Raven RSM – Medical Guide Resources
Below you find your online resources to go along with your Raven Medical Field Guide.
First Aid Kit Checklist
Build your own first aid kit from the ground up, using this checklist as a starting point.
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SOAP Notes
Add our SOAP Notes to your first aid kit to assist in your next wilderness first aid situation.
Subjective (summary), Objective (observations), Assessment, and Plan
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Emergency Medical Treatment Guidelines (ETG)
In wilderness and remote environments access to professional medical care is not always available. Under these austere situations, a sick or injured person may need medical care beyond what is considered traditional first aid.
With the safety of the ailing individual in mind, it is reasonable for an appropriately trained and certified caregiver to provide additional medical care to the patient in order to save a life, prevent further injury, and promote
recovery.
Allergic Reactions ETG
Allergic reactions are growing in frequency and severity. These reactions can range from a mild local reaction (limited swelling) to rapidly developing life threating problems of swollen airway and shock. Allergic reactions can be highly variable and challenging to predict or
anticipate. Care providers must monitor all patients for quickly changing signs and symptoms and treat as they develop.
Dislocation ETG
There are three dislocations that are included in the Raven Medical guideline: anterior shoulder, lateral patella and digits. The risk of complications is relatively low when reducing (returning to normal position) these dislocations. The patient experiences a significant decrease in pain and further injury if these injuries are reduced soon after the event. All other joint injuries should be treated as an unstable injury, immobilized and evacuated to medical care.
Download Cardiac and/or Respiratory Arrest ETG
Raven Medical training includes Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) instruction according to current standards of the Heart and Stroke foundation of Canada 2020. This guideline adapts those standards to meet the demands of a wilderness context. In the context of limited access to medical care, the goal is to balance a realistic patient outcome while minimizing unnecessary risks for the rescuers.
Download Asthma ETG
Asthma is a common respiratory condition that effects the lower airways. These allergic reactions (asthma attacks) can be acute or chronic and can have a wide range in severity. Triggers include cold air, exercise, allergens, infection, and/or stress.
Download Opioid Overdose ETG
Over the past few years there has been a significant increase in rate of accidental opioid overdoses. Recreational drugs are frequently being mixed with various substances including a broad range of opioids. The risk of unintentional overdose is much higher because of the unknown mixtures in recreational drugs. Consequently, the potential of encountering an opioid overdose is increasing as well.
Download Pain Management ETG
One of the first principle of first aid is to reduce suffering. Pain management is one of the main means to achieve this goal. Research has demonstrated that pre-hospital pain management has both short term and long-term benefits. In the short term the patient is more comfortable and can tolerate an evacuation over rough terrain much better. In the long-term, patients who receive pain management pre-hospital require less pain medication once in the hospital and in some studies have had shorter stays in the hospital because of early pain control.
Download Potential Spine Injury ETG
Over the past 10 to 20 years no other aspect of prehospital care has changed as much as spine management. Practices that were thought as the “gold standard” are now considered injurious and dangerous to the patient. This treatment guideline represents current understanding and consensus within the wilderness medical industry.
Download Wound and Hemorage ETG
Wound management is one of core responsibilities for a wilderness care provider. It is the most common procedure in first aid – handing out band-aids for scrapes and cuts. Although generally routine, managing a severe bleed or highly contaminated wound is life saving. This treatment guideline addresses the complex process of managing these two potentially lifethreatening
problems.