08/08/2025
When it comes to wilderness first aid, a good history can be the most useful part of the entire assessment.
✅ It guides your decisions.�
✅ It helps rule out red flags.�
✅ It can point you toward the right treatment—even without advanced tools.
Use the SAMPLE acronym to focus your questions:
S – Symptoms (described by the patient)�
A – Allergies (and reactions)�
M – Medications (prescribed + not prescribed)�
P – Pertinent history (related to current issue)�
L – Last ins & outs (fluids, meds, food, menstruation)�
E – Events leading up to the problem
🔍 SAMPLE is six questions—but it’s actually six HUNDRED questions.�Your job is to get curious, dig deep, and think like a detective.�Every answer opens a door to another important question. Ask, listen, follow up.
🧠 A good rule: focus on the immediate issue. Their abdominal surgery in 1983 probably doesn’t matter for a sprained knee—but it might if they’re experiencing abdominal pain.
👣 In the backcountry, your best medicine is attention to detail.
