| Author |
Topic |
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Canada
3 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2012 : 12:52 AM
|
Hey,
After an adventurous bout of solo travelling, I have (very) recently become an outdoor enthusiast. Anyways, I have never taken a first aid course and figured knowing a thing or two could never hurt me when I'm out do something potentially hazardous.
Any advice as to whether the Standard First Aid course is worth taking over the Emergency First Aid course? As I said, I don't need to fulfill any sort of requirements, it's strictly for personal knowledge and usefulness. I'm generally up for anything, but I will likely be hiking, snowshoeing, snowboarding, climbing, kayaking, etc...
Also, is there any difference or preference as far as who the course is taken with? It seems like there are several places that run the course in my area.
Thanks for your help!
Justin |
|
1067 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2012 : 06:46 AM
|
| I'd recommend an Advanced Wilderness First Aid Course, well worth the money and time. |
|
|
Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3506 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2012 : 06:59 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Kid Charlemagne
I'd recommend an Advanced Wilderness First Aid Course, well worth the money and time.
^^^^Yup. The 40hr course is well worthwhile, the 80hr Wilderness First Responder is superb. The best training for backcountry travel I have participated in. |
|
|
Burnaby, BC
Canada
93 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2012 : 07:41 AM
|
I took the 80 hour Wilderness First Responder course with Wilderness Medical Consultants.
It was WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!
Wilderness Medical Consultants were great. They have a ton of real world experience, climbing, ski-touring, ski patrol, expeditions, etc. . . the guy is actually and ER doctor. . . so he's got some great photos and stories to share.
I think WMC are the only company where the course is taught by a doctor. His partner is also very qualified, a certified WEMT.
The 40 hour course would also be a great option, just not quite as in depth.
My 2 cents.
|
|
|
Kamloops, B.C.
Canada
157 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2012 : 07:55 AM
|
| Raven rescue runs the courses for WMA (wilderness medical associates), they have great instructors. Usually guides who teach during the off season,or EMT's with back country skills. The course is based on learning to improvise and safe extraction techniques. You won't be disappointed if you take their course. |
|
|
Squamish, BC
Canada
70 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2012 : 08:31 AM
|
Get in contact with Jim Ongena, he's a private first aid trainer & guide.
http://www.corporateheights.ca/?page_id=34
I've taken lots of firstaid courses over the years, and I learnt more good stuff in his 3 day course, than in all the other courses combined. He teaches things in a practical, no-nonsense way, that encourages you to act intuitively & effectively in a wilderness emergency. Topics included how to put staples in (easy & fun!), pain management & use of injectables (incl how to administer), Q&A with a doctor, how to deal with lung injuries (from smacking a tree whilst biking...etc).
If you've never taken a firstaid course before, anything will be a step in the right direction. Good on ya for wanting to learn. |
|
|
258 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2012 : 09:06 AM
|
| Between the two you listed, I'd go with Standard First Aid. I took a Standard FA course last winter and wouldn't want any less content, or less hands on time, for something that may have to be applied outdoors. Plus, if I'm remembering right, it's a prereq for the more in depth courses listed. |
|
|
1067 Posts |
|
Vancouver, bc
Canada
1009 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2012 : 12:36 PM
|
I've worked for companies that paid for level one St. Johns Ambulance to cover workplace mishaps. Some volunteer work may net you a course - Jericho SAR trained me in basic plus, CPR, oxygen tank and marine related knowledge. I've been able to volunteer in city events to service small mishaps. This is all good foundation for wilderness first aide which I took with Spiritus Trainiing - a Red Cross authorized provider. One day in the class, two in the field. An avalanche training course rounded things nicely.
http://www.spiritustraining.ca/Spiritus_Training/Spiritus.html |
|
|
Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2012 : 10:18 AM
|
Emergency First Aid is a one-day course that basically teaches you CPR, plus how to treat shock and call 9-1-1. It's not a very useful course.
Standard First Aid covers the basic emergency skills taught in EFA, but also how to deal with bone/muscle/joint injuries, wounds, infection, environmental emergencies, head and spine injuries, and conditions like cardiac problems, angina, diabetes, epilepsy, etc.
Standard First Aid is definitely the one to take if you are looking to learn a bit for general city use.
But note the 'city' use.
If you are looking to learn some first aid skills to use in the outdoors, I too strongly recommend that you take a wilderness-focused first aid course. Many operations run a 20-24 hour basic course which teaches the same amount as SFA, but with a backcountry focus, rather than city. I would strongly recommend that over the city SFA, but even better to take a full WFA course. The 40-hour Wilderness First Aid course is pretty much the basic for backcountry use, and probably well worth it if you have no first aid background at all.
But if you aren't willing to put that kind of time and money into it, at least look at one of the basic wilderness courses, rather than the city SFA. There is a huge difference in how you approach a situation when you expect to call EMS and see them within 10 minutes as compared to when you need to figure out who to send for help, and are lucky if help can arrive in a matter of hours rather than days. |
|
|
Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3506 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2012 : 12:41 PM
|
| Wilderness setting is defined as two hours from advanced life support. First aid changes quite a bit when you don't have an ambulance on its way. Two hours sounds like quite a bit (and it is for the patient) but two hours of travel is easy to knock off, so for us enthusiasts, we're often in a first-aid scenario considered "wilderness setting." |
|
|
Maple Ridge, BC
Canada
344 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2012 : 3:42 PM
|
I hold an OFA 3 which means I can do everything up to strapping a person to a spine board for a helicopter ride. I can tell you right now, that for all I know, very little of it is helpful without my gear. First Aid courses are largely training you to recognize symptoms and select and use gear (with the exception of basic forms of CPR). Even a paramedic can't do much without the gear. And this gear you really cannot realistically carry into the woods (maybe a sam splint and some crepes, but not O2 and full splints etc.)
