The 20 hour Remote First Aid course is built for outdoor enthusiasts who want to be prepared in case someone is injured and needs first aid care. In a more remote or wilderness setting, you don't always have access to the same supplies, and EMS is more than just a phone call away... This course prepares you how to pack and plan for this situation, how to manage care and shelter for an injured person, as well as covering all of the Standard First Aid and CPR material you would find in a Standard First Aid course, but geared to a Wilderness situation.
The 40 hour Wilderness First Aid course includes and builds upon the 20 hour Remote First Aid program, and in addition covers more advanced first aid techniques, how to transport a patient, and includes additional realistic scenarios to learn and practice your first aid, teamwork and problem solving skills. Many of our students who complete the 20 hour Remote First Aid program decide to sign up for the second weekend, to complete the advanced program.
The 80 hour Wilderness First Responder program is built for rescuers and first responders who specialize in decision making, extrication, and transport in remote and wilderness settings. This program teaches you leadership skills, decision making in non-traditional environments, and the skills to respond and provide care in a remote setting. Wilderness First Responders are trained to provide care overnight, and up to a few days, as well as evacuation.
Still not sure which course is right for you?
]]>For the Trainer:
We’ve broken down how to plan successful training into six steps.
Step 1
Name and write down your main training objectives and work backwards from there. One way to think about this is to start at the finish line (it’s a lot easier to get where you’re going if you know where you are going before you leave!). Be sure to Include others in this process to make sure the objectives are clear and agreed upon across different levels of the organization (more on this to follow). This is an important step to get buy-in from the larger organization, as well as students.
Step 2
Break it down into pieces or components that are digestible, and work out how to link them together. Plan out the various lessons in detail and remember that different topics or skills may need different teaching approaches.
Part of this planning includes allotting time to each activity. It is usually safe to assume that everything will take longer than you expect.
Step 3
Plan out your logistics and resources; everything that is needed to make the training happen (equipment, people, location, food, etc.). Although it may not be the most glamorous task in the training process, make no mistake, this is not an insignificant step. If this piece is not completed correctly then the training will completely fall apart.
Step 4
We like to call this next step pre-training training. This is getting your instructors, as well as the students prepared and knowing what to expect from the upcoming training. For the training to be successful, your students need to know what type of training they are walking into. Let them know if they are going to be attending a lecture, or if they will be hands-on doing scenarios. They need to show up with the right mindset. It is also important for them to understand the main objectives, and the bigger picture of why the training is important, how they fit into the bigger picture, and how they are expected to use the training. If they don’t know this, you are doing them a disservice, as knowing the bigger picture helps them to have focus in their training and allows them to be more adaptable.
Step 5
Create a back-up plan. Anticipate what could go wrong, and prepare for that. When training day comes, you need to be prepared to adapt as there are many moving parts and anything can happen on the training day. Plan on what you would do if: an instructor is sick, fewer people show up to attend than expected, a piece of equipment breaks or isn’t working, there is an issue with your location etc.
Step 6
Bring the energy. On the day of training, you need to bring your instructor A-Game. This means being prepared and ready to go and opening with the right vibe, attitude and pace for the day. If participants slowly wander into the training and take a seat by themselves to flip through their phones, it is hard to bring them out of that low-energy space and get them talkative, involved and amped up for the day.
Training isn’t just about training the skill, it is about training the mind, fueling passion, and feeding a person’s drive. You and your instructors need to kickoff with this mindset, knowing that the training day begins as soon as the first participant enters the room.
Final notes for instructors:
Be a leader
As an instructor/trainer, you need to set the standard of what is expected of your students. Demo as you want it done - be the standard.
Respect participants time
Make it real
MAKING IT REAL: Example from our Advanced Wilderness Course
I have been teaching this course for years and have come across hundreds of experienced campers and wilderness enthusiasts. In conversation, you can discuss what is involved in caring for someone in a remote setting, and having to carry them to a safe space for evacuation. Most of the time the group will agree that it would be a difficult task, and they can talk through the steps they have learned, but they may not fully appreciate the full extent of what is required. Near the end of our course, we put these students into a situation where they need to apply their skills and carry someone 1km with the help of a group. After they have successfully done this, time and time again they will say “I thought I knew what it would be like, but I had no idea”. They can’t fully appreciate it until they have actually done it once. This experience helps to take the training from theory into application and they can see everything they have learned come into action, cementing their learning in a way that otherwise couldn’t have happened. This reinforces the purpose and the value of the training, builds confidence, and fuels that participant’s drive to continue learning and applying their knowledge.
For Organizational Leadership:
For Participants:
If you are taking time to attend training, you want to get the most out of it as possible.
https://www.cdnfirefighter.com/cover-story-training-connections/
]]>For any type of preparedness, it’s best to start by thinking of the types of situations you could get yourself into. When the weather is cold and snowy, we need to consider preparedness for a variety of situations:
We may think that it is easy to call a tow truck for help, but on busy snow days, it can take time for a tow truck to arrive and you could potentially be stuck for a few hours.
