First Aid/CPR/AED

“Treebeard's thread "you're fired" made me wonder how many TTers have been trained in FA/CPR/AED?

As an EMT, I am always dismayed by the number of people we cannot save, due to the length of time that has elapsed without care being initiated (before we reach the scene).

If a loved one were sick or injured, would you know how to help them before help arrived? Especially out in the wilderness, where help may be hours away, I think it is critical to have some sort of training...

I'm in the process of getting my instructor cert with American Red Cross...maybe a special TT class is in order before our next trip!
:o)”

“I vote that I always get to do the chest compressions...someone else can do the mouth to mouth.”

“I'm a professional rescuer. I agree its a shame more people don't get the training. I wonder if they get upset thinking about the whole deal and the idea they might have to use it?
I'd a whole lot rather know what to do and at least feel like I tried!!

I can think of some TT'ers who'd make sweeeeet practice dummies. :-P”

“I'm cpr certified, but I have no idea how I'd perform in a stressful situation.”

“You’re absolutely right AmyG, it’s something I’ve thought about.”

“I volunteer. Any of you girls can practice on me. Oooooo laaaaa la!”

“treebait. Don't worry about how you'd perform (CPR)in a stressful situation. If your doing CPR, the person is dead. I felt that way years ago when I first became an ER nurse. Best advice I ever got...

...ya can't kill em any deader.

kinda cynical/sick, yeah, I know but anything will prolly be better than nothing.”

“I'm CPR certified and have been through several first aid training sessions.”

“I'm due for re-certification for the Red Cross first aid/CPR.”

“I saw someone die in a nasty, messy moyorcycle vs. car accident. I froze.”

“I was taking a blood sample from a fellow once at work..... and I wondered how he'd hold up for the test. I asked him "Do you ever faint, pass out, etc for blood draws?" His response "No. Not usually, but I feel a swoon coming on. Will you promise to give me mouth to mouth?"
what a Nu Nu he was!”

“nu nu?”

“~snort!~”

“Officially, I am certified in CPR and FA through a company program, but the training is pretty lame imo. I'd like to take a wilderness first aid course. Amy, do you know of any such course(s) in our area?

Or maybe I'll just make sure Twigeater or Trekkngirl is always with me when I hike. They patched me up real good when I sliced and diced myself in Maine.”

“How 'bout going with me on Friday? I going to be stuck with a needle again for a blood test. I hate needles with a passion and have been known to faint. I don't fake anything. I go all the way. It could be a good opportunity for you to practice.”

“If someone knows of any wilderness first aid course PLEASE let me know. I really am interested in talking it.”

“I probably know more than I think I do but I don't know much.

I did take the CPR training years ago and I know the moves to get a choked on thing out--can't come up with words just now. I know how to handle cold and heat problems. What I don't know much about is how to handle broken bones and strain/sprain things or a huge gushing wound. I have read the red cross type books more than once but it does not stick in your brain very well until you have a chance to use it. I have been to a couple of lectures on desert related first aid. I really don't like the idea of leaving an injured person alone which is another reason why I wish the satelite phones were affordable.

Somehow in the last thirty years I have not needed to know much or was able to learn the hard way without anybody dying.”

“Pennsy...funny you should ask. My next cert, following ARC Instructor, will be Wilderness FA instructor through SOLO (where I got my wilderness medicine training). I'll let ya know when that comes through...probably in a few months. I'll be teaching at NCCC.

Gemini - there are courses held down your way on occasion. Check out this site for ”

“thanks AmyG. I got it. www.soloschools.com. I'll check it out.”

“oops...SOLO School of Wilderness Medicine. Nantahala sponsors a course several times a year.

”

“for some reason, I cannot link today!

www.soloschools.com”

“You gonna teach WIlderness first aid at NCCC? Woohoo! I'm already polishing my apple. What's that song by Van Halen, "Hot for Teacher!"”

“I agree with your original post Amy. I for one could use a refresher course.”

“That sounds cool, AmyG! Good luck with that.”

“I have been EMT and First Responder certified, and have promptly let both lapse out of lack of interest. I figure the stuff works the same even if the card in your pocket is expired. Good Sam laws should take care of the rest.”

“Allthough my card has expired, I've had the CPR class several times over the years and feel fairly confident about it.

I'd like to do a wilderness FA course too, feel like that would be very helpful.”

“FA/CPR (adult) required for cert in crosscut sawyer from FS - I'm current in all three certs but coming up on time for recert in CPR”

“I killed more people with cpr than
helped. Actually they had been ded
for some time. 6 minutes after a
person stops breathing is very crucial as there is no blood going
to the brain.
Last week ,I was with a crew that used an automatic defib on a 70
year old female. The machine zapped her 9 times. Her eyes filled with blood and rolled back into her head. No pulse,when the
ambulance took her away she revived after she got to the hospital. The EMT's told us she was up,talking and walking about.
So you never know.”

“I used to be CPR certified a longtime ago. About two years ago, my employer offered the AED training and I took that. The AED training cover simple CPR, enough to get you by, but not enough to get re-certified.

