Prep EM Wild

Prep EM Wild Emergency Docs + outdoorsmen. Med Kits & knowledge to keep you the asset not the liability

08/13/2026

Tourniquets: Life Over Limb

When blood is pumping fast and bright red, it’s arterial bleeding

Tourniquets save lives!!

Since the STOP THE BLEED® OFFICIAL initiative, countless lives — civilians, hunters, and first responders alike — have been saved!
Tourniquets aren’t risk-free.

Signs of Arterial Bleeding:
• Spurting or pulsing bright red blood
• Rapid soaking through dressings
• Blood loss that won’t slow with firm pressure
• Victim showing signs of shock (pale, cold, confused)

Time Matters:
< 2 hours: minimal tissue damage, reversible with proper care
2-4 hours: rising risk of nerve injury and muscle ischemia
>6 hours: high chance of permanent damage, compartment syndrome, or amputation

Apply it high and tight. Mark the time.
And get to advanced care as soon as possible.
You can fix a limb — you can’t fix dead.
Life over Limb

Be Ready! Stay Alive!

08/11/2026

A finger dislocation requires a calm, step wise approach.

Got this call from a buddy Tyler Vanderkolk Archery Country His son had injured his finger with obvious deformity. Walked him through it and he was successful at reducing. His boy was an absolute rockstar. Here’s what we discussed first. Great job Dr Tyler Vanderkolk

Prompt reduction can relieve pain and restore alignment.
First rule out red flags: an open wound, anatomical land marks to determine fracture, dislocation or both, numbness or tingling, pale finger representing compromised blood supply.

isolated injury with intact color and sensation. single gentle, controlled attempt may be appropriate. Use steady inline traction. Do not yank, twist, or force against resistance. If it does not align easily, splint and seek professional help.

After any intervention, reassess color, warmth, sensation, and movement. Protect the finger with a splint or buddy tape if stable, and obtain clinical evaluation and X-rays. This may keep you out in the field rather than evacuating early when you’ve waited all year for that hunting, hiking or camping trip.

Train before the emergency. Be an asset.

** this does not replace a patient/physician relationship

08/08/2026

Penetrating Neck Wounds

Mortality from penetrating neck trauma can reach up to 70% if major vessels are hit and bleeding isn’t controlled within minutes. Seconds matter.
• NEVER use a tourniquet on the neck. Be cautious with packing, don’t pack in to an open trachea occluding their airway.
Here’s what to do instead:
1) Direct Pressure - Hands on, control the bleed.
2) Pack the Wound - Use gauze or, if you’ve got it, WoundClot. Feel for the pulsating vessel and pack tightly beside it. Be cautious of packing in to the airway if there is trachea disruption.
3) Pressure Dressing - Place a thick gauze pad or
roll on top.
4) Secure It - Wrap an elastic bandage around the gauze pad and under the opposite axilla (armpit) to lock it down.
5) Evacuate - Get to emergency services ASAP.
If Jace (12) and Eily (12) can understand this, every adult outdoors has no excuse. Know the steps. Be the asset, not the liability.
Lives are saved by preparation, not panic.
Save this post and share it, you may save a life!!
Stay Prepared. Stay Wild.

07/24/2026

Amazing day spending time with Sydney Milani! Sadie McMullen Such a great experience seeing what team USA does day in and day out preparing for the Olympics.

07/24/2026

Hollywood has been teaching you how to die in the wilderness. Here are 3 myths that ER Doctors need you to unlearn right now.

❌ MYTH 1: Suck out the venom.
Cutting or sucking a snake bite does absolutely nothing except introduce bacteria and cause more tissue damage. The venom is already in your lymphatic system within seconds. Keep the patient calm, immobilize the limb below heart level, and evacuate immediately. Time is tissue.

❌ MYTH 2: Tourniquets cause amputation.
This outdated advice has cost lives. Modern tourniquets, applied correctly, can be left on for hours without causing permanent damage. If the bleeding is bright red and spurting — that’s arterial. Apply the tourniquet high and tight, note the time, and get them out. You cannot save a limb if the patient bleeds out in 3 minutes.

❌ MYTH 3: Alcohol warms you up.
That burning sensation from a flask of whiskey is your blood vessels dilating — pushing your core body heat to your skin where it escapes into the cold air faster. Alcohol accelerates hypothermia. What you actually need: dry insulating layers, a space blanket, and an external heat source.

The wilderness doesn’t forgive bad information. Train your mind. Equip your pack.

💾 Save this post before your next trip into the backcountry.
📲 Send this to your hunting partner, hiking buddy, or anyone who spends time off the grid.
👉 Follow PrepEM Wild for more ER-Doc wilderness medicine tactics.

You’re deep in the backcountry. An ATV rolls. Two people are down. One is screaming. One is silent.What do you do first?...
07/23/2026

You’re deep in the backcountry. An ATV rolls. Two people are down. One is screaming. One is silent.

What do you do first?

Most people freeze — or worse, rush in without thinking. Here’s what two board-certified ER Physicians want you to know before that moment ever comes.

Swipe through for the full breakdown on how to approach a multi-patient wilderness emergency. Save this post and share it with everyone in your crew before your next trip.

Because out here, the person who knows what to do is the difference between life and death.

07/13/2026

Musculoskeletal injuries are the most common emergency in the outdoors. This weeks blog breaks down how to tell a sprain from a strain from a fracture — and how carrying a splint can get you out of the backcountry without a full blown rescue mission.
“Get Educated” on the website is where you can find this article among many others to help you become the asset. Prepare safely. Respond Boldly

Carry the right gear to keep you and your group alive. Hemorrhage is the primary threat!!
06/18/2026

Carry the right gear to keep you and your group alive. Hemorrhage is the primary threat!!

06/14/2026

You are the first responder! Reality is when you call 911 it takes time for trained professionals to arrive. Be an asset while you wait for EMS arrival. Carry more than a generic IFAK. Carry gear that is built to save lives, stop the bleed capable, more than just bandaids. Without the right gear you are simply a bystander.

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