Archive:Wilderness first aid 2011-2012
Introduction
(From the Slipstream website) How do you treat hypothermia when help is hours away? What is the best way to create a splint for someone who has broken their leg on a hiking trip? Going into the wilderness without having these skills is like traveling without a passport. It might work out, or it might not, but you will have little control over the outcome.
Take a few days to learn some essential Wilderness First Aid skills and you’ll not only have your passport but travel insurance too.
Details
also from the slipstream website
The VOC has organized to take wilderness first aid through Slipstream First Aid. Their courses are widely recognized by many agencies including, but not limited to, the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, Parks Canada, and many others.
Slipstream instructors have extensive professional experience in the outdoors and the medical/first aid field, including ski patrol supervisors, Emergency Medical Responders, licensed Primary Care Paramedics, ex military medics, WCB Occupational First Aid instructors, remote wilderness field researchers, wildlife photographers, survival specialists, and guides of all flavours.
Courses
Slipstream is offering both the 50 and 90 hour courses at a discount rate to VOC members.
The 50 hour Essential Wilderness First Aid offers the basics to anyone who lives, works, or plays in remote areas and environments where medical attention is difficult to access. You will learn to be innovative with your resources and improvise first aid techniques through challenging practical sessions and outdoor simulations. This course typically takes 5 days.
The 90 hour Advanced Wilderness First Aid is a 9 day course designed for educators, guides, and leaders. As educators, guides or leaders, there are certain skills you need to have if you are going to be responsible for others in remote wilderness settings. Do you know how to disinfect water, or help someone with heart conditions or anaphylaxis? If not, you may be unprepared to take care of other people in the wilderness.
There is also an upgrade course, for those who have taken the 50 hour course and would like to take the remaining 40 hours to upgrade to Advanced Wilderness First Aid. The VOC does not get a discount on this course, since the prices are already fairly low. The prices for this course would be the same as the recertification prices listed here
How the VOC discount works
At least 10 people need to sign up for either the 50 hour or 90 hour course. Use the trip signup tool to do this. Once 10 or more people are committed, the VOC will collect payment for the courses and move you to "going". We will pay Slipstream in one transaction and they will input those who have signed up into their system. It will be up to the individual to let Slipstream know as far in advance as possible which course they would like to take. The voucher is valid for a year following payment, so if we pay Slipstream on November 1st 2011 don't plan on taking a course any later that November 1st 2012. There isn't usually any problem getting you into the course of your choice. The up and coming course dates are listed on Slipstream's website. Note that, although there is no one course designated for the VOC, often VOC members organize between themselves to take the same course.
Prices
Prices include tax
Essential 50-hour course: $319.20 Essential 50-hour course with first aid training supplies: $344.83
Advanced 90-hour course: $532 Advanced 90-hour course with first aid training supplies: $557.63