After 16 hours in class, it became very clear the differences in attitude and approach one must take when providing first aid in a wilderness setting. There are significant differences in the way first aid is approached in a wilderness vs. an urban / suburban or even a rural area.
What could be different than calling 911? Remoteness, ability to provide some <any> life support for any length of time, ability to request urgent care, possession and ability to administer appropriate remediation, stabilization and mitigation of complicating factors, and other significant physical, mental and emotional criteria which must be approached differently when help may be hours or days away.
For example, the immediate protocol for a bleeding arterial wound by applying pressure and reassuring a semi-comatose patient works well when EMT’s are 5 minutes away, but takes on a whole new thought process when you’re 3 hours hike from the nearest cell phone signal, and 20 miles from any road, in particular when it’s just you and the victim.
You’re not going to learn more practical techniques than you would earning a First Aid Merit Badge, but you will learn how to deal with potentially difficult decisions and environments where potentially different protocols may be advisable.
If you hike or camp anywhere that may more than an hour away from professional help, then this, or most any other 2 day Wilderness First Aid course would be highly recommended.
I’m very glad I took this course (and more thankful I haven’t had to make any of the really hard choices that are reviewed), and would recommend this or any similar course to serious backpackers, hikers and campers.
© Beartooth Media Group Inc.
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