The Woodsman's Journal Online

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Severe Weather Alert and Frostbite!©

Author’s note -- I hope that you enjoy learning from this resource! To help me to continue to provide valuable free content, please consider showing your appreciation by leaving a donation HERE. Thank you and Happy Trails!

We interrupt the regularly scheduled article, on improvised tourniquets, to bring you this important message on severe wintry weather!

What with the blast of arctic air that has made its way south, many parts of the lower 48 are colder than much of Alaska, today. So I called an audible and scrapped our planned article, to talk about severe cold and frostbite and what to do to avoid frostbite, and what it is, exactly anyways.

Three Stages of Frostbite

The three layers of skin, from outermost to innermost, are the epidermis, the protective layer, the dermis, the layer with connective tissue, hair, and glands, and the hypodermis or subcutaneous tissue, which is the innermost fatty layer. Together, they form the body's barrier against pathogens and UV light, regulate temperature and provide sensation, and deliver insulation and cushioning.

Your body responds to cold temperatures by constricting the blood vessels, this is called “vasoconstriction”. Blood flow is shunted away from the extremities to preserve flow to the vital internal organs in the body’s core. As the blood is sent away from hands and feet, they get colder and ice crystals may form in and destroy tissue.

Stage one, or frostnip, only affects the first, outermost layer of skin and there are usually no lasting effects. Your skin will be red and may swell, you might notice a painful, “pins and needles” sensation.

Chilblains and immersion foot ARE NOT frostbite. They are both a nonfreezing, cold injuries caused by exposure to cold and damp conditions above 32^oF (0^oC). Chilblains are inflamed, painful skin patches, which are red, bluish or purplish, may feel itchy, tender or painful, and may possibly blister. Immersion foot, once known as “trench foot”, results in severe numbness, edema (swelling), maceration and possibly blistering. Both conditions, most of the time, will heal without any treatment, other than drying and re-warming.

Stage two, your skin has frozen past its first layer into the second layer. It will begin to lose color, going from red to white and then to bluish, whitish -gray. At this stage, the tissues of your skin are freezing and you might notice swelling. Your skin might feel stiff or “waxy” when touched. You might also have the feeling of “heat” in the affected area. After rewarming blisters may form.

Stage three, all three layers of skin have frozen. Your skin may look blue and splotchy, and circulation affected area is blocked by clotting blood. Victims also commonly experience a loss of sensation and the malfunction of nearby muscles. Even after rewarming, there will likely be severe lasting effects, and frozen areas can become necrotic and gangrenous, with many victims developing dark, blood-filled blisters within the first 24 to 48 hours. Although rewarming is appropriate, it may not succeed in deep frostbite cases.

“an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure Benjamin Franklin, 1763”

Although many people don't always know or acknowledge the dangers, the risks of winter weather can be reduced or prevented with a little common sense.

The first step in preventing frostbite is to know the risks. Stay indoors and limit your time outside when it is very cold and windy, windchill is not a laughing matter. The National Weather Service has created a wind chill chart that shows the time it might take to develop frostbite at different temperatures and wind speed. If the temperature outside is 5^oF (-15^oC) with high winds, you can get frostbite within 30 minutes.

The second step in preventing frostbite is knowing whether you're at increased risk for developing it. People who have a higher risk of getting frostbite include:

· Infants or the elderly, who can't control body temperature as well

· People who are homeless, who work outdoors for extended periods or who enjoy winter sports

· Those who drink alcohol, or take certain medications that narrow blood vessels, or who smoke

· People with certain medical conditions that cause trouble with circulation (such as diabetes)

The third step is to dress for the weather. Layer your clothing, wear multiple thin layers of warm, loose-fitting clothing as insulation. Keep them dry and remove and replace any wet clothing as soon as possible. Cover your head, ears, nose, and face when you’re in windy conditions and freezing temperatures. Also avoiding poor circulation, ensure that your clothing is loose enough around your body to keep good blood flow. Clothing that protects your extremities and prevents frostbite, are:

· well-insulated, waterproof boots and layered socks for your feet.

· mittens for your hands; they provide better protection against very freezing weather than gloves, which are excellent inside layer for over-mittens

· a warm, weatherproof hat that covers your ears

Don’t forget to come back next week and read “Treating Frostbite at Home and in the Field”, before returning to “Improvised Tourniquets”.

I hope that you enjoy learning from this resource! To help me to continue to provide valuable free content, please consider showing your appreciation by leaving a donation HERE. Thank you and Happy Trails!

I hope that you continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me on YouTube at BandanaMan Productions for other related videos, HERE. Don’t forget to follow me on both The Woodsman’s Journal Online, HERE, and subscribe to BandanaMan Productions on YouTube. If you have questions, as always, feel free to leave a comment on either site. I announce new articles on Facebook at Eric Reynolds, on Instagram at bandanamanaproductions, and on VK at Eric Reynolds, so watch for me.

