teotwaki
Excelsior!
Excellent point about ensuring that others have good WFA skills.
Wilderness First Aid Course
- Thread starter teotwaki
- Start date
Excellent point about ensuring that others have good WFA skills.
teotwaki
Excelsior!
You are exactly right. I now recall that my instructors talked about that but I never wrote it down in my class notes. I added a note to my post
Peneumbra2
Badger Wrangler
If you have the time (and inclination), the WEMT course is a great way to learn the ins and outs of caring for people in non-urban areas.
teotwaki
Excelsior!
It has been about a year and a half since I took the course so I need to plan for a refresher this December.
Mundo4x4Casa
West slope, N. Ser. Nev.
Wilderness First Aid. Everyone needs to know what to do. Most people don't have the time or inclination to take a hands-on course as above. For them, a minimum would be to familiarize themselves with a book i found by default on the Rubicon Jeep Trail. The book is called "Wilderness 911" and has an easy to read under pressure, layman's symptomatic approach to solving medical woes in the bush. Here's my story. While doing Rubicon's Little Sluice
it got too hairy to continue so my brother John winched me up from the pit. Unfortunately, he winched me right onto my side with a hard clockwise roll onto my bomb proof rocker panel guards. I stiff armed my hand out onto the passenger seat back to brace myself for the bang. Not. a. good. idea. It popped right out of the socket. Sitting there strapped in on my side I could not reach the ignition switch to kill the engine. My arm would not respond. I had to do it with my left arm. My wife Jean is an RN so I figured she could ascertain what to do in any wilderness first aid situation. But it's been a long time since she took a nurse's first aid course. We carry a large first aid kit with all the accoutrements in our exploration vehicles. Her area was L & D (she was on hand to delivered a lot of babies) and there wasn't much carry over in this case.
Jeanie and my brother John were worrying around about what to do when a hiker happened by and took stock of the situation. He said he had a book at his nearby campsite, called "Wilderness 911" and ran to get it. Meanwhile I'm in agony with pain. Soon, he returns with this little red book. We thumb right to the dislocation section and follow the easy to read instructions. It takes 3 people to reset a dislocated shoulder. Bending over, i was supported around the midsection by assistant #1. #2 assistant pushed his thumbs up against my shoulder blade, while #3 assistant pulled down on the offending appendage with a twisting motion. Voila! The shoulder popped right back in to the socket and the pain was substantially mitigated. To support my arm after reinstalling the shoulder we used a handy 'tree saver', a wide nylon strap used to protect trees during winching operations. The Jeep is now gone and we ply the byways of the West in this:
As a post script, driving out of the Rubicon with a damaged shoulder was not a cake walk with a wide ratio manual truck transmission in the Jeep. I could steer and work the pedals, but could not shift, so Jeanie did all the gear shifting all the way out. I ripped something in my shoulder and went to the doctor for assessment once we finally got home. The Dr. said I was too old (57) to try to repair the shoulder as the muscle and cartilage memory was too great. After P.T. the shoulder was never right again and has developed my only arthritic condition. I've learned to live with it, but lately it has gotten worse so I'm going to see another Sport Medicine shoulder specialist who has the most up to date fixes.
jefe
it got too hairy to continue so my brother John winched me up from the pit. Unfortunately, he winched me right onto my side with a hard clockwise roll onto my bomb proof rocker panel guards. I stiff armed my hand out onto the passenger seat back to brace myself for the bang. Not. a. good. idea. It popped right out of the socket. Sitting there strapped in on my side I could not reach the ignition switch to kill the engine. My arm would not respond. I had to do it with my left arm. My wife Jean is an RN so I figured she could ascertain what to do in any wilderness first aid situation. But it's been a long time since she took a nurse's first aid course. We carry a large first aid kit with all the accoutrements in our exploration vehicles. Her area was L & D (she was on hand to delivered a lot of babies) and there wasn't much carry over in this case.