There are some items that are always good to have in your car kit:
When we add the cold and poor weather conditions into the mix, we need to add to that basic kit:
Even if you are going from one parking garage to another and you don’t feel you need to dress for outdoor temperatures, it is important to have warm clothes in your car in case you get stuck.
The items mentioned above are for the average family, travelling in mostly urban areas. If you live in a remote area or do a lot of travelling where help may be further away, it is a good idea to add food that won’t spoil (like granola bars), and water in a plastic bottle.
When you’re driving in the winter months, it is that much more important to keep your cell phone charged and your gas tank full, just in case.
If you take the time to be prepared, you’re in a good spot when you get into a tricky situation, and you are also in a position to be able to help someone else if they get into one!
Need some help with putting together an emergency kit? Reach out to us, we would be happy to work with you.
]]>On Sunday, May 5th hundreds of paddlers of all experience levels will be canoeing and Kayaking down a 10.5km stretch of Toronto’s Don River in this annual event that kicks off spring in a very Canadian way!
Over the past 26 years, Manulife Paddle the Don has raised over $600,000 to support Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) restoration initiatives, which are of environmental benefit to the watershed. The fundraiser also helps TRCA educate and engage the public on the significance of the Don River and other watersheds in the Toronto region.
With only a few days left before this exciting event, we would like to take this opportunity to share some important safety tips for the 700 paddlers taking part in this event, and for those who may be paddling in the coming months through Ontario’s scenic waterways.
The best way to be safe is to plan ahead and be prepared. Here are a few things you should consider before you head out on the water this spring:
Not only is it important to stay warm and dry for your safety, it also helps to make sure your day won’t be ruined by the constant feeling of being cold! Check the forecast and and consider dressing with extra layers. If it's going to be a cool day, consider a base layer that will wick away moisture, an insulating layer like a down, fleece or wool, and an outer layer to work as a wind and rain barrier.
It is very difficult to put a life jacket on once you are in the water, and it becomes difficult to also help friends or family members to do the same. Especially in the spring when the water is still very cold, wearing your life jacket is essential. Even strong swimmers can become incapacitated quickly in cold water.
Bring any medications you require, and if you have any medical concerns that could require support (such as an allergy), be sure to inform the person you are with. Paddling can be a strenuous activity, so be sure to pack snacks and lots of fluids to keep you hydrated. Sunscreen is also important - it’s not summer yet but even on a cool day it can be easy to get sunburnt, especially while on the water.
Well fitting gloves will help with warmth, and will help to prevent blisters from forming. As there are a few portages along this route, consider wearing sturdy shoes which will protect your feet against sharp rocks and provide ankle support, and protective glasses to prevent any damage that could be caused by tree branches.
Preparation is key to not only a safe paddle but a fun and memorable one!
]]>1. Certified program, recognized by the Paramedic Association of Canada
Ensure the course you are taking doesn't just meet the standards, but is an approved program from the Paramedic Association of Canada. If you're not sure, ask.
2. Experienced Instructors
Who is going to be teaching the course you are taking, and what are their credentials? The best way to learn is from instructors that are both experienced instructors and know the fundamentals of teaching, as well as having real life experience they can draw from. Some instructors are limited to the course content alone, which may be fine if you want a basic level of training. If you want to take that training to the next level, look to take your course from an instructor with real-world experience.
3. Learning environment
How much of the course is focused on learning the content and how much is put towards practicing real-life scenarios? It is important to know that you will be getting time to put your skills into action, and that the scenarios you practice feel like real-life situations. Part of training as a medical responder is how to handle a stressful situation, how to keep your cool while drawing on the skills that you've learned. Without being put in a realistic situation, you may have the knowledge, but not the opportunity to really put those skills into action and learn how you can improve your response.
4. Do you bring in any outside experts or professionals?
Courses that go the extra mile may bring in people currently working as professional responders to share their real-life experience, and help run scenarios to bring additional learning beyond the standard course material. This is something we do, and think it would be beneficial for every EMR and First Responder Program being offered.
5. Equipment - quality and use
Make sure the course you take uses high quality equipment, and encourages you to practice with and use the equipment. Ask if you can drop in on a course to meet the instructor and see the equipment being used. Is it well organized and maintained? Do we talk about using gauze to wrap a wound, or do we actually open a package of gauze to wrap a wound? It makes a big difference.
Have additional questions? Ask us!
]]>Unlike when you are in a classroom setting, when you’re in the wilderness you don’t have the luxury of the resources you might like to have on hand. The situations that you encounter could be complex, and you have to be able to think on your feet.