That is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!

Notes

Sources

Air Ministry, Arctic Survival PAM (AIR) 226, [The Air Ministry, 1953], pages 52 to 53

Alton, Joseph, MD.; “All About Hypothermia, Pt. 3: Frostbite/Immersion Foot”, January 4, 2025, [© 2026 Doom and Bloom], https://www.doomandbloom.net/all-about-hypothermia-pt-3-frostbite-immersion-foot/, accessed January 24, 2026

Coyne Survival Schools, “Understanding Frostbite”, November 14, 2022, https://www.californiasurvivaltraining.com/blog-news/frostbite, accessed January 24, 2026

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Severe Bleeding, STOP the Bleed – Tourniquets©

Author’s note – If you do not like gore, be warned due to the subject matter, some of the photos in this article are graphic, in fact they are purposefully gory, because emergency scenes are gruesome and you must be prepared for it. I hope that you enjoy learning from this resource!

To help me to continue to provide valuable free content, please consider showing your appreciation by leaving a donation HERE. Thank you and Happy Trails!

Hate to say it, but the way things are going, no one is ever safe all the time, everywhere. YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED!

Maybe you’re a first responder at a mass casualty event, a serious accident, or any other situation where there is severe bleeding, or maybe you’re the victim and there isn’t one around that can save you. Do you know how to save yourself and others?

Controlling severe bleeding from injuries to the arms and legs with a tourniquet can prevent a victim from bleeding out, but do you know when and how to use them?

Today there are many commercially available tourniquets designed to control bleeding, such as windlass, elastic, ratchet, and pneumatic tourniquets.

However, the windlass C-A-T® (Combat Application Tourniquet), is the fastest, safest, and most effective, it is a true one-handed, prehospital field tourniquet. It was adopted as the official tourniquet of the U.S. Army and was proven to be 100% effective by the U.S. Army’s Institute of Surgical Research at stopping severe extremity bleeding in the event of a traumatic wound and is frequently used by first responders and emergency medical services.

Using a C-A-T^® Tourniquet

Step 1: Assess the Scene

Always assess the scene. Is it safe for the rescuer to enter? You are no help to anyone if you rush into an unsafe situation, just become another victim.

Once you have assessed the situation and decided it is safe, here are the steps to follow while assessing the victim, follow these priorities:

C-Catastrophic bleeding

A- Airway, ensure it is clear

B-Breathing, check for normal breathing

C-Circulation, pulse and all other bleeding

Expose the wound and apply direct pressure, while assessing if the bleeding is catastrophic and immediately life-threatening. If immediate direct pressure and packing fails to control the bleeding, a tourniquet will be needed.

Gather emergency supplies and contact emergency services or ask someone nearby to call for medical help and gather supplies, while doing the basic assessment and applying immediate direct pressure.

DO NOT STOP applying immediate pressure to the wound hunt for supplies or call for help.

You will want...

• Windlass rod tourniquet

• Gloves

• Scissors (for cutting clothing away if necessary)

• Pen or marker (to note the time the tourniquet is applied)

Step 2: Applying the Windlass Rod Tourniquet

Follow these steps to correctly apply the C-A-T® windlass rod tourniquet:

A) Position and Adjust the Tourniquet

Wrap the tourniquet around the bleeding arm or leg approximately 2 to 3 inches above the bleeding wound. DO NOT place the tourniquet directly over a joint. If necessary, place the tourniquet above the joint to ensure effectiveness.

B) Position Manually tighten the Tourniquet

Pull the free end of the strap to make it as tight as possible. Once the tourniquet is as tight as possible, secure the free end in place.

C) Twist the Windlass Rod

Using the windlass rod, twist and wind it until the bleeding stops. This action will further tighten the tourniquet and will apply the necessary pressure to the wound to effectively stop the bleeding.

D) Secure the Windlass Rod

To keep the tourniquet tight and maintain the pressure on the bleeding injury, you must secure the windlass rod in place with the windlass clip and velcro strap if available.

E) Note the Time

It is important to record the time the tourniquet was applied.

The standard first aid practice to alert later medical professionals is to write a “T” or “TQ”, the time, and the location, such as “RA” for right arm or “LL” for left leg, on the patient's forehead.

Also write it on the tourniquet. This prevents missed tourniquets, because in chaotic situations, it’s easy to overlook one on a patient with multiple injuries. It helps to guide future treatment, as tourniquets left on for a prolonged time, over 2-6 hours, can cause permanent tissue damage, knowing the time is crucial for safe removal or conversion. Use a pen or marker to write the time on the tourniquet or on the victim.

A properly applied tourniquet IS painful; a casualty may require significant pain relief to apply the tourniquet to the appropriate pressure. DO NOT hesitate or be shy, pain can be treated death due to bleeding out, cannot!

