios, the first few minutes are often the most critical, and the ability to manage a situation until a higher level of care can be accessed is what makes wilderness first response so valuable.
This type of training also promotes a mindset shift. I never had much of an interest in medicine, yet this course helped me understand how much of a difference knowledge can make when you’re in the wilderness. From learning how to recognise the signs of shock to training in the art of splinting an arm with whatever is on hand, and giving CPR, the course teaches you to think on your feet, assess situations calmly, and act decisively. These are invaluable skills, especially in the outdoors where conditions can change rapidly.
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A vital life skill
It’s not just about adventure sports, though. Wilderness first aid and first response courses have applications in our day-to-day lives as well. Whether you are on a road trip or live in a rural area or in a place where emergency services may take time to arrive, being able to address a medical emergency effectively before getting professional help is a skill everyone should have.
This training helps when the emergency is at least an hour away from you. Imagine being able to keep your loved ones safe during a hike, or even at a family picnic in a remote location. The wilderness first aid or first response training empowers you to take control, remain calm, and provide help when it’s most needed. It’s about learning to prevent further harm and helping someone survive until they can be taken to a doctor or hospital. Every one of us can be that first responder, and I strongly believe we all should be.
Wilderness first aid is considered a vital life skill in many Western countries, which highlights its significance beyond outdoor activities. In nations like Germany, Denmark, and Brazil, WFA knowledge is a prerequisite for obtaining a driving licence, emphasising its importance in daily life. This requirement reflects the role drivers often play as first responders in accidents in rural or remote regions, providing essential care before medical professionals arrive.
In Germany, drivers must complete an eight-hour basic first aid course, while certain professions such as teachers and truck drivers require a more extensive 16-hour course with biennial recertification. Additionally, companies typically train about 10 per cent of their workforce in first aid. WFA training helps individuals handle emergencies like injuries and shock effectively, particularly where medical help is delayed.
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Managing emergencies
By integrating WFA into the driving licence process, these countries boost individual readiness and community safety, ensuring a wider ability to manage emergencies effectively. In India too, the International Road Federation (IRF) had suggested the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in 2015 to make first aid training mandatory for obtaining a driving licence in India, especially for truck drivers and drivers of heavy commercial vehicles.
The goal was to equip more people with first aid and trauma care knowledge, which will help lower fatalities and injuries due to road accidents. However, the suggested rule does not seem to have been implemented on a large scale, with the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 having no mention of it. The IRF is, however, understood to be conducting Enhanced First Aid (eFD) training for drivers of commercial Vehicles since 2016.
The imperative for India to integrate wilderness first aid training within its public education framework is a clarion call to enhance national emergency preparedness. Institutionalising this training across the educational spectrum will empower citizens of all ages and professions, and not just those in specific careers requiring such skills. This proactive strategy serves to bolster individual competence in managing emergency scenarios, thereby elevating the collective safety and resilience of communities throughout the nation. Such an initiative ensures that every individual is not only prepared to face personal crises but also poised to contribute effectively to communal safety efforts.
Extending WFA education to a wide demographic equips Indians with essential skills to administer immediate care in urgent situations, whether they are in densely populated urban centres or isolated and remote rural locales. This educational push transforms ordinary citizens into pivotal assets during emergencies, fostering a robust culture of preparedness that is critical in a country frequently confronting various natural and man-made calamities.
Moreover, with three levels of certification available—Wilderness First Aid (WFA-Basic), Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA), and the intensive nine-day Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course—Indians have the opportunity to become internationally certified, enhancing their capabilities and readiness. These skills are more than educational credentials; they are vital life-saving tools that every individual can and should acquire. As an advocate for safety and preparedness in the outdoors, I passionately encourage everyone to pursue at least basic wilderness first aid training—it’s not just learning, it’s preparing to make a difference when it truly counts.
Anusha Subramanian is an independent journalist, mountaineer, and entrepreneur who has been writing specifically about adventure and mountaineering for over a decade. She posts under @sanushas. Views are personal.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)