HE 253 - Wilderness First Aid

3 Credit(s)

Prerequisite(s): RD 90 and WR 90 or WR 91 (WR 91 substitutes for both RD 90 and WR 90) or designated placement. Physical abilities to allow hiking and lifting equipment. Previous basic first aid knowledge and CPR useful.

Course Description: Provides individuals with foundational first aid principles and skills to be able to respond to emergencies in areas without access to immediate emergency medical services. Highlights the importance of critical thinking and decision making and provides hands-on learning using delayed-help situations. Students are trained to deal with many situations that may be encountered in the wilderness or remote location. Training focuses on teaching students to assess situations, improvise solutions using available resources to stabilize patients, and identify the best way to get patients to definitive medical treatment. Includes an overview of wilderness issues and allows students to be certified in basic wilderness first aid with successful completion of the course (in effect for two years).

Course Level: Lower Division Collegiate

Course Learning Outcomes:

CLO#1: Describe the differences between the responsibilities and expectations of a wilderness remote responder as compared to an urban responder.
CLO#2: Describe the issues surrounding the wilderness rescuer, negligence and legal considerations. (ILO: Communication)
CLO#3: Describe and demonstrate the function and responsibility of a wilderness remote rescuer in the first few minutes of a medical or physical emergency event: prioritize care and properly assess a patient in the backcountry.
CLO#4: Demonstrate prevention and care for injuries within the full range of possibilities covered in the wilderness course including environmental injuries, physical and biological hazards, and medical issues/problems in a variety of wilderness settings.
CLO#5: Demonstrate evacuation and survival techniques while maintaining EMS protocols in a prolonged wilderness setting. (ILO: Critical Thinking)