Wilderness First Aid, Coming to You From the Shameless Plug Department

[bernardmwrangle]

I completed a two day Wilderness First Aid course this weekend, our instructor is also a certified off road driving instructor, it was a great class with a lot of really practical advice for anyone who regularly takes their rig to remote locations. A lot of you probably already know this but I thought I would mention that if you have not taken a course like this I really recommend it. I completely revamped the first aid kit that I keep in the Trail, and I am looking at getting a Spot beacon for trips to Baja and the Sierras. It feels pretty good to have some knowledge about what to do in emergency medical situations. Kristina's is a great instructor, link to her info below.

Sweet Otter Training - Education - Certification - 831.251.3955 - Home

 

[BigredTEX]

I have taken two wilderness first aid courses. I do a lot of back packing and hunting as well as off road driving. When hours away from help it it always a good idea to know how to stabilize, assess and provide care to the injured. Hopefully it is not me who is injured.

We should all be carrying a comprehensive first aid kit (and know how to use it) and let someone know where we are going and when to expect our return when in the back country, whether on foot or in a vehicle. Common sense is the first step to safety. Wilderness first aid training goes way beyond basic first aid training, unfortunately it is difficult to find and can be expensive.

Agree 100% with the OP that this type of training is very worthwhile and anyone spending time in the back country should seek out training of this nature. To coin a phrase, the life you save could be yours.

 

[Jeremy556]

I completely revamped the first aid kit that I keep in the Trail

Details?

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

Great post by the OP. I could not agree more, a decent first aid course is priceless.

 

[cdthiker]

I would argue that the ability to improvise make sound judgments and provide care are some of the best things you can learn from these classes.
but hey I am biased, I teach Wilderness first aid, Wilderness first responder and Wilderness EMT courses for a living....

 

[Ttn333]

I would argue that the ability to improvise make sound judgments and provide care are some of the best things you can learn from these classes.
but hey I am biased, I teach Wilderness first aid, Wilderness first responder and Wilderness EMT courses for a living....

And you also own a 4runner. Thats enough for me.

 

[MeBe4running]

A great post and great reminder! I would like to get my EMT. I have witnessed once a EMT "stabilize" someones life until he was flown to hospital. I could argue even save his life. Scary to be in a given situation where someones life is at risk and you personally are not really sure what to do.

 

[Froglips]

Thank you for bringing up this important subject. I became a certified Wilderness First Responder in 2010 by taking an 80 hour training course offered by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and this past November completed a recertification training session (required every 2 years). NOLS I highly recommend this organization and they also have shorter First Aid level courses if that would meet your needs.

I sought out this training due to my interest in backpacking, but having such training could be vital on any day at anytime. Stuff just happens sometimes.

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

I got my EMT license, first aid cert, and wilderness first aid cert a couple years ago and have continuing education through the SAR team I'm on, we are constantly being trained, in fact I was on a training exercise this weekend that turned into a mission after we got a call in the area that we were training and were first on scene. The patient was eventually air lifted out.

My point is, no matter what training or gear you have, constant re-education and practice is essential. Despite what others may say, lifesaving skills and medical skills are perishable skills. Quick reactions and efficiency saves lives. In all honesty, a very, very simple first aid kit is all that is necessary. Remember the A,B,C's and you will be all good (Airway, Breathing, Circulation). If you don't have the time for a wilderness first aid cert, emt cert of other, Red Cross offers CPR and basic first aid classes on the cheap and is a great idea if you venture "off the beaten path" like some of us do on here.


Here is a pic of our rescue:

 

[bernardmwrangle]

Details?

In: Cavit tooth cement, SWAT tourniquet, Notebook for SOAP Notes, Tegaderm transparent dressing, steri strips, gloves, irrigation syringes, cold packs, heat packs, rehydration salts, lots of triangular bandages, SAM Splint.

Out: Sawyer Extractor Bite Kit (never was sure that worked anyway), Neosporin and Alcohol Wipes.

 

[Kraeken]

I agree that it's important to constantly practice your skills and utilize continuing education. If you have training like this and do something else for a living, you should consider your emergency training a kind of second job.

Very soon into my original EMT class back in college, I said to myself "holy crap this is a lot of stuff, I need to do something with this or I'm going to forget everything!" I ended up working for EMS for 16 years...

 

[cdthiker]

This stuff has a way of sucking you in.....
if you think about it from the prospective that almost every one the forum could use this sort of training because of the place that we go... then I think it makes a lot of sense.

I decided to start teaching for NOLS and WMI because I was good at what I did as an EMT. I need something to push my past my comfort zone. Teaching WFR's was my answer. Complacency is easy to avoid if you make an active effort

if I could only have five things in my first aid kit

Gloves
Tape
Ace wrap
personal medis
sugar

I can improvise the rest with what I carry into the field every day in my back pack or my truck.... of corse I also have IV bags airways and much more in my truck, so that one does not really count...