What is the most useful First Aid training?

[CosmickGold]

Today, I filled out an application for Camp Hosting in the Washington State parks and forests. One of the questions on the form asked if -- as well as what -- First Aid training I have been certified for.  I don't have any, but that seems an extremely good idea. Some of you have "Been there. Done that."  So it is you I am asking: "What is the most useful (and affordable) First Aid training I should get before beginning a Camp Hosting career?

 

[bullfrog]

Used to be the Red Cross offered First Aid and CPR classes that lasted a couple days and at the end you got a certificate that was good for a few years. You might call your public health department or local YMCA as I believe they were offered with lifesaving classes if they have a pool. Also I believe local hospitals may offer it as part of a state certification for baby sitters.

 

[crofter]

Be prepared with: A CPR class that includes drowning, choking and bleeding, bout covers it. Be able to do CPR for a while till the ambulance arrives. 

In a good season none of that stuff happens, but in a bad season you would not want to lose a camper.
-crofter

Here is the online class, we can all attend. Link to class offering.
https://www.nationalcprfoundation.c...Dzee19mpxbS8-0CXlYI9i8MnB1MN1b60aAso8EALw_wcB

And there is no dummies in the class! -c

 

[RVTravel]

Wilderness First Aid

 

[MrNoodly]

As a camp host, I imagine you'd encounter two broad types of first aid situations — injuries (wounds, sprains, breaks, etc.) and medical situations with visitors who have chronic health conditions, or are out of shape, or forgot their meds, and so on. First aid courses can help with the first category, not so much with the second.

 

[maki2]

Cleaning wounds and bandaging cuts will be important. There will be plenty of online prpfessional courses for basic first aid lessons that do not require hands on practice. There will even be online lessons for doing rescue breathing and using portable defibrillators. But also consider calling the local fire - aid recue service and ask their advice concerning what will be the most important.

Remember there will also be sprains and lots of bruises to deal with. Those can come with some risk of blood clots so they are not to be taken lightly and people who get them need to be alerted to watching for such an event.

My own worst medical issue while camping on a raod trip was coming very close to experiencing a full on heat stroke. Fortunately I had just pulled ijnto a campground with showers so I got into a cold shower right away. My temperature was just below. 104. A cllose call to be sure. Every camp host who is working in the summer needs to be alert for those symptoms of heat stroke and exhaustion among the visitor.s. so be sure to memorize those symptoms so that you can quicklyy do a mental revue of them without haviing to look it up.

 

[CosmickGold]

I thank all of you for your wise suggestions.  Seems each of you really knows what he's talking about and provided wise suggestions.  Surprisingly, the shortest response you sent, "Wilderness First Aid", proved the most helpful. I put that in my Google search engine and spent the next couple of hours reading through Google's responses.  Some courses cost more than $2,000.00 and most were classroomed in far away states!  (OMG!) And most -- even the one you kindly gave me the link to above -- don't even mention "Wilderness" or it's unique needs.

But in the end, I found a course named "Wilderness First Aid" for only $95.00, offered online, through The University of Colorado. I've already signed up for it.

Their introductory page states:

"This unique program includes all instruction (on-line). The topics are on head and mental status, circulation & cardiac, respiratory and chest trauma, abdominal injuries and illnesses, musculoskeletal injuries, wounds and wound care, drowning, hypothermia, heat related illnesses, lightning, and altitude."

Wow!  Sounds like they've got everything covered, even wilderness-specific topics like the possible effects of high mountain altitudes.

Again, thanks to you all!   :thumbsup:

 

[Sofisintown]

Today, I filled out an application for Camp Hosting in the Washington State parks and forests. One of the questions on the form asked if -- as well as what -- First Aid training I have been certified for.  I don't have any, but that seems an extremely good idea. Some of you have "Been there. Done that."  So it is you I am asking: "What is the most useful (and affordable) First Aid training I should get before beginning a Camp Hosting career?

Call the fire department in your area. If they don't have upcoming certification class soon, they will tell you where to get it.
It is free if the FD delivers the class, and about $40 from affiliates.

 

[RVTravel]

I am surprised at the very expensive Wilderness First Aid (WFA) class, but maybe I should not be. One big part of that course is how to handle emergencies that are more than 30 minutes (up to hours from outside professional help) from help from EMT response.

 

[Weight]

Stop the bleeding. Start the breathing. Treat for shock. Today start the heart. Learning, or getting comfortable with using a defibrillator.

 

[ridgeway]

"Stop the Bleed" is good and free from many local EMT places.