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wilderness first aid |wfr |tgr news |safety week 2015 |safety week
If you come up on this kind of a situation, are you prepared and skilled enough to help? A WFR course will get you there. Ryan Dunfee photo.
Whether first-hand, through a friend or through the internet, you’ve probably heard of or know someone who has been critically injured in the backcountry. You hear all about their mistakes, the incident, and the subsequent — and usually complex — rescue necessary to get them to a hospital bed. But you rarely hear about the responders or even mere mortals who make those rescues possible.
This begs the question: what would you do if a friend took a 20-foot whipper and landed squarely on her back while climbing? What would you do if you watched a stranger go over his handlebars and knock himself unconscious? What about after recovering a critically-injured skier from an avalanche but not knowing how to manage his injuries until first responders arrived?
If we are enjoying the backcountry, front country, side country or just the trail system down the street, I believe we have a responsibility to be able to handle these situations and the infinite list of others that tend to arise in high-risk pursuits. Wilderness first responder (WFR) courses aim to make risky backcountry rescues more effective and uniform, and can give anyone the confidence and knowledge to handle an injured person when resources are limited.
Aside from the obvious, here are a few other benefits of taking a wilderness first responder class:
#1: You're Better qualified for fun jobs
Want to be a ski guide? Good luck if you don't already have a WFR certification. Ryan Dunfee photo.
Having a WFR certificate can further qualify you for a handful of wilderness jobs — assistant guiding and summer camp counseling or directing to name a few. And with a little bit of professional experience in the outdoor industry, a WFR could give you a boost for a range of more lucrative outdoor positions.
After all, being able to act efficiently and safely in emergency situations is, apparently, a pretty important skill to have when you’re working in remote environments with clients and the public.
#2: You Learn how to better manage risk
See a detailed image of an open femur fracture and you may make smarter decisions next time you head outside. Ryan Dunfee photo.
There’s nothing quite like looking at detailed animations of spinal injuries or gruesome images of finger amputations and open femur fractures to knock some sense into you. Obviously the gore won’t stop us from doing what we do, but it might help us eliminate unnecessary risk and think potentially stupid decisions through a little more clearly.
#3: You'll Be a better adventure partner — and feel more confident with your own skills
Be the guy that comes to your friend's rescue, and actually knows what they're doing. Ryan Dee photo.
How much more comfortable would you feel climbing with someone who knows precisely what to do if you fracture your tibia four miles from the nearest road? I bet you’re not the only one who would prefer them to someone who would freeze up and start hyperventilating. Likewise, you earn a sense of reassurance when you complete WFR training, and knowing that you could handle an emergency medical situation in the backcountry is both comforting and a great step toward better risk management (see #2).
#4: Learn how to make due with what you’ve got
You'll learn how to build a splint from ski poles, shovel handles, sticks, and whatever else you might have handy. Ryan Dunfee photo.
The biggest difference between WFR and other first responder courses is learning how to deal with the lack of resources inherent in remote environments. Which is also why you should always carry a stocked first aid kit, but we'll get into that later this Safety Week with Ian McIntosh.
Learning to make due is an important skill to have no matter where you are or what you’re doing, but it’s particularly applicable to backcountry injuries when the nearest hospital is a seven-mile hike and a 60-mile drive away. For that reason, a majority of the hands-on WFR training is learning how to jerry-rig tree branches into traction splints (more on that later this week, too) and climbing ropes into stretchers, and the oft-repeated mantra of my course instructor was that as long as you have the principles covered, the technique and materials don’t really matter.
#5: Contribute to society (or just know what the hell you’re doing)
Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, practicing a future contribution to society while examining practice victim Hadley Hammer. Ryan Dee photo.
We’ve all heard of those hero strangers who perform CPR on the side of the highway because some guy just had a heart attack in traffic. Having basic knowledge of how the body functions and how to manage a body that isn’t functioning properly will make you an indispensable resource to family, friends, future clients and that random stranger you just watched go over his handlebars and subsequently doesn’t know his own name. Be the person who can help when no one else can.
Wilderness First Responder classes are available in almost every mountain town at some point every year. SOLO, Wilderness Medicine Institute and Wilderness Medicine Associates are just a few reputable organizations that offer wilderness medical training all over the country. Some colleges even offer it as a four-credit course.
It is expensive, ranging from $300 for local classes to the low thousands for college courses that are more in-depth but are charged by the credit. The course tends to last about 80 hours over a 5 to 10-day period, while recertifications last about two full days and usually cost quite a bit less. However, if you consider the benefits of knowing exactly what to do when an “Oh shi!t” moment inevitably happens to yourself, a friend or a total stranger, you’ll be thankful when you don’t feel totally useless.
About The Author
stash member Amanda Monthei
Amanda is a writer, skier, biker and mediocre surfer based in Bellingham, Washington.