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Recent Posts
- L.L. Bean to offer Women’s-Only Wilderness First Aid February 15, 2013
- Scope of Practice: Wilderness First Aid (WFA) February 1, 2013
- WALS Offered During Whitewater Expedition in Hells Canyon January 30, 2013
- Lightning Strike Prevention: 7 Things to Remember August 20, 2012
- When To Use Tourniquets July 10, 2012
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David Johnson, MD
In addition to his writing, teaching, and business responsibilities with Wilderness Medical Associates, David (DJ) also works as an Emergency Physician at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine His outdoor pursuits have included wilderness canoeing in Canada, climbing and hiking in North and South America, coastal kayaking in the Georgia and Maine and blue water sailing around and across the Atlantic Ocean. DJ is passionate about curriculum development and teaching. His biggest challenge is to try and make apparently complicated concepts accessible and usable for people regardless of where they have to deliver care. DJ states that it is “…often more important to have clarity about the urgency and severity of a problem than it is to have a precise diagnosis. We need to understand what a patient does or does not have and whether or not it is a big deal.” His reward is the light bulb going on in students minds. When one can say “I’ve got it; I didn’t realize it would be so simple!”
When To Use Tourniquets
Tourniquets have a checkered history past and current combat in the SW Asian theaters has drawn new attention to them. Continue reading
Finding a Medical Advisor for your Outdoor Program
A medical advisor can and should be an integral part of your risk management team, not just the person who writes prescriptions for epinephrine. Functions could include review and advice on policies that have to do with safety, medical management … Continue reading
Tractions Splints in Wilderness Medicine
Femur fractures are serious injuries that usually occur as the result of significant forces. A full assessment, focusing on critical system problems and their stabilization is the crucial first step.
Effective stabilization of femur injuries will help alleviate pain and decrease the possibility of complications. I believe that either a vacuum splint or good padding in a stable carrying device does a good job of providing both.
Although there is no literature supporting their efficacy in the prehospital setting, a commercial traction splint can be a useful tool when applied by a skilled practitioner who receives periodic training on a particular device and/or uses it during rescues or EMS calls. They should not be left on for a prolonged period of time (e.g., greater than 2 hours) unless limb neurovascular integrity and splint tension can be monitored properly and regularly.
Regardless, these are painful injuries. All require the administration of analgesics. Continue reading
Q: Do you have a protocol for administering epinephrine in vials?
Creating protocols for administering epinephrine in vials and things to consider. Continue reading
Are Pulse Oximeters Useful for Diagnosing High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)?
Dr. Johnson’s thoughts on using pulse oximeters to diagnose High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE). Continue reading
CPR: When is Enough Enough?
If you heard about the man who survived a cardiac arrest by receiving 96 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), you might be wondering how I feel now about our position on when to discontinue CPR. Continue reading
Q: Is it standard to stop CPR after 30 minutes of cardiac arrest in the wilderness setting?
In the wilderness or remote setting, stop resuscitation if there is no pulse after performing 30 minutes of continuous CPR. Continue reading
Q: Can a group of field researchers trained in basic first aid be permitted to have an epipen in a first aid kit?
Q: Can a group of field researchers, certified in basic first aid, be allowed to have an epipen in a first aid kit at the location. There are no individuals with known allergies or prescription for epipen, but they will be in a remote location (2-6 hrs from emergency medical services. Continue reading
Q: What do you think about the King Airway and do you think Wilderness First Responders could/should be certified to use them?
Could/should Wilderness First Responders be certified to use the King Airway? Could be, yes; should be, no. The limited time available in a WFR course are better spent on more relevant and practical topics and skills. Continue reading
Q: Do you have suggestions on using case studies to continually refresh our Wilderness First Responder skills?
Suggestions on how to use case studies to continually refresh your WFR skills in-house. Continue reading