Don’t forget to come back next week and read “Severe Bleeding, STOP the Bleed – Improvised Tourniquets Part Five©”.

Disclaimer: All content and media on The Woodsman’s Journal Online is created and published for informational/educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Use of the information on this site is AT YOUR OWN RISK, intended solely for self-help, in times of emergency, when medical help is not available, and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always consult with a medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment of injuries.

That is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!

Notes

Sources

Covey, D.C. and Gentchos, Christopher E. ; “Field tourniquets in an austere military environment: A prospective case series”, Injury, Volume 53, Issue 10, October 2022, Pages 3240 to 3247, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020138322005204, accessed January 17, 2026

Salchner, Hannah, MD, Et al.; “Arterial Occlusion Effectiveness of Space Blanket‒Improvised Tourniquets for the Remote Setting”, Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2023; Vol. 34, No. 3., pages 269 to 276, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1080603223000431?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=9bf1180be96941bb, accessed January 17, 2026

John F. Kragh, Jr., MD, Et al.; “Practical Use of Emergency Tourniquets to Stop Bleeding in Major Limb Trauma”, The Journal of TRAUMA Injury, Infection, and Critical Care, February Supplement, 2008, pages S38 to S50, https://learning-media.allogy.com/api/v1/pdf/9533415c-0a79-41ea-a624-a1e08ba56afe/contents, accessed January 17, 2026

Sunday, January 11, 2026

“Severe Bleeding, STOP the Bleed – Packing the Wound Part Three©”

I hope that you enjoy learning from this resource! To help me to continue to provide valuable free content, please consider showing your appreciation by leaving a donation HERE. Thank you and Happy Trails!

Severe bleeding, known in medical circles as ‘uncontrolled hemorrhage’, is the largest cause of preventable mortality in trauma. Remember that over 50% of all penetrating injury deaths are caused by exsanguination, or bleeding out, and that this happens when you lose more than 40% of your total blood volume, between 4 and 5 pints (2 to 2.4 liters). For adults with severe bleeding this can take anywhere between three to five minutes

Extremity bleeding is straightforward and usually responds to direct pressure and tourniquets, however wounds in the junctional areas, like the groin (inguinal region) and the armpit (axilla), are difficult. Bleeding in these areas is often deeper, and it is difficult to impossible to maintain the necessary direct pressure, and tourniquets can’t be used there.

Wound Packing 101

Medical experts recommend that direct pressure be used first for bleeding control, however when that is ineffective or impractical, such as in wounds of the junctional areas, they advise wound packing, with a hemostatic agent, should be used if hemostatic gauze is available.

Wound packing is the process of filling a wound with clean cloth material to control bleeding. This can be done with gauze, hemostatic gauze dressings or other types of emergency bandages. The purpose of wound packing is to apply direct pressure to the source of bleeding, helping to slow or stop the bleeding. This can be particularly useful in situations where compression bandages or tourniquets are not appropriate or available.

Wound packing is a crucial emergency first aid skill that can prevent a victim from bleeding out. In an emergency where advanced medical equipment is not always available, controlling bleeding through wound packing is a lifesaver.

Hemostatic dressings are specialized bandages containing agents like chitosan, kaolin or oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) that rapidly stop severe bleeding by accelerating the body's natural blood clotting process.

Wound packing by tightly stuffing or packing, deep or heavily bleeding wounds with gauze, either plain or hemostatic, stops bleeding by putting direct pressure onto the bleeding source. It is often followed by putting a compression dressing over the wound to maintain pressure until medical care is available.

Studies of combat wounds have shown that less than 25% of the wounds packed by combat medics were junctional injuries, the rest were wounds of the extremities, back and head. The study further showed that everywhere hemostatic gauze was used, there was an approximately 90% chance of successful hemorrhage control.

When and Where to Pack...

First, if there’s only minimal bleeding, then the wound doesn’t need packing. Wound packing is used in cases of severe bleeding from deep wounds of the extremities and junctional areas, such as the groin or armpit, where tourniquets can't be applied.

Direct pressure will usually suffice for bleeding neck wounds and aren’t packed, because of the risk of compromising the airway. And bleeding from a back wound will typically not be profuse and may be controlled with a simple pressure dressing, although in Israeli combat experience, wounds of the back can be packed successfully.

How to Pack a Wound

1) STOP THE BLEEDING, NOW! Apply immediate direct pressure to the wound, using gauze, clean cloth, your elbow, knee, whatever it takes to slow or stop the bleeding, until you have time to get out your wound packing supplies.

Expose and assess the wound by cutting away or removing enough clothing and scoop out pooled blood with your fingers or gauze, so that you can see the wound's depth and the location of the bleeding vessel.