Jeanie and my brother John were worrying around about what to do when a hiker happened by and took stock of the situation. He said he had a book at his nearby campsite, called "Wilderness 911" and ran to get it. Meanwhile I'm in agony with pain. Soon, he returns with this little red book. We thumb right to the dislocation section and follow the easy to read instructions. It takes 3 people to reset a dislocated shoulder. Bending over, i was supported around the midsection by assistant #1. #2 assistant pushed his thumbs up against my shoulder blade, while #3 assistant pulled down on the offending appendage with a twisting motion. Voila! The shoulder popped right back in to the socket and the pain was substantially mitigated. To support my arm after reinstalling the shoulder we used a handy 'tree saver', a wide nylon strap used to protect trees during winching operations. The Jeep is now gone and we ply the byways of the West in this:
As a post script, driving out of the Rubicon with a damaged shoulder was not a cake walk with a wide ratio manual truck transmission in the Jeep. I could steer and work the pedals, but could not shift, so Jeanie did all the gear shifting all the way out. I ripped something in my shoulder and went to the doctor for assessment once we finally got home. The Dr. said I was too old (57) to try to repair the shoulder as the muscle and cartilage memory was too great. After P.T. the shoulder was never right again and has developed my only arthritic condition. I've learned to live with it, but lately it has gotten worse so I'm going to see another Sport Medicine shoulder specialist who has the most up to date fixes.
jefe
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Peneumbra2
Badger Wrangler
At 57, your shoulder is absolutely NOT too old to have corrective surgery, depending on your overall medical condition. Corrective shoulder surgery is routinely performed on people in their 70s and 80s.
Mundo4x4Casa
West slope, N. Ser. Nev.
Peneumbra,
Thanks for the tip. I have had a few painful, immobilizing set backs in the 18 years since that roll over (yes, I'm now 74) and have finally set up an appointment to see a young Sports Medicine Specialist who has all the latest technology in shoulders. His patients report a much shorter full recovery period post OP. Our campsite in Eastern Oregon during last year's Total Eclipse of the Sun:
and a short vid of the actual eclipse itself: It makes your personal little woes seem inconsequential.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mfgweo1q2r6k79q/DSCN1114.m4v?dl=0
jefe
Thanks for the tip. I have had a few painful, immobilizing set backs in the 18 years since that roll over (yes, I'm now 74) and have finally set up an appointment to see a young Sports Medicine Specialist who has all the latest technology in shoulders. His patients report a much shorter full recovery period post OP. Our campsite in Eastern Oregon during last year's Total Eclipse of the Sun:
and a short vid of the actual eclipse itself: It makes your personal little woes seem inconsequential.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mfgweo1q2r6k79q/DSCN1114.m4v?dl=0
jefe
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Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
Knowledge and the training as always a great thing, i feel that medical training and supplies ends up being one of the last things, if ever people go for. ( its not as sexy, or shiny maybe? ) However one of the most important, i think.
As far as upgrading from wilderness first aid-REMT/WEMT. Once you upgrade to a medical training that requires a license, national and state to practice. You need to know a few things 1) the "good smartian law" will no longer protect you, even if you had the training but did not keep the license. And the NREMT- requires CE hours to keep the licence, and each state requires separate CE hours, and most require a agency affiliation.
More. may not be better. Im glad to see discussion on this, one of my favorite sub forums.
As far as upgrading from wilderness first aid-REMT/WEMT. Once you upgrade to a medical training that requires a license, national and state to practice. You need to know a few things 1) the "good smartian law" will no longer protect you, even if you had the training but did not keep the license. And the NREMT- requires CE hours to keep the licence, and each state requires separate CE hours, and most require a agency affiliation.
More. may not be better. Im glad to see discussion on this, one of my favorite sub forums.
Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
Wow, i just double checked. One thing California did correct. haha I will always prefer to sit on a stand and say" i did everything in my power" vs not helping.( so i will risk it) But im also over a decade in at this point. Not all states so lucky.... and unfortunately in multiple cases a precedent has been set. But know the laws in the states you work/frequent. Oregon, it will not. We had to study legal precedence in these cases and many did not go in favor of the EMS worker. ( off duty)
And as a licensed individual once you make contact with a PT, you also cant leave unless someone of equal or higher level of care takes your place, the PT is " fixed- or you *can* be charged with abandonment. If someone felt the need to push it.
