I’ll be honest, running out of my house, hands full of gear, the last thing on my mind is grabbing a first aid kit. There are a lot of things on the check list and first aid falls low on it. Whether it is mountain biking, backcountry skiing, or climbing that day, it would probably be smart to have one if something did happen but a bulky, practically useless, box of bandaids and a thermometer wouldn’t help anyway. That is the problem, I am not Bear Grylls trying to live off the land and if bringing that extra Clif Bar takes up too much space, a bunch of band-aids are not going to make the cut. 

Since the 2008 financial crisis, private equity firms have increasingly taken over public services like emergency care and firefighting, often with dire effects...

Perhaps the most harmless looking creature on the planet, jellyfish make up for their puffy appearance and cloud-like demeanor with a fierce arsenal of pain...

Following two years of tragedy on Everest that saw climbing seasons cut short, a dedicated rescue team has been stationed on the mountain for the very first time...

We imagine a public medical emergency looking like a scenario from a CPR class video...

Last weekend, I joined REI and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) to obtain Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification. WFA certification requires 16 hours of instruction over the course of two days and includes both classroom and practical training. It was exhausting, daunting, and fun. It also reiterates that your best friend on the trail is common sense.

No matter how safe we intend to be, and how many precautions we take in our workshops, accidents will still occur. It’s inevitable. It’s why we keep our first aid kits stocked, and keep a phone handy...

Having a new dog who frequents the emergency vet has got me thinking a lot about how we respond to pet health crises. When a pet is bleeding...