Wilderness Medicine and Surgery: A Lifesaving Skill Set for Extreme Environments.
The Surgical clinics of North America · 2025-08-25 · Other / unclear
Abstract
Wilderness environments present unusual challenges when it comes to patient assessment and management. In the backcountry, initial patient assessment is best determined via 4 critical survey techniques: scene, primary, secondary, and ongoing. Once a patient's medical status is established through this 4-step approach, patient management is paramount. Guidelines for care in extreme environments involve unique situations. Adjusting assessment and management protocols in austere environments means knowing what to do when encountering off-the-beaten path scenarios, ranging from near-drowning to wound care (without sterile supplies). Here, we explore protocols and guidelines that translate into lifesaving skills and preparedness in wilderness medicine.