Outdoor First Aid

A pounding skull can ruin a hike, unless treated properly.

Check out Christopher Tedeschi's author page.

Keep your cool in the backcountry—no matter how high the mercury climbs—with these key lessons from one of the hottest places on Earth.

Wildfire season is getting longer and more intense. What does that mean for backpackers who have to breathe the smoke it generates?

Knowing how to prevent and treat burns should be in every backpacker's toolkit.

Dogs can get hurt on the trail just like you. Here's how to treat 5 common problems.

Yes, it's time-consuming and expensive. But you don't want to be unprepared when a wilderness emergency strikes.

Irrigation is the most important step you can take to prevent a cut from going south.

For how dangerous the backcountry can be, it's sometimes the smallest accidents that become the biggest injuries. Stay safe with these tips.

Knowing how to help a scared hiking partner is as important as knowing how to tape an ankle.

Say goodbye to those irritating red rashes with these tips.

Tired of red, stinging blisters three miles into every ten-mile trek? Us too. That’s why we’ve brought together the best blister prevention tips and tricks for keeping you and your feet happy on any trip.

Burning fuel in confined spaces can lead to lethal carbon monoxide poisoning.

More than half of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers reported dealing with a bout diarrhea along the trail. Here's what you need to know to avoid the trots.

Cold injury can lead to disability or even gangrene and amputation. But advances in its treatment over the last few decades could be a big help.

There’s a lot of first aid advice out there, and take it from a doctor: Not all of it is good.

Getting ill on the trail happens, and it can be scary. Here's how to prevent sickness and ride it out when it happens.

Cervical spine injuries are serious, and immobilizing them has become gospel. But in the wilderness, where conditions can change in an instant, is it a waste of rescuers' time?

Poked, scratched, or worse: Getting a hurt eye on your hike can be a serious emergency.

No one wants a dental emergency in the backcountry. Learn how to avoid and deal with them.

A recent study suggests that chest compressions may be the most important skill for rescuers to deploy after a drowning.

Animal attacks are rare, but they do happen. Learning what to do after a run-in with wildlife could teach you a few things about how to handle any wilderness emergency

How to keep hiking when your ankle takes a turn for the worse. Plus, keeping them strong and trail-ready.

Hyponatremia, or water intoxication, isn’t a well-known hazard in the outdoors. But it’s more common than you think.

Cooling down an overheating patient in the backcountry is often an insurmountable challenge. Now, researchers are testing a strategy from the endurance sports world for use on the trail.

Little-known fact: The symptoms of chronic giardiasis can mimic gluten intolerance. How can hikers tell the difference?

Don't be fooled: Hypothermia can happen in the summer or the winter. Learn how to prevent and treat a dropping core body temp.

These moves will help you make an injury-free transition to lightweight hiking shoes without risking a sprain.

Learn how to treat the most common wilderness maladies with our guide to dealing with everything from bellyaches to broken bones.

Nature can be brutal. Learn how to to deal with wounds from all kinds of thorns, spines, splinters, shards, quills, needles, and anything else that might get under your skin when you’re on the trail.

You’re prepared to get yourself out of trouble in a survival situation. What about your dog?

Months on the trail can throw even the most prepared body out of whack. Follow these hard-earned tips from thru-hikers so these six common hiking injuries and illnesses don’t kill your trip.

Take this wilderness first aid quiz to assess your level of know-how.

Research finds little difference between survivors, control group.

Cool, clean, and treat with advice from Buck Tilton, Backpacker’s Medicine Man.

Two skills to take with you to the backcountry

Construct a solid emergency kit with these medical must-haves.

Be prepared for trips of all lengths with this first aid kit from REI.

Pro Tips: Boost Performance, Planning, Safety, and More

Yes, the views and fresh air and exercise make every backpacking trip worthwhile. But now, new research shows, staying home is just plain dumb. Learn why backpacking boosts brainpower in this exclusive report from the frontiers of environmental neuroscience.

A compact kit that provides you with the survival essentials you need while you're on the go.

Prevent six common adventure-travel risks.

Don't get sidelined by these common and painful foes. Fight back with these tips and tricks for preventing and treating any kind of hot spot problem.

Your body is a temple? Then your feet are the altar. Treat them right, and enjoy every hike from the first mile to the last.

Boost performance and be a better backpacker with these fitness- and strength-building moves from our experts.

Learn to decide when to walk out and when to stay put with a variety of backcountry medical ailments.

Learn how to tape a sprained ankle with this step-by-step guide.

New research reveals high levels of arsenic and cadmium in the mountain's snow and soil. Plus: Should you worry about similar pollution in North America's high country?

Test your skills—and possibly save some fingers—with this first-aid quiz.

Fight rough effects on your skin with this moisturizing climbing salve.

In a Utah mash-up of adventure racing and wilderness medicine, everyone wins.

Get all-day protection without the greasy white tint with this chemical-free sunscreen.

An all-natural sunscreen with bug repellant

Stop blisters in their tracks.

Though we love backcountry wildlife (well, mostly), sometimes we get no love back. Read up on what to do when Mother Nature bites.

Loosen up–and stay pain-free–with resistance stretching.

Soothe tooth pain with these helpful remedies.

Ugh. It's happened to us all. Here's how to handle a bad belly when you're away from far from home.

No wound, now matter how minor, should go ignored in the backcountry. Check out these quick tips to clean it up and keep trekking.

Add support and reduce swelling in 5 easy steps.

Learn how to improvise a splint with common backpacking gear.

From splinting a broken leg to duct taping a bloody wound, the BACKPACKER First Aid Center is an invaluable resource for backcountry first aid.

Stabilize an injured leg with a sleeping pad and a few T-shirts.

Here's how to stop the bleeding, close the wound, and prevent infection.

Three pack-friendly snacks that soothe tired, overworked muscles.

The secret to long-term health and fitness? Reap backpacking's many benefits–a strong heart, lean muscle, superior endurance–through every stage of your life. Here's how.

Have one of these three common health problems? Stay safe on the trail by taking sensible precautions.

Frostbite is bad news. Learn how to safely treat frozen feet.

Adventure racing isn't for those without high pain thresholds, but here's three ways to cut down on the inevitable hurt.

Don't let groundless phobias ruin–or even prevent–your backcountry adventures. Here's a foolproof plan for overcoming your terrors.

What to know about hiking with asthma

Should outdoor education be a top priority in public schools?

And other ways to prevent tick-borne infections

Will my vacation to a national park help them?

Check out Dougald McDonald's author page.

Stay cool with expert tips for boiler days.

To tell the difference between a bad bump and a life-threatening blow, follow these crucial steps.

Long-distance runner Russell Secker feels your foot pain–and he knows how to get rid of it.

You can't hike with a bum ticker–follow these heart-healthy strategies to stay on the trail longer.