I have not done a wilderness first aid course largely because of price, but I think it's really the only way to go. I say that presuming that they teach you how to be resourceful in wilderness environments. Being able to employ your environment is the skill you need in backcountry.
That said, if wilderness first aid is too pricey, you need at least standard first aid, and definitely not emergency first aid. Emergency First Aid is basically a CPR course. While CPR is handy to have, and has saved some lives, it's actually pretty pointless if an ambulance can't make it there in 20 or so minutes. CPR raise the odds only slightly and for a brief amount of time. 98% of the time when a person reaches a point to need CPR for their heart (not choking) they are essentially dead. You want a course that teaches you how to manage bleeds, sprains and breaks.
All in all, do some kind of first aid. I think everyone should be required to know some first aid. There are basic things people can do to save a life that require little to no skill, they just have to be taught it. |
|
|
Edmonton, AB
Canada
61 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2012 : 11:24 AM
|
I'd recommend a first aid course geared towards the outdoors. I took "emergency mountain first aid" with Cyril Shokoples last year and thought it was excellent. It was a packed 2 day course, 8-9 hrs a day not including lunch. The course did not cover things such as CPR though, which is fine since I already have done that course. If you can find a longer course I am sure they will go into greater depth but this course was focused on mountains and improvising slings/litters etc with gear such as backpacks and stuff you would have on hand. Cyril has a lot of experience in first aid, I believe he trains the army medics in the mountains as well.
http://www.rescuedynamics.ca/courses/fa/EMFA.htm |
|
|
Vancouver
Canada
27 Posts |
|
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
558 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2012 : 06:46 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by pazzo
If I were to take the 80 hr Wilderness First Responder course, where would it be hosted? In the bush on a two-week hiking trip, or in a large room in a building?
http://www.wildernessmedicalconsultants.ca/courses/wildernessFirstResponder.htm
I took the 80 hour WFR course in Squamish with those guys. It was a mix of classroom theory and outdoor practice, typically a bit of both every day. The outdoor practice included a simulated first aid response at night, in a forested and trailed area, with multiple "victims" (unknown volunteers, equipped with gory make up and prosthetics). The emphasis was on utilizing the gear that you would typically carry hiking, climbing, riding etc. |
|
|
Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2012 : 10:26 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by pazzo
If I were to take the 80 hr Wilderness First Responder course, where would it be hosted? In the bush on a two-week hiking trip, or in a large room in a building?
http://www.wildernessmedicalconsultants.ca/courses/wildernessFirstResponder.htm
Typically it is a mix of instruction in the classroom followed by field days to put it into practice. The exact mix, and the skill with which the outdoor practice days are tailored to realistic circumstances will depend on the outfit you do it with, and for that I'd look at some of the recommendations given. |
|
|
Salmon Arm, BC
Canada
894 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 4:16 PM
|
Knowing a thing or two is great, yes WFR is an excellent course, but it's probably more than you need. I've worked in the bush all my career and have only been required to take Level 1 (renewed every 2 years)...and I have never even had the need to use even that knowledge. knock on wood.
It's only 1 day (or 2 if you really want to get a transportation endorsement too), which would leave you with 9 days for hiking! |
|
|
Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3506 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 6:06 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by pmjwright
...and I have never even had the need to use even that knowledge. knock on wood.
Knock on wood indeed. I, unfortunately, have had two incidents where my WFR training was invaluable. |
|
|
Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 01:52 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by pmjwright
Knowing a thing or two is great, yes WFR is an excellent course, but it's probably more than you need. I've worked in the bush all my career and have only been required to take Level 1 (renewed every 2 years)...and I have never even had the need to use even that knowledge. knock on wood.
It's only 1 day (or 2 if you really want to get a transportation endorsement too), which would leave you with 9 days for hiking!
If you're a good self-directed learner, you can certainly learn much of it without an organized course. But if you're the sort of person who prefers to learn new skills in an instructional format, better to take a class that will actually teach you the relevant skills. |
|
|
3022 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 3:06 PM
|
| St John's Industrial First Aide is a good platform to learn comprehensive skills and earn a useable career skill & looks good on resumes. |
|
|
Maple Ridge, BC
Canada
344 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 11:21 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by cambium
St John's Industrial First Aide is a good platform to learn comprehensive skills and earn a useable career skill & looks good on resumes.
I genuinely don't want to start anything with this, but you should seriously consider avoiding st. johns. Amongst first aid attendants and paramedics, they actually have a poor reputation. They are very popular due to brand recognition, but their actual training and volunteers, who I have worked with, are surprisingly uninformed and unprepared. If you do choose to go with a non-wilderness first aid, contact me and I can recommend a respectable trainer in your area. It's pretty variable from area to area. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Question about First Aid courses
