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. Mark Olson, MD
- Edward Morell, RN
- Terry Walstrom EMR/FF
- Joanne DeMay (Helper)
- Chonteh Rivertree (Helper)
- Katie Woodward (Helper - Saturday AM)
- Sarah Blanton (Helper Saturday PM)
- Julie Brown (Help Saturday PM)
- Mary Wandell (Helper - Days TBD)
- Gill, Forrest
- Green, James
- MOffatt, BRuce
- Pennington, Mike
- Robert, Joanna
- Simons, Kelly
- Wisdahl, Leif
- Salaz, Chris
- Dale, Amy
- ClarK, Justin
- Garlinghouse, Keith
- Snapp, Bryon
- Smith, Mason
- Buren, Mike
- Blanton, Craig
- Niemeyer, Matt
- Dockter, Katy
- Croghan, Lyndsey
- Bittel, Jason
- Bittel, Emily
- Geigle, Kimberly
- 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 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, 2015 CPR AED class at the Drakes Crossing Fire Station on Friday evening September 30th.)
- Read the class textbook prior to class (see below regarding textbook and reading assignments.)
- Look over the WFA cheat-sheet. You will receive copies of this form at the class. (We will use it for all patient assessments and scenarios. Fold the page 2x to make it into a booklet.)
- Provide your emergency contact information to Mike Niemeyer using the class agreement and release form. (See details below under "registration.")
- 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.
- You will need a small flashlight for patient exams. A headlamp is also recommended for the Saturday evening scenario.
- 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 and lodging. A State Park parking pass is also required ($5/day). Payment is required to confirm your reservation with checks payable to the "Chemeketans". Sign a class agreement and release form and mail it with your registration fee to 5243 Madrona Heights Drive NE, Silverton, Oregon 97381. (Bring the form with you to the first class if you are registering within 1 week of class - and there is still room available.) Questions? Email Mike Niemeyer.
Optional Online reference materials:
- 2015 First Aid Changes - The American Heart Association updated its first aid protocols in 2015 based on a review of the science. These changes are found here and, where they differ from the information in your textbook - we will be point out those changes in class.
- 2015 AHA First Aid guidelines
- Wilderness First Aid - legal issues
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 Schedule and Chapter Reading Assignments:
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.
