High Adventure and Wilderness First Aid Training

I lead an annual high adventure trip to Algonquin Provincial Park .

I maintain a CPR, safety afloat and safe swim certification.

I note that this year(2008): “Philmont requires that a least one person, preferably two, (either an advisor or a youth participant) in each crew be currently certified in American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid or the equivalent* and CPR from the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or the equivalent. The American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid is a sixteen-hour course designed to help in situations when help is not readily available.

Several hours may be required for Philmont staff to reach a remote backcountry location after a message is delivered to the nearest staffed camp.

First aid and CPR training will result in proper and prompt attention being given to injuries and/or illnesses. You must present current certification cards upon check in to verify this requirement.” (Link to PDF statement) Some specifics of the course can be found at the Transylvania County Red Cross website.(In case, like me, you did a double take at this understand that Transylvania County is in North Carolina, not the abode of Vlad the Imapler.) The course includes assessment and urgent first aid techniques certification has an expiration of 3 years and serves as a Basic First Aid certification.

While I have seen no statements that require Troop-led trips to have a similar certification I plan to take the training myself and encourage others to do so.

I have always been cautious (my Scouts would say overly so) in planning and leading these outings.

Knowing that help is at least several hours or more away the first defense is taking all reasonable precautions against injury or illness, the next is knowing what to do if they occur.

Associated posts at Scoutmaster Bear Facts Risk Management Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat