May 31 - June 1.
We spent two days going through Wilderness First Aid (WFA) training through the University of Colorado School of Medicine in order to receive our certification. "Wilderness" in these terms refer to not only the great outdoors, but also in remote-environments and or areas of disaster where supportive and innovative care can be utilized when there is no immediate transport for definitive care available.
Day 1
Our training was commenced by defining wilderness epidemiology. We spent a portion of our time talking about how to appropriately approach a scene, also known as scene assessment. Once you approach a scene safely, you can then conduct primary and secondary assessments of the patient to understand the severity of the situation. Through these processes, it is important to reference Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan (SOAP) notes, shown below.
Diagram explaining the hierarchy and steps in order to complete a primary and secondary assessment from the Wilderness & Environmental Medicine department at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Additionally, we went over the most severe types of injuries, which include head and spinal injury. Along with learning the right tools to assess the situation regarding lowered levels of consciousness and spinal assessments, we also practiced improvised spinal immobilization (SAM's splints and makeshift waist-strap backpack method) and patient movement with methods such as log rolls and beaming.
Photo of trainees practicing patient-moving through the beaming technique taken by Jennifer Singer.
We continued to discuss wounds and burns. Not only do we need to clean and dress the wounds, but we also need to apply pressure and or tourniquets to stop the bleeding prior to any other actions being taken. Items such as a bandana and a stick can be used to create makeshift tourniquets, as displayed below.
Photo of a makeshift tourniquet made from a bandana and a stick taken by Jennifer Singer.
Next, we discussed orthopedic injuries since they are some of the most common injuries that occur in the outdoors. Splints can provide stabilization while still allowing the limb to be functional. If the person cannot use their limb, it should be splinted. We practiced creating makeshift splints out of sleeping pads, clothing, and paracord/strings and applying them to our fellow trainees.
Photo of a makeshift knee splint made from a sleeping pad, clothing, and paracord/strings taken by Jennifer Singer.
After this, we spoke about the various abdominal, respiratory, and cardiac issues that can appear in the field. Internal and external bleeding are both causes for concern regarding shock, especially in areas such as chest, abdomen, kidneys, pelvis, and thighs. Along with how to identify these problems, we learned how to provide supportive care to the victims that could potentially be experiencing any of these injuries.
Day 2
Our next day started with a discussion regarding the number one cause of death in the wilderness: drowning. The majority of deaths by drowning occur in natural waters, including oceans, lakes, rivers, etc. It's important to take precaution, making sure the conditions are safe to swim prior to entering the water. Also, having potential flotation devices nearby is always a good preliminary measure.
Lighting, cold/heat exposure, and altitude are all things to consider when in the wilderness. We spoke about preventative measures and ways to stay safe from the consequences that come from some of these natural obstacles.
Next, we spoke about how to deal with water treatment and hygiene while in the backcountry. Pathogens and bacteria can be present in natural water and it is extremely vital to make sure that the water we intake will not make us sick. You can treat water by boiling (big bubbles, no troubles), UV, filtering, or utilizing chemicals (iodine/halazone/chlorine dioxide tablets) and or chlorine (household bleach; 2 drops per liter). After utilizing chemicals or chlorine, you need to wait 30 minutes prior to consumption.
To wrap up, we practiced a variety of realistic scenarios and protocols and ended with the final exam in order to gain our certification. I am now officially Wilderness First Aid Certified!
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