Wilderness First Aid?

[glee]

So how does this work? You have a physician who has signed off on this protocol? Are there geographic limits (only in the state, only in the region, only in a county etc.)?

In a word, yes. WFR protocols are established, monitored and modified by physicians specializing in wilderness medicine. I believe the protocols are accepted worldwide as the training is available worldwide. It's a bigger and more specialzed field than you might think. Due to the remote nature of environments encountered, the protocols are not challenged because there may be no other options and the responder is working within their scope of training.

From NOLS/WMI...

You can also expect a curriculum that is evidence-based, not just copied out of a textbook. We teach wilderness medicine practices and protocols that are supported by a physician-based medical advisory panel and disseminated by our curriculum director. This means you're getting the latest findings and protocols in the industry.

 

[Aquacopter]

I loved my NOLS WFR. I enjoyed it so much that I took the EMT-B class and then the Intermediate 85 and now I am going for my Paramedic. It's a great mixture of classroom and field exercises that keep you awake and interested. If you have the money for it I would definetly do it. EMTs are not taught to do much without an ambulance and that is where you WFR shines. Your priorities change when you are days out on a trip compared to 30 mins to the hospital.

 

[Eyegor]

In a word, yes. WFR protocols are established, monitored and modified by physicians specializing in wilderness medicine. I believe the protocols are accepted worldwide as the training is available worldwide. It's a bigger and more specialzed field than you might think. Due to the remote nature of environments encountered, the protocols are not challenged because there may be no other options and the responder is working within their scope of training.

From NOLS/WMI...

You can also expect a curriculum that is evidence-based, not just copied out of a textbook. We teach wilderness medicine practices and protocols that are supported by a physician-based medical advisory panel and disseminated by our curriculum director. This means you're getting the latest findings and protocols in the industry.

Everything posted here is correct, but there is one BIG CAVEAT. At some point, the WFR and the patient WILL interact with traditional EMS, ER, MD, etc. When that happens they will most likely look at you like you have 3 heads. By it's very nature wilderness medicine is practiced outside of local medical controls and protocols. As such, legally you are only a very well trained "good Samaritan" with no legal authority to do ANYTHING to a patient other than what your typical bystander would. The only exception I can think of is if you are employed by a camp, tour, etc. as their medical person. Then there will be a contract as to the type and duration of medicine you will provide.

Nothing here should be taken as slam at WFRs, SOLO, WMI, etc. I am a big fan and have been trying to get to a class for years. But in my limited interaction it is a legally grey area. As an Advanced EMT for over twenty years I have both on-line and off-line medical control and I practice under the delegated practice of the physican. That is not the same as having the training curriculm monitored by a physican. I think that this needs to be clear up front to anyone interested in enrolling in this type of class.

Perhaps looking at it this way will make it easier to understand. Nurses often get upset with the practice of paramedicine in the pre-hospital environment because the medical control procedures are different and limiting to the RN. Same here. Conventional EMS protocols are more limiting than some WFR/WEMT protocols. The difference is the WFR protocols is valuable training but outside of the standard practice of care. Hence, grey.

 

[mesoscopic]

This posting might not sound relevant as I have no formal training in first aid, let alone professional EMS or Wilderness EMT courses.

I just stumbled upon an ad in my local paper published 16 days ago featuring a device called the "SafetyMate" which the ad claims to be a "talking first aid for home, office, school".

It appears to me as a tool which can provide spoken instructions on various situations encountered in first aid in both English and Spanish.

It is a battery-operated device with two models SM303 Occupational and SM352 Office/Day Care, they both have a panel of 12 buttons denoting a particular situation (e.g. Unresponsive/CPR) and a green Yes/No button as an user reply to the instructions issued by the device.

http://www.safetymate.com/business/products.html

While I understand this device is not meant to substitute for formal first responder, CPR, EMT training, how useful can this device to the average person without formal first aid training?

What do you all think about this SafetyMate device?

I apologise in advance if this post by a layman like myself seems not-so-relevant to this thread.