L.L.Bean has partnered with Wilderness Medical Associates, a respected leader in wilderness medical education since 1981, to bring you this four-day (36-hour) course that presents the fundamentals of medical treatment and rescue in the wilderness. It gives a more detailed presentation of topics than the WFA course and provides useful hands-on patient experience through realistic scenarios. It also serves as a recertification course for a Wilderness First Responder or WMA Wilderness EMT.
Day one begins with an overview of general wilderness first-aid concepts. You'll be taught how to assess patients, including evaluating their circulatory and respiratory systems. You'll learn how to control infections, perform CPR and other basic life-support techniques.
Day two will focus on the nervous system, a common area of serious injury in the outdoors. You'll learn how to manage damage to the spine and other musculoskeletal areas, plus treatment methods such as splints and lifting/extrication techniques. You'll conduct extensive drills on accurate patient assessment, so you know exactly what to do in this type of emergency situation.
Day three covers how to handle a wide range of potential hazards, including thermoregulation methods; bites and stings; lightning and electrical injuries; wounds and burns; anaphylaxis and allergies. You'll receive step-by-step instruction, plus hands-on practice in patient-rescue techniques, including improvised carries and further assessments. You'll also be able to choose from a variety of elective topics on wilderness first aid.
Day four wraps up the program with a detailed case study, incorporating many of the subjects previously covered and allowing you to put all the knowledge you've gained to practical use. You also discuss other topics like backcountry medicine and medical/legal issues. You'll conduct patient assessments and simulations and have another opportunity to explore more elective topics.
All necessary equipment, including course materials, is provided. Successful completion of the course requires full attendance and satisfactory performance on written and practical quizzes. Itinerary subject to change at instructors' discretion.
Scholarships for this course are available through the Reeno Foundation. Apply Here