Red Cross offers Wilderness and Remote First Aid training

Darke County, OH — If you’re at work or home and a first aid crisis arises, with the assistance of 911 operators and emergency medical services, you are literally only minutes away from help. But what do you do if you are twenty minutes or twenty hours away from help, off of the beaten path or in an area were cell phone coverage is spotty or not available? How are you prepared to respond to an emergency? The American Red Cross Darke County Chapter will be offering the Wilderness First Aid Basics this spring on May 3rd and 4th from 9:00-5:00 both days, with a CPR/AED class being offered Sunday evening from 5:00-8:30.

If you love to go hiking, kayaking or canoeing, camp or any other activity where you are in a remote area then Wilderness First Aid is the class for you. The class is far more intense, more in depth, than basic first aid class. The class will be held at the Shawnee Prairie Preserve Nature Center at 4267 State Route 502 West, Greenville, OH. The instructors are Nathen Epperly and Roger VanFrank, from Darke County Parks and Christina Chalmers will be teaching the CPRcourse.

The American Camping Association (ACA) reviewed and assisted in development of the Wilderness First Aid Basics course. When accompanied with CPR training; the Wilderness Basics course also meets the ACA’s requirements for first aid training at any camps and outings which are an hour or more way from EMS. In addition the Wilderness First Aid Basics class is approved by the Boy Scouts of America to meet training needs of not only scouts, but their leaders as well. .

The Wilderness First Aid Basics class covers assessment and urgent first aid techniques, but not in-depth CPR. Basic first aid skills are covered, making this course appropriate for anyone regardless of experience level. No prerequisites are required. Due to the serious nature of the course and scenarios taught a minimum age of 15 is recommended.

Students will learn to:

Types of Delayed-help Situations

Checking the scene, patient and resources

Caring for the patient long term

Patient assessment and common treatments for injuries

Deciding how and when to move a patient

Carrying Out the Plan

Deciding to Evacuate

This is an excellent opportunity for Scouts and their Leaders to prepare themselves for summer camping, mountaineering and adventuring to name just a few. We encourage all those who would like to take this course to register now at www.redcross.org or call 1800REDCROSS.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org/oh/greenville or visit us on Twitter at DarkeCyRedCross