If you encountered a medical emergency in the city, you’re used to an EMS response time of 8 to 9 minutes. But what if you’re out in the backcountry, eight miles from the trailhead, have no cell service, and medical help could take hours, even days to arrive?
Many people are spending a large amount of time in the wilderness and backcountry areas. Some because their job requires them to, while others just want to take a break from their busy life in the city.
Mother nature, even with its beauty, can sometimes be indifferent and cruel. Despite our best intentions, emergencies still happen in the wilderness and backcountry, and what starts out as a blissful hike, climb or float can immediately turn into a medical situation.
‘Wilderness’ is defined as an area that is 1-hour or more away from the nearest medical facility. Knowing how to handle unexpected events is crucial, especially when your knowledge of wilderness first aid and rescue techniques is the remaining key to your survival.
Securing a certificate in remote and wilderness first aid training is one of the best ways to be a responsible adventurer and employee.
Remote First Aid training is specifically designed for professionals and other individuals who work or play in an austere environment for an extended period of time. The training consists of advanced medical techniques dealing with:
- anaphylaxis Management
- asthma (Use of Epinephrine)
- spinal Clearing
- CPR cessation
- high-risk wound management
- and many other useful topics.
The course is intended to increase the skills and confidence of the participants to handle any emergency situations; on the river, in the mountain, anywhere in the backcountry, or even in their own backyard.
The training comes with actual practice sessions to put participants’ newly acquired knowledge to the test. This includes treating hypothermia, serious bleeding control, and stabilizing victims for possible medical evacuation.
A student from one of the Remote First Aid Training classes said, “In this training, I learned so much about myself. I learned to remain calm during practical activities that tested our stress-level management to prevent and better handle wilderness emergencies. I also became creative with limited resources and was able to make the most out of it. Who would’ve taught that a waist belt can be used as an improvised strap to stabilize the head?”
“The skills I acquired during this training will grant me a lifetime of peace, especially now that I’m planning to spend more time in the backcountry for the next years.
That being said, I am a firm believer that the knowledge imparted from the wilderness training class will help anyone become stewards of life. It will make anyone, not just a responsible outdoorsman, compassionate lifesavers.”
Hopefully, no one will find themselves in an emergency in the wilderness, but having these emergency response skills could be a lifesaver for you and your friends.
