Wildreness First Responder Training

[hakioawa]

So I find myself with a bunch of vaction to bun in the next month or so and minor shoulder injury that is keepinging me from doing anything fun (i.e. climbing). So I figure now is as good a time to think about a WFR course as any.

So the question is. Can anyone recommend any good ones? Are they worth taking? Any that focus on climbing (i.e. technical rescue etc.) Is there any "standards" or certifications to look for in a school? Thanks.

[lizard_brain]

I know that the Mountaineers has a 32-hour mountaineering first-aid course. If I was gonna go any farther than that, I'd either check out the Red Cross for their first responder course, or I'd go for the EMT class at North Seattle Community College. (Heard about that one while I was working for the UW. They would have paid my tuition because I was a UW employee, but I heard of it just after it started, and couldn't get in. Oh well, amybe another time.)

By the way, if you take the Mutineers course, I recommend the "Lodge" classes - they are on weekends instead of weeknights, therefore it gets done a lot more quickly (3 weeks instead of 8 or whatever) and the scenarios are done outdoors up at Snoqualmie Pass instead of after work in some community center parking lot. More realistic.

[Jason_Martin]

The Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS provides and excellent Wilderness First Responder course. It requires a nine day commitment though...

Their stuff is very realistic and it gives you a certification that you can use if you are interested in any type of outdoor education type field.

I'm sure you can find them on the web.

Good Luck,

Jason

[Beck]

Look for a school that "cross reciprocates" the refresher courses or you will be stuck taking your refresher classes with the same institute (a bummer if you move out of area!)every time.

[genepires]

I took the WMI WFR course cause they had one in bellingham which was convient. Good course and they have these courses in other places too. I think there are about 5 different organizations to get wfr's. SOLO, american alpine institute (up in b'ham) also have courses.

Unfortunately though, like all things, if you don't use it, you lose it. So lets hope that we all lose it.

 

[haireball]

Rescue Specialists, Inc, in Leavenworth offers courses in partnership with Wilderness Medical Associates. The owner's name is Tom Clausing, and his phone # is 509/548-7875. Tell him the Haireball sent you...

First Responder, Wilderness First Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, and Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician are all technical credentials created by the federal Department of Transportation. The minimal criteria for each credential are specified by the DOT, so, to a certain extent, the curriculum is canned. Although the requirements for each credential are set by the feds, the credential itself is granted by each state. One detail often overlooked is that not all EMT & FR course providers require their graduates to jump through the hoops to get on the federal registry - this can create problems if you want to use the credential in a state other than the one that granted it. Your course provider should be able to steer you through the federal registry maze...

[ 11-06-2001: Message edited by: haireball ]

[epb]

WMI (wilderness medical institute), WMA (wilderness medical associates), and SOLO (stonehearth outdoor leadership opportunities) are the institutes you want to get your certification from. Check them out on the web for there course locations and scheduling.

The WFR course is a must for any climber or outdoor enthusist.