Wilderness First Aid (WFA) 2009
How to Handle “Wilderness” Medical Emergencies
Are you prepared to respond to a medical emergency in the “wilderness” — be it the backcountry, an urban area in crisis, or an airplane? Widener University is sponsoring a hands-on Wilderness First Aid course in Alloway, NJ on Saturday, 4/4/2009 and Sunday, 4/5/2009. This intensive backcountry medical training course will show students how to deal with medical emergencies when they are miles from help and dialing 911 is not an option.
Wilderness Medicine differs from traditional first aid in three respects. First, transport times are measured in hours and days rather than minutes, so many phases of patient care that usually occur in a hospital must be carried out in the field. Second, severe environments dramatically increase the complexity of an emergency and heighten risks to patients and rescuers alike. Third, limited equipment makes improvisation and resourcefulness essential.
These issues and more will be addressed by professional instructors from Wilderness Medical Associates, leaders in the field of wilderness medical training. Classes are fast-paced with an emphasis on practical skills. Mornings are devoted to lectures, while afternoons and evenings are spent outside working on everything from stretcher construction to full-scale rescue simulations. A number of realistic simulations, complete with fake wounds and stage blood, will be conducted. Past students commonly report of real-life rescues that, “felt just like a simulation.”
This course is recommended for all outdoor professionals and enthusiasts who spend time in remote areas. Graduates will be certified by Wilderness Medical Associates.