What captivates us is the scenery, what delights us is travel. But you never know what might happen on the road—various dangers are inevitable during a trip. Therefore, learning some basic first aid knowledge is essential for travelers.
I. Physical Discomfort
● Diarrhea
Vomiting, diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain are often symptoms of acute gastroenteritis, primarily caused by consuming unclean food or water during travel. Oral medications such as berberine, norfloxacin, and furazolidone can be taken. Eating garlic may help prevent it.

● Food Poisoning
If you experience symptoms of food poisoning, immediately stop eating the suspected food and call emergency services right away.
Before the ambulance arrives, you can take self-rescue measures: 1) Induce vomiting: If poisoning has occurred recently and there is no obvious vomiting, stimulate the base of the tongue with your fingers or chopsticks to induce vomiting, or drink large amounts of warm water and repeatedly induce vomiting to reduce toxin absorption. If bloody fluid appears in the vomit, stop inducing vomiting as there may be bleeding in the digestive tract or throat. 2) Laxatives: If the poisonous food was consumed more than two hours ago and you are feeling relatively well, take a laxative to help expel the toxic substances from your body.

● Motion Sickness
Travelers prone to motion sickness should ensure they get enough sleep and avoid overeating on the day of departure. Take anti-motion sickness medications such as Dramamine or diphenhydramine half an hour before departure. It’s also best to sit in the middle of the vehicle, near a window, to avoid or reduce discomfort.

● Fainting
If someone suddenly faints, do not move them recklessly. Instead, lay them flat on their back with their head turned to one side to help vomit escape and prevent choking.
Loosen their belt and collar, and check their pulse and breathing. If the pulse and breathing are normal, use your thumb to stimulate the philtrum (the groove between the nose and upper lip) to help them regain consciousness. If breathing or heartbeat stops, immediately perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions.
● Nosebleed
For a nosebleed, apply a towel soaked in cold or ice water to the forehead, the bridge of the nose, or both sides of the neck. Alternatively, firmly insert clean cotton, gauze, or cloth into the nostril—adding a bit of adrenaline, ephedrine, or Yunnan Baiyao can help. Another method is to pinch the nostrils tightly with your thumb and index finger for about 5–10 minutes, all of which can help stop the bleeding.

II. Accidental Injuries
● Fire
In case of fire, never use elevators or jump from buildings. If your clothes catch fire, roll on the ground or smother the flames with thick clothing. If you must pass through thick smoke, wrap yourself in wet clothing, cover your mouth and nose, and crawl close to the ground along the wall. If the fire blocks the exit and you cannot escape, block the door gaps with wet clothes or quilts or pour water to cool the area while waiting for rescue. Use brightly colored clothing to signal rescuers.

● Venomous Snake Bite
If bitten by a venomous snake, stay calm and never run, as increased blood circulation will accelerate toxin absorption. Immediately tie a rope or belt tightly above the wound (closer to the heart), and loosen it every three minutes for one to two minutes to prevent limb necrosis. Use a sharp blade to make an incision or cross-shaped cut at the wound site and squeeze forcefully to expel the venom, then seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
● Foreign Object in the Eye
If a foreign object gets into your eye, immediately close your eyes and rotate them occasionally, or use your thumb and index finger to gently lift the upper eyelid several times—this will usually allow the object to be flushed out with tears. You can also flip the upper and lower eyelids outward with your fingers to locate the object, then use a handkerchief or cotton swab dampened with cold or warm water to remove it. Do not rub your eyes.

● Insect in the Ear
If a small insect flies into your ear, drip oil (such as vegetable oil or sesame oil) or warm or cold water into the ear to stun or immobilize the insect, restricting its movement, then go to a hospital to have it removed.
● Sprain and Cramp
If you suffer an acute sprain during travel, it’s best to stop moving and avoid massaging or applying heat to the affected area. Apply a cold compress for 20–30 minutes to reduce swelling and pain.
For cramps, gently stretch and massage the affected muscle, replenish fluids and salt, and rest until the discomfort subsides.

III. Getting Lost
If you lose your way during travel and don’t have a compass, use the following methods to determine direction:
1) Observe the trees around you: the side with lush branches and leaves faces south, while the sparser side faces north.

2) If there are tree stumps, examine their growth rings: the rings are wider on the southern side and narrower on the northern side.
3) Look at rocks, which are typically covered in moss on the northern side and dry and smooth on the southern side.

4) At night, locate the Big Dipper (the constellation that resembles a ladle—when the stars are visible, it’s usually easy to find on a clear night). Seven times the distance from the end of the ladle’s handle, you’ll find a bright star: the North Star. Directly below it is true north, and moving clockwise you’ll find east, south, and west.

5) Use a watch and the sun
In the Northern Hemisphere: Lay the watch flat and point the hour hand at the sun. The direction opposite the midpoint between the hour hand and the 12 o’clock mark is north.

In the Southern Hemisphere: Align the 12 o’clock mark with the direction of the sun. The direction bisecting the angle between the 12 o’clock mark and the hour hand points south; extending the line in the opposite direction indicates north.

Another method: Divide the hour number by two, then point the corresponding hour mark toward the sun. The direction of 12 o’clock will be north. For example: at 14:00 (2 PM), divide by 2 to get 7, point the 7 o’clock position toward the sun, and 12 o’clock will indicate north.
When lost in the wild, it’s best to use these methods together to verify your sense of direction.
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