Place your gloved fingers, either with or without, a dressing into the wound to apply direct pressure to the bleeding vein, artery, or both.

And remember, while applying direct pressure to the wound, you must also do a complete assessment of the victim, so that you don’t overlook other life-threatening injuries.

2) Pack the wound cavity with your fingers, push the material deep into the wound, filling the entire cavity, adding more material as needed, packing it tightly until the entire wound is full, stuffing the gauze towards the heart.

Applying as much pressure as possible to the bleeding vessel. The packing must be tight enough to put pressure on the bleeding vessel; this is what controls the bleeding.

That is why plain gauze or cloth, when tightly packed, is as effective as gauze impregnated with a hemostatic agent.

DON’T BE SHY! You will not harm the victim by deeply packing a wound, you can only help them. The biggest mistake in wound packing is being timid.

· When available use hemostatic gauze, otherwise use any clean cloth.

ü Hemostatic gauze which contains agents to accelerate clotting is preferred.

ü Plain gauze is also effective when packed tightly.

ü Any clean cloth, t-shirt strip or handkerchief is an acceptable substitute, if medical supplies aren't available, since stopping the bleeding is the main concern.

3) Apply pressure, using firm, continuous, direct pressure on the packed material for at least 3 to10 minutes to compress the damaged vessel.

· longer time is required for plain gauze; less time is needed for hemostatic gauze.

ü Important consideration -- don't stop applying continuous pressure until medical help takes over or the dressing is secure.

4) Apply a snug pressure dressing or bandage over the packed wound to secure it, maintain pressure, and free your hands.

5) After securing the packing, check to see if the bleeding has stopped.

If bleeding continues add more packing material if possible. If it is not possible to add more packing, you must decide whether to remove the hemostatic gauze and start over or simply apply as much direct pressure to the wound as possible and get the patient to a medical facility quickly. This decision should be during transport, DO NOT delay transport for extensive packing and repacking of the wound.

If it is an extremity wound, consider using a tourniquet.

6) Once bleeding is controlled, consider splinting or otherwise immobilizing the area to prevent the packing from being dislodged during transport.

Continue to monitor the wound and dressing during transport to a medical facility.

If a tourniquet is initially placed on an extremity wound, it may later be replaced with a pressure dressing or with packing, which may be more comfortable for the patient and will allow a moderate amount of distal circulation.

That is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!

Sources

Aggressive Medicine; “Wound Packing in Tactical Medicine: A Vital Skill for First Responders”, [© 2026, Aggressive Medicine], https://aggressivemedicine.com/en-us/blogs/news/wound-packing-in-tactical-medicine-a-vital-skill-for-first-responders, accessed January 7, 2026

Austin Texas Government; “Medical Directive 17-07 Wound Packing for Penetrating Junctional and Extremity Trauma”, https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Medical_Director/Medical_Directive_17-07_Wound_Packing_for_Penetrating_Junctional_and_Extremity_Trauma.pdf, accessed January 10, 2026

American Red Cross; “Bleeding, Life-Threating External”, © [2025 The American Red Cross], https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/resources/learn-first-aid/bleeding-life-threatening-external?srsltid=AfmBOoruukIMCkbnGCNWGd3QY5C2xHdip6lYe1NlsTuzRMF7j7trgnYI, accessed December 6, 2025

Bolleter, Scotty, BS, ET-P, Heightman, A.J., MPA, EMT-P, and Taillac, Peter P., MD, FACE; “Wound Packing Essentials for EMTs and Paramedics”, April 1, 2017, [© 2025 Clarion Events North America], https://www.jems.com/patient-care/emergency-trauma-care/wound-packing-essentials-for-emts-and-paramedics/, accessed January 7, 2026

Shertz, Mike, MD; “Clamshell Direct Pressure: A Simple, Hands-On Hemorrhage Control Technique When Tourniquets Aren’t Available”, [©2025 Crisis Medicine], https://www.crisis-medicine.com/clamshell-direct-pressure/?srsltid=AfmBOopsv8B-c8iZd8We8JIfkUlBULjWi5-BfPjislJqLFPq5I-rUtHC, accessed December 13, 2025

Vuković, Diane; “How to Treat and Pack a Bullet Wound in the Wilderness”, September 11, 2023, https://www.primalsurvivor.net/treat-gunshot-wound/, accessed December 6, 2025

About Me

I live near Buffalo, New York and have more than 25 years of experience in the outdoors. I enjoy being in the wilderness, paddling a canoe or exploring the woods, when I am not researching survival, woodcraft, camping skills or life on the Old Northwest Frontier of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. I am a published author and I have been a guide for Birchbark Expeditions and an Outdoor Skills trainer for the Boy Scouts since 2014. I am also a martial artist, having studied several different combat arts over the past 30 years. Currently, I am the author of The Woodsman’s Journal Online and BandanaMan Productions on YouTube.