The class will run from 8 am to 7 pm on Saturday and 8 am to 5 pm on Sunday. The course will cover first aid skills and decision-making using realistic emergency medical scenarios as might be encountered on a climbing, hiking or backpacking trip in the Cascades. This will be a fun, intense, hands-on course that includes simulated-terrifying outdoor scenarios in dark, cold, wet, chaotic conditions. (See pictures from previous course.) Students receive a WFA card good for 2 years from ECSI.
Instructors, coaches and hysterical bystanders
- Mike Niemeyer, Wilderness Advanced-EMT (Bio)
- Dorothy Brown Kwaiser, Wilderness EMT
- Jackie Niemeyer, RN
- Dr Mike Gabe, MD
- Dr. Mark Olson, MD
- A State parking pass is required to park in Silver Falls State Park. Passes are $5 a day and can be obtained from a machine in the North Falls parking lot and 1/4 mile from our training location.
- Must be 16 years of age or older
- Must have the ability to lift 40 lbs
- Must have current CPR certification. (I'll be offering the American Heart Association, Adult-only CPR AED at the Drakes Crossing Fire Station prior to this training for anyone who needs it.)
- Be familiar with rope liters (We will cover this and other rope liters in detail in class)
- Provide your emergency contact information to Mike Niemeyer.
- Sign a class agreement and release form and mail it with your registration fee (or bring the form with you to the first class if you are registering within 1 week of class.)
- You will need a watch that displays seconds and a headlamp.
- Bring snacks and meals for both days (we won’t be feeding you). We will have a kitchen facility available with a sink, microwave, fridge, stove, etc.
- Bring a day pack or backpack that can get knocked around a bit – with supplies you’d typically bring on an outing. Bring an extra thrift-store quality shirt and pants/sweat pants – should you volunteer to be a patient in a scenario. A small foam pad is optional - something for you to sit or kneel on when you are outside assisting a patient.
- Wear/bring warm clothes and a waterproof shell layer or rain pants/coat.
- Bring a towel or rags to dry yourself off as we come in from outside scenarios.
- This training is supported by the Chemeketan Outdoor Club. Cost is $50 for Chemeketan members and residents of Drakes Crossing Fire District and $78 for all others. These fees cover the cost of the course textbook (retails for $38) and expendable first aid supplies students will use in the training. (All trainers are volunteering their time.) You are on your own for meals. A State Park parking pass is also required ($5/day). Payment is required to confirm your reservation with checks payable to the "Chemeketans".
Online reference materials:
- Article "When Friends Become Rescuers" regarding accident on Mt Thielsen. (From Bryon Snapp)
- A State parking pass is required to park in Silver Falls State Park. Passes are $5 a day and can be obtained from a machine in the North Falls parking lot and 1/4 mile from our training location.
Accommodations:
Silver Falls State Park has cabins, and RV and Tent sites for those who want to stay at the park during the course. Some students have indicated they might want to share a tent site. There is no staying in the N Falls lodge overnight (Our training venue). The N Falls lodge is located in the group camp area but we didn’t reserve that camping option due to expense and limited amenities. The tent sites at the main campground are a few miles south of where we will be but have hook ups, heated restrooms and showers. They have cabins and meals: http://www.silverfallsconference.com/cabins You might just give them a call if the reservations link doesn't work. 866-575-8875.
Carpooling from Salem:
- If there is interest I recommend Salem folks meet at 6:30 am Saturday and Sunday at the State Motorpool on airport road and leave at 6:45 am. But lets confirm this via email to make sure there is interest in this option.
- We will be at about 1550 ft elevation. (See links below for Park weather and webcams).
Course reading: Students receive a copy of the course text as part of the course fee (Text will be provided to you - don't purchase this on your own. We will ship the textbook to you once your payment is received.) This is a highly interactive course that will have students diving into things right away. To get the most out of it students will need to have read the course text (AAOS Wilderness First Aid) prior to the first day of class. See schedule below for reading assignment.
Course Outline and Chapter Reading Assignments:
#
|
Module
|
Details
|
1
|
Intro
|
Welcome and Introductions, General Scenario instructions, quiz
|
Introduction to Wilderness First Aid (Chapter 1):
• What Is Wilderness? • What Is Wilderness First Aid? • Legal and Ethical Issues • Psychological and Emotional Issues • Infectious Disease Precautions | ||
2
|
Action in an emergency
|
Action at an Emergency (Chapter 2):
• Mechanisms of Injury • Moving a Victim • Extrication From Difficult Locations • Seeking Help • Guidelines for Evacuation |
break
| ||
3
|
Assessment
|
Victim Assessment and Urgent Care (Chapter 3):
• Assessment • Scene Survey • Initial Assessment • Victim’s History • Vital Signs and Physical Exam • Ongoing Assessment |
Lunch Break
| ||
4
|
Bleeding and wounds
|
Care of Bleeding, Wounds, and Burns (Chapter 4):
• Bleeding • Wounds • Burns |
Break
| ||
5
|
Dressings and Bandages
|
Dressings and Bandages (Chapter 5):
• Dressings • Bandages • Applying and Removing a Dressing • Bandaging Techniques |
Break
| ||
7
|
Bone and Joint
|
Bone, Joint, and Muscle Injuries (Chapter 7):
• Bone Injuries |
7
|
Bone and Joint
|
Bone, Joint, and Muscle Injuries (Chapter 7):
• joint Injuries and Scenario |
SUNDAY (Day 2)
| ||
Intro/review
|
Review/Introduce today's activities
| |
7
|
Muscle Injuries
|
Bone, Joint, and Muscle Injuries (Chapter 7):
• Muscle Injuries |
Break
| ||
15
|
Environmental Illness Part 1
|
Physical and Environmental Hazards (Chapter 15):
• Acute Mountain Sickness, HAPE, and HACE • Cold Injury |
lunch break
| ||
15
|
Environmental Illness Part 2
|
Physical and Environmental Hazards (Chapter 15):
• Heat Illness • Lightning Injury |
Break
| ||
16
|
Plants and Toxins
|
Poisons, Toxins, and Poisonous Plants (Chapter 16):
• Toxic Plants and Poisons • Plant-Induced Dermatitis |
17
|
Animal Bites
|
Animal Bites, Human Bites, and Snake Bites (Chapter 17):
• Animal Bites • Snake Bites |
18
|
Insect bites
|
Insect and Arthropod Bites and Stings (Chapter 18):
• Spider Bites • Scorpion Stings • Tick Bites • Mosquito Bites • Insect Stings • Insect Repellents |
WFA Rodeo
| ||
App E
|
Rescue Operations
|
Pt Care Reporting and Communications
|
Exam
|
Final Written Exam
|
Course Philosophy: This outdoor class is the place to "Take chances, make mistakes and get messy"(Ms. Frizzle) so you can be prepared for your next outdoor trip, aid other hikers, enjoy life's legitimate messes (i.e., dirt) and avoid unnecessary suffering (i.e. giardia.)
Training Location: Note that you will need a state park day use permit (NW forest pass does not work here) to park at the N Falls Lodge. You can get these permits at the automated machine in the parking lot at the North Falls trailhead which is about 1/4 mile past the entrance to the group Campsite - if you are traveling South on Highway 214 . This is also a good reason to carpool.
