A board-certified emergency medicine physician, John “Joe” Fosbinder has practiced at Bakersfield Heart Hospital for the past eight years. An adventure racing and cycling enthusiast, John J. Fosbinder also has a longstanding interest in wilderness emergency medicine.

Often, people in an isolated backcountry location who sustain a bleeding wound tend to look for a source of water to wash it off. However, stream or lake water, even if it appears clean, can contain bacteria and contaminants, which can infect the wound. If at all possible, manually remove dirt and debris from the wound and clean it with treated drinking water. 

If drinking water is scarce, you may need to make a judgment call. If there is still debris and mud in the wound, you may need to consider flushing it with nearby clean-looking water. If you will be in the wilderness for a week or longer, during which time infection can take root, at least boil the water and cool it down before using it to treat the wound. If you have packed a basic antiseptic ointment, apply this sparingly under the bandage.