Wilderness First Aid Hang Series

**Cannibal** · 03-12-2010, 14:40

Originally Posted by eay

Ya know? I'd still rather drive a ridiculous long way and take a course with likeminded hanger-types and pay a fee, then pay the same fee and take the course in a boring florescent lit room with a bunch of folks most of whom are only there because they have to be for work or whatever.

TOTALLY agree!
I don't even know if this is still the policy or not. I just want to make sure as much is on the table as possible so that folks aren't thinking one thing to only get blindsided by another. I think the idea behind this thread is fantastic and I'm a big proponent of knowing as much as possible about First Aid. Particularly as it is applied in the Great Outdoors.

**plowhorse** · 03-12-2010, 18:47

warmsoda, what does it take to become an accredited instructor for wfa? One of my friends is a certified paramedic, and teaches the cpr cert. Is there any other training that is needed for WFA?

**muttly** · 03-12-2010, 19:26

I'm pretty sure I could attend one in NC. Will keep watching for possible dates. If it turns out to be in the western part of the state, I may can lend a hand if need be.

Muttly

**JayS** · 03-12-2010, 20:24

Originally Posted by Cannibal

I used to be an Instructor Trainer for the ARC in Florida. I haven't taught, much less trained instructors, since about 2005. I'd be willing to go back through the program to get my instructor certs up to date if there are enough people in the Colorado area that would be interested in it.

Cannibal: "So you apply the tourniquet on the arm real tight, until his arm turns blue."

Student: "Aren't you supposed to loosen it occasionally?"

The Cannibal: "Nah, that just makes it harder to get him into the pot when he can fight with both arms!"

**WarmSoda** · 03-15-2010, 00:00

Originally Posted by Cannibal

Maybe things have changed, but....

The Red Cross still charged a 'certification fee' even if the instructor was volunteering his/her time. They would usually offer a fairly good discount, but in order to be a 'card carrying certified whatever' the students still had to fork over some cash in addition to the material fees. If this is no longer the policy, then nevermind.

There is a fee for materials usually. This weekend I was assisting with a class at a Boy Scout camp where the price per person was less than $60. This would only really matter to those who would want an actual certificate at the end. If you are interested in the education only, then I don't think it would matter to have some extra people, "sit in" on the class/hang.

Originally Posted by plowhorse

warmsoda, what does it take to become an accredited instructor for wfa? One of my friends is a certified paramedic, and teaches the cpr cert. Is there any other training that is needed for WFA?

I can only speak for the Red Cross, but a background education of the material would be an asset for sure. I had to take a class on how to be an instructor, which included how to follow a fairly rigid course outline of what to cover and how to cover it. If you are interested in instructing, you could volunteer with your local chapter and they would train you for free.

Originally Posted by JayS

Cannibal: "So you apply the tourniquet on the arm real tight, until his arm turns blue."

Student: "Aren't you supposed to loosen it occasionally?"

The Cannibal: "Nah, that just makes it harder to get him into the pot when he can fight with both arms!"

Funny! Uh, ... that won't be covered in class.

**WarmSoda** · 03-15-2010, 00:09

Originally Posted by UncleMJM

I would recommend considering Fairfield Lake, not because it's near Austin or Houston, it's closer to Dallas near I45, but up there you are a reasonable distance from those three large population areas and within a fair range from East Texas towns as well. FWIW, I45 is a better drive IMHO than I35 due to less truck traffic. It's also a simple shot south for Oklahoma and Arkansas hangers.

UncleMJM, Thanks for the info. I'm looking at Fairfield right now. Do you know if there are enough trees in the Big Brown Creek Primitive Camping Area? It says a limit of eight people per campsite, so if demand is high we might need two?

**WarmSoda** · 03-15-2010, 00:33

I added a poll for weekends for the Texas hang.

**WarmSoda** · 03-15-2010, 00:37

The best dates for me for a NC hang would be April 30, May 1, 2. Does anyone have any suggestions for a site for that time? I'll be travelling around Charlotte, but I'm open to almost anywhere in NC, VA, or TN area.

**Running Feather** · 03-15-2010, 03:52

I (shamelessly) volunteer Pisgah National Forest here in WNC. We may be able to pull in more 'hangers'. There is quite a diversity of terrain, 'real' wilderness, and is quite suitable for any and all scenarios necessary to create for the class. I took WFA with Red Cross here in H'ville last year. I'd love to take it again. There's no substitution for review and "Practice Practice Practice". In an emergency situation - one must KNOW what to do, not figure out what to do. Unfortunately the first thing people lose in these type situations is their minds.

If I may be of any assistance in planning or execution, I'm available.

**slowhike** · 03-15-2010, 08:45

That could be good Running Feather.
Warm Soda... what kind of set up would you see as the most practical...
I would guess car camping in a campground were both wilderness & civilization are both at hand???