I can see how the AED could set clothing on fire. We were instructed to cut or otherwise remove anything that had anymetal in it. That meant jewelery, rings, bracelets and yes if they were underwire, bras as well. When I asked what about all the bits and pieces hanging out there, the person said "well, it better to have'em hangin' out, than burn the hell outta them" Point was well taken. The "shock" was enough that it could burn the person.”

“There are a couple of good books
out there and I have one. Must of
left it at work." Wilderness 911"
Written by a doctor who spent some
time with special forces and civilian outdoor groups.
Helpful techniques on using your
gear for 1st Aid. Some techniques
go outside the protocols of an
EMT liscense but in the middle of
nowhere,who cares.”

“I had First Aid and CPR training from the Red Cross, but my card expired a few years ago. I still have the books from it and am pretty sure I could do the CPR in an emergency.”

“Amy's right, it's a good idea to have training.

My CPR and first aid expired long ago. I did get a CPR refresher a few years ago, but didn't finish with the first aid stuff. I'm taking wilderness first aid February 28th. No CPR with that though.

Good thing Pennsy shared his water with me after the slice and dice. :)”

“I've been an emt for about 5 years now. I work for a large company that takes care of all of the classes. It helps to have the classes at work. It is a lot easier to keep up your C.E.U.s. I work as a maintenance man. But we have about 750 production employees on second shift alone. We have had a few accidents out here. We have even had a couple of deaths. ( all were natural causes ) When the time comes you will act first and later think about what you done.

BAMA”

“I agree..... once you've had the training ...... especially more than once..... it stays with you. More than you'd imagine. I sometimes hate the things I run into at work. Taking care of people on the trail... hiking partners or outdoorsy folks.... would be ever so much better than some of the type folks I've had to use it on in the Big Hospital.
Call me a big ole, judgmental be%tCh, but there is something about coding a person who's coked up and full of needle tracks that just leaves me cold. Last weekend we had to code a 50 yr old female who took a cocaine OD til she got real low. Watched her brady down to about 40...... then arrest. Sorry, but I'll take any TT'er you want to name over that.”

“AmyG, I am also a former EMT, now teach ARC (American Red Cross) Adult First Aid/CPR/AED. I have been teaching for 10 years at work and in the community. Taught all the school bus drivers in Giles Co. TN once. They got interested after a kid choked. Unfortunatly the driver didn't know what to do, but a teenager had the training and saved the kid! I go next week to get recertified on the update. On my next hike I will demonstrate how to perform Conscious (sp) Choking. Everyone should know this simple procedure. Just never perform it on a healthy person!!!!! Our next TTA meeting the speaker will talk to us about Wilderness First Aid. GEM, they just offered that course a week ago somewhere near Nashville. Check with your local ARC office about any classes in your area. And ya'll be safe out there!”

“cool stories. There were a few TTers who expressed interest in WFA and such, so I'll probably be offering it as a TT group thing as well...stay tuned.

I think a lot of stuff is instinctual, like many here have said. I feel confident in most of the people I have BP'd with.
(though refresher training never hurts)

The biggest thing about wilderness FA is preparation for the trip...almost anything in your pack can be improvised to make a splint, neck brace, or even a litter for evac.

There are other schools out there to check also, besides SOLO...
WMI, WEMSI, and even NOLS has one, I believe. (SOLO is best, of course)
>:D”

“Interesting thread, Amy. I, for one, would love to be part of a learning experience like that. I wonder if any of that knowledge would a suitable to pass on to my scouts. They are age 11 and i don't know what the protocol would be for instructing kids in this area...”

“Treebeard, you may want to check out the First Aid Merit Badge documents published by the BSA. Just a suggestion.”

“I am going to take a Wilderness First Aid course offered by SOLO after ski season this year. AmyG, which facility did you attend?”

“Trained overseas with St Johns Ambulance, maintained with refreshers about every 3 years.

Since coming to US certified in Red Cross 1st Aid and CPR, 1st aid refresher every 3 years, CPR every year.
Never trained in AED, but think it is included after last year, so expect to be trained this April.

Lots of practical application ranging from a broken neck in a football game, boy scouts with burns, a child who dumped a bowl of boiling jello on himself, a child choking on a fishbone, a ripped side from a dog attack, and plenty of auto accidents.
Oh yes, blisters and sprains hiking.”

“Ok, Skully. I need to read that stuff. My boys are all fresh Tenderfoots (or is it Tenderfeet?) Anyhow, I've only touched the surface on the higher ranks, so I should do some homework on this. Thanks...”

“Treebeard, some of our scouts had the misfortune of having a real slacker teacher for first aid merit badge at summer camp. To this day some boys believe you use hot water to treat burns.”

“Wow, TreeBait! Missed the mark on that one. That's pretty bad. Did they have to repeat anything to undo some of the damage?”

“We often don't find out what these boys know until a board of review. Most of our older boys, who are "supposed" to be in teaching positions, totally suck at teaching anything other than creative slacking.”

“Being a scout leader is not easy, as I am learning. Lots of places where you have to keep your eyes open...”

“That's why you need lots of parents involved, because you can't do everything yourself.”

“That's true. I need more kids too. Recruiting has seemed to come to a dead halt here. I am going down to the Empire State Building today. That's where the BSA offices are and I am going to shake up the district leaders for some help here. They promised a recruiting drive that has yoelded very little so far...”

“~snort~ good luck with the DEs.”