Lancaster Conservancy is proud to host Wilderness Medical Associates International for Wilderness Advanced First Aid.

If you volunteer or work at parks, nature preserves, or for trail groups or outdoor camps, or if you simply like to recreate outdoors (such as hike, climb, swim, run, or bike) with family, friends or meetup groups then this course is for you.

Wilderness Medical Associates International trains outdoor professionals and enthusiasts how to successfully manage medical emergencies in wilderness and remote settings. This course will cover:

• Extended Patient Management: Situations when many hours or days stand between the injured person and definitive hospital care.
• Extreme Environments: Heat, cold, altitude, and other environmental factors that pose a significant threat to the safety of patients.
• Limited resources, equipment, and personnel: Learn to successfully improvise with available equipment to create tools such as splints or litters for safe evacuation of patients.

Class Format

Course begins on FEBRUARY 16, 2023 and will run ALL day concluding on FEBRUARY 19, 2023. Days run from 8:00am to approximately 5:30pm. The format for this Wilderness Advanced First Aid Class is classroom lectures integrated with practical scenarios, skills practice sessions, role-playing and simulated rescues.

Attendance is required for all scheduled classes. Scenarios and practice sessions will take place both inside and outside. Please bring outdoor clothing appropriate for lying on potentially wet, muddy, snowy, and/or cold ground while playing the role of both rescuer and patient. We will break for lunch for 45min each day. Please consider bringing a packed lunch so that you are not late getting back to class, or prepare ahead of time for where you can get a quick lunch.

Location

This course will be held at the Lancaster Conservancy Climbers Run Nature Center. Lectures will be indoors in a climate-controlled room, and scenarios/simulations will take place outdoors near the classroom.

Class will begin promptly at 8AM every class day. Please be on time!

Check-in

Check-in on Day 1 will be located at the barn at the Lancaster Conservancy Climbers Run Nature Center beginning at 7:30AM. Please have a photo ID.

COVID Precautions

You MUST be wearing a mask to enter the classroom. Regardless of vaccination status for COVID-19, all students and instructors will be required to wear a mask while in the classroom and when participating in hands-on drills. Gloves, hand-sanitizer, and cleaning wipes will be available for student use. Please bring your own mask(s). We recommend that you limit any high-risk exposure to Covid in the two weeks prior to the course. Local guidelines will be considered. Covid screening is required prior to course start, and is available on the Wilderness Medical Associates after you enroll. It should be completed 1-3 days prior to the course start date.

Lodging:

Lodging is not provided. Please contact staff at the Lancaster Conservancy if you need lodging suggestions. There are many nearby hotels.

Checklist of what you need to bring:

• A watch
• Footwear appropriate to weather and rough terrain
• Outerwear for weather (expected and unexpected)
• Water bottle and/or coffee mug, snacks, lunch
• Notebook, pen, or pencil
• Daypack or backpack for storing your stuff during class
• 2-3 face masks
• Please DO NOT wear your best outdoor clothing for this class. We use makeup/moulage during hands-on practice to simulate injuries. This make-up has the potential to stain clothing, although usually it washes out.

 

What you can expect on the course:

You can expect full, interesting, and intense days. Plan on arriving at the course well rested and prepared to focus completely on the material. Full course attendance is required. Please do not plan to engage in any other activity while participating in this course. You will be provided with a Wilderness Advanced First Aid book and other course materials on the first day.

WILDERNESS ADVANCED FIRST AID:

This is a 32-hour, 4-day course designed for professionals working in significantly remote settings for days or weeks. Wilderness Advanced First Aid is comprehensive medical training designed for professionals or wilderness leaders who venture into remote and challenging environments. Wilderness Medicine differs significantly from standard first aid courses and other training that are oriented toward standard urban environments. This course teaches how to manage medical emergencies when hospitals and rescue services may not be available for an extensive time period whether related to remote settings or natural disaster. We prepare students for emergency situations that involve prolonged patient care, severe environments, and improvised equipment. Topics covered include Environmental Medicine, Critical Systems for Remote Areas, Lightning, CPR & AED – including wilderness limitations, Anaphylaxis Protocol, Wound Cleaning Protocol, Spine Protocol, Toxins/Bites/Stings, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Backcountry Medicine, Lifting & Extracting Patients.

Cancellations

If you cancel or withdraws from a course:

• Greater than or equal to 30 days prior to the course start date, the host will retain a $35.00 administrative fee. The remainder of tuition collected to date will be refunded.

Within 30 days of the course start date, tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable

Questions

If you have questions about the course or are unsure if you qualify as a Lancaster Conservancy Volunteer or Partner, please reach out to Keith Williams, KWilliams@lancasterconservancy.org