Dont get me wrong, Im not trying to scare anyone. I just want to make sure someone is well informed. Like others have mentioned it can be a big time and financial commitment, not just a one time fee and your good to go thing. Im all for people getting training. X2 on practice and know your equipment, at which ever level you may be and equipment you may have. And the majority of stuff you see will be " sick call " and band aids and bo bos.
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teotwaki
Excelsior!
I gathered up some scattered forum posts and built one blog post covering my WFA kit that lives in my truck:
http://suntothenorth.blogspot.com/2018/06/wilderness-first-aid.html
At my blog I don't have it monetized but it gives me one place to maintain my writeups and pictures.
http://suntothenorth.blogspot.com/2018/06/wilderness-first-aid.html
At my blog I don't have it monetized but it gives me one place to maintain my writeups and pictures.
jgaz
Adventurer
I gathered up some scattered forum posts and built one blog post covering my WFA kit that lives in my truck:
http://suntothenorth.blogspot.com/2018/06/wilderness-first-aid.html
At my blog I don't have it monetized but it gives me one place to maintain my writeups and pictures.
Excellent read! The post linked above is well worth a look for anyone building their own kit. It seems to be an very good selection of supplies based on the author’s training, trip length and locations, and worst possible scenarios.
With the exception of the airway device, all the supplies would be familiar to anyone completeing a Wilderness First Aid course that NOLS offers.
DieselRanger
Well-known member
I've had WFA certifications continuously for about the last 10 years, and while I will say WFA is valuable, NOLS has removed a lot of content from WFA - some of the more useful things formerly discussed or taught in WFA are now only covered in WFR or WEMT, including how to re-seat a dislocated shoulder. WFA now only advises slinging a dislocated shoulder followed by immediate evacuation. I actually don't recall whether WFA teaches focused spinal assessment specifically any more. I don't believe it does. They still teach splinting and handling shock. I would strongly advise a separate CPR certification - and not one that only teaches AEDs, one that still teaches chest compressions and rescue breathing.
That said, I have used WFA training to save two lives in the backcountry - both for rapid-onset High Altitude Pulmonary Edema. While responses to altitude injuries are not specifically covered in WFA, the patient assessment system and the ability to clearly communicate patient status to rescuers, plus the problem-solving skills WFA teaches, were essential to coordinating live-saving rescue for each of these victims who were unable to walk themselves out. If you plan on traveling in the high country, then some independent learning about altitude sickness is essential. I also now carry a stethoscope and a pulse oximeter.
I would also add - a Garmin InReach type two-way satellite messenger device is now standard equipment any time I may be out of cell phone range. For $300 and $12/mo it was an investment well worth my family's and my peace of mind. I have been in a situation where I and my companions were delayed in checking in with rapidly deteriorating weather, and by the time we got out of the wilderness into cell phone range, a helo was spinning up. Had we had an InReach we could have remained in contact with family - without it, had we been delayed even a few more minutes, the helo would have been in the air and rescuers could have been at risk unnecessarily in high winds, swirling snow, and approaching darkness in mountainous terrain.
That said, I have used WFA training to save two lives in the backcountry - both for rapid-onset High Altitude Pulmonary Edema. While responses to altitude injuries are not specifically covered in WFA, the patient assessment system and the ability to clearly communicate patient status to rescuers, plus the problem-solving skills WFA teaches, were essential to coordinating live-saving rescue for each of these victims who were unable to walk themselves out. If you plan on traveling in the high country, then some independent learning about altitude sickness is essential. I also now carry a stethoscope and a pulse oximeter.
I would also add - a Garmin InReach type two-way satellite messenger device is now standard equipment any time I may be out of cell phone range. For $300 and $12/mo it was an investment well worth my family's and my peace of mind. I have been in a situation where I and my companions were delayed in checking in with rapidly deteriorating weather, and by the time we got out of the wilderness into cell phone range, a helo was spinning up. Had we had an InReach we could have remained in contact with family - without it, had we been delayed even a few more minutes, the helo would have been in the air and rescuers could have been at risk unnecessarily in high winds, swirling snow, and approaching darkness in mountainous terrain.