Backcountry First Aid & Survival Kits, By Travis Bertrand

[prm]

I see this thread added to periodically with various anecdotal comments, so thought that I would add this bit of statistics also for people to consider when assessing risk and developing their own backcountry safety strategy and medical kit.

There are no doubt lots of cuts in the backcountry, but one thing that these statistics highlight is that people generally just aren't out dying from overwhelming hemorrhage while hiking/recreating in the backcountry away from cars, chainsaws, table saws, gang members, etc.

Although, bear attacks in the list below are at #11, so potentially significant hemorrhage plays a role in some of those deaths? It is probably pretty difficult to apply a tourniquet though with a grizzly standing on you and crushing your skull or punturing you lungs with its teeth.

2014 Backcountry Fatality Causes
Search:

Cause	Non-Park	National Park	State Park	Total	% of Total Deaths
Fall	39	21	23	83	39.15%
Avalanche	24	7	1	32	15.09%
Drowning	5	10	6	21	9.91%
Heart Attack	10	7	4	21	9.91%
Lost	8	2	2	12	5.66%
Unknown	5	2	2	9	4.25%
Natural Causes	2	2	3	7	3.30%
Hypothermia	5	1	1	7	3.30%
Heat Stroke	2	2	0	4	1.89%
Snowmobile Wreck	3	0	0	3	1.42%
Bear Attack	1	0	1	2	0.94%
Falling Tree	1	1	0	2	0.94%
Rock Fall	1	1	0	2	0.94%
Allergic Reaction	0	1	0	1	0.47%
Deyhdration	1	0	0	1	0.47%
Homicide	1	0	0	1	0.47%
Lightning	0	1	0	1	0.47%
Rolling Log	1	0	0	1	0.47%
Gastro Bleeding	0	1	0	1	0.47%
Diabetes	1	0	0	1	0.47%

Good stats, thanks. I guess you could say my walking sticks are directly related to number 1, especially with a loaded pack. I don’t consider a major cut particularly likely, but the consequence could be high so having a little something to help seems reasonable. I did stick a Havalon blade through my thumb when deboning an elk. Yes they are sharp!

 

[fwafwow]

I see this thread added to periodically with various anecdotal comments, so thought that I would add this bit of statistics also for people to consider when assessing risk and developing their own backcountry safety strategy and medical kit.

There are no doubt lots of cuts in the backcountry, but one thing that these statistics highlight is that people generally just aren't out dying from overwhelming hemorrhage while hiking/recreating in the backcountry away from cars, chainsaws, table saws, gang members, etc.

Although, bear attacks in the list below are at #11, so potentially significant hemorrhage plays a role in some of those deaths? It is probably pretty difficult to apply a tourniquet though with a grizzly standing on you and crushing your skull or punturing you lungs with its teeth.

2014 Backcountry Fatality Causes
Search:

Cause	Non-Park	National Park	State Park	Total	% of Total Deaths
Fall	39	21	23	83	39.15%
Avalanche	24	7	1	32	15.09%
Drowning	5	10	6	21	9.91%
Heart Attack	10	7	4	21	9.91%
Lost	8	2	2	12	5.66%
Unknown	5	2	2	9	4.25%
Natural Causes	2	2	3	7	3.30%
Hypothermia	5	1	1	7	3.30%
Heat Stroke	2	2	0	4	1.89%
Snowmobile Wreck	3	0	0	3	1.42%
Bear Attack	1	0	1	2	0.94%
Falling Tree	1	1	0	2	0.94%
Rock Fall	1	1	0	2	0.94%
Allergic Reaction	0	1	0	1	0.47%
Deyhdration	1	0	0	1	0.47%
Homicide	1	0	0	1	0.47%
Lightning	0	1	0	1	0.47%
Rolling Log	1	0	0	1	0.47%
Gastro Bleeding	0	1	0	1	0.47%
Diabetes	1	0	0	1	0.47%

Mike7 - additional information is always helpful. I guess some would look at these numbers and figure they won't need to include something in their kit for massive hemorrhaging. But if you include band-aids for little cuts (which are really just a nuisance, and could probably be handled with something else in one's pack), presumably the primary consideration is carrying additional weight for something more serious. FWIW, my trauma kit weighs 129g (CAT tourniquet and Zfold gauze), which is just a fraction of the 20.5oz of my pistol to ward off homicide from a two-legged foe - and I still think I'm more likely to flounder and impale myself on my own broadhead.

The stats include some other interesting very low-percentage outcomes that folks spend a lot of time talking about, and presumably packing weight preparing for - but if we stop debating 10mm vs 454 for bear protection, and backup water system components, what will be left to cover in those other forums?

Not questioning the numbers at all (my wife was convinced I would fall to my death in CO, so these prove her concern was valid) - just curious - what is the source of the stats?

 

[Mike7]

I don't carry bandaids either.

That data is from the article below and echoes other data that I have seen. Just search "backountry or wilderness with morrality, fatality, or death statistics".

This info is just something for people to consider when deciding what tools to have with them, and just shows the average for all people. Clearly, if a person knows that they will take additional risks in one area or the other like walking single file with mounted arrows/broadheads, then they should adjust their tools.

This weekend I almost broke my ankle trying to glissade with trekking poles instead of an ice axe...completely preventable. We were not anticipating snow fields, it was the fastest way down, and my son who weighs about 1/2 of what I weigh had just done it successfully and attained only about 1/2 the speed that I ultimately did.

The decisions we make are clearly our number one safety instrument, but most people take calculated risks on every backcountry trip.

2014 Backcountry Fatality Statistics - Outside By Nature Trip Reports

2014 Backcountry Fatality Statistics - Outside By Nature Trip Reports

outsidebynature.com

 

[Rickbomb96]

Good article thanks for posting.


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