The photo that accompanies this post was taken in the beginning of October at a training session for the Ontario Volunteer Emergency Response Team (OVERT). Pictured here are members of a specialty mountain bike patrol unit. On this particular day, the unit was taking part in a mock scenario where they were searching for two people who had gone missing while mushroom picking. When the team finds them, one of the people is unconscious and far from any roads.
The group used advanced wilderness first aid skills to assess the situation, place the patient into a hypothermic wrap, build a litter to carry the patient, and proceed to carry them out to where more help would be waiting.
This is a great example of a situation that a search and rescue team could potentially come across, and this real-life training gets them to use their knowledge and the resources they have on hand to accomplish the task, making sure they are better prepared to handle a similar real-life situation.
We believe that to learn first aid, you need to put into practice what you've learned. For the more advanced levels of first aid, and especially Advanced Wilderness first aid, you need to be able to problem-solve, and things may not go according to plan. You need to be able to adapt and think on your feet, and that’s why scenarios are so important.
In these types of situations, you aren’t able to carry every piece of equipment with you, but when you really know your stuff, you can improvise. You need to carry a few tools that can be used in a multitude of ways.
This type of training is something we really get excited about, and we’re pleased to share that Swift Response is now offering basic and advanced wilderness first aid training. Visit our Wilderness First Aid page to learn more.
]]>What was changed?
The changes that were made to the BLS standard are some of the most significant changes to be implemented within the last decade, and go against standards previously being taught. Two major updates that have been made are to the treatment standards for people with suspected head or spinal cord injuries and the use of backboarding, and changes to how and when oxygen is administered.
Based on the latest research, the Paramedic Association of Canada updated their guidelines allowing for fewer incidences where the use of a backboard would be indicated as an intervention. This is a major change to practice for EMS to reflect the latest best practices.
The update made in relation to oxygen administration is to reflect current research findings related to the effects of high flow oxygen on people with different types of medical emergencies.
Updates to Advanced First Aid Programs to reflect changes to BLS Standards:
The change in Paramedic Association of Canada standards have led to an update to Red Cross’s Professional Responder programs, and we are excited to be one of the first Red Cross training partners offering this new curriculum in fall 2018. Our Professional Responder Programs including our EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) program will now be offered with a BLS (Basic Life Support) level CPR, in-line with the new December 2017 PAC standards.
These updated programs ensure that professional responders are receiving the most up to date information based on research and industry best practices, while creating synergy between first responders and paramedics.
This update is a reflection of the importance of First Responders with an EMR level of knowledge and training, and the integral role they play in medical response.
Learn more about our Advanced First Aid programs.
]]>One thing we can be sure of about an emergency situation is that it is unexpected. Most of us go about our daily lives not thinking or preparing for the “what ifs” in life, and it is only when something happens – maybe it’s something you experience, or an experience from someone you know – that makes us take a step to prepare ourselves.
First aid is a life skill that everyone should have, whether you work in an industry where you are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of others, or if your only responsibility is to friends, family or even to strangers. Having first aid training now (and keeping your training up to date) can keep you from having a moment of regret when an emergency arises.
What you will learn from first aid training:
Fundamentally, first aid training helps people to be more confident, informed, good Samaritans.
You may associate first aid training with medical training, but the course also teaches you how to play a helpful role in an emergency. Through first aid training, you will learn how to prevent emergencies from happening, and if or when an emergency does occur, it teaches you how to handle the situation. Having first aid training will help you to recognize when there is an emergency, how to keep yourself and others safe, and to reach out to additional resources for the additional support that is needed.
]]>One important step is to complete training to become a certified Emergency Medical Responder. Not only does this training look good on your resume, it is additional hands-on training that will help give you the confidence to respond quickly in an emergency situation, and it builds upon your pre-fire training. According to the Ontario Fire Administration, completion of higher-level EMS first aid or medical training serves as an asset in an application to work in fire services.
When working for a fire department and being a first responder, the majority of the calls you respond to aren’t fire calls, they are medical calls. Will you get training when you are hired by a fire department? Yes, of course, but it is tough training, and not everyone passes. It’s better to be walking in already having experience and training as an EMR, and the next training you receive will be building and reinforcing the skills you already have. When you train in these skills again and again you build your confidence and you are quicker to respond and have more experience to be able to make the right decisions.
The Emergency Medical Responder course is a tough course. We put you in scenarios that are stressful, because being able to perform under stress is an important part of your training. It’s part of our “Train hard, fight easy" mentality that prepares you for the real world.
Check out Swift Response's Red Cross Certified EMR and First Responder training
]]>Working as a paramedic reinforced this mindset, and on a daily basis I saw the importance of a properly stocked and organized medical bag, with working and properly cleaned and maintained equipment. In over ten years of teaching basic first aid, first responder and EMR courses, I have used a lot of medic bags for training purposes, and experienced the best and the worst: Old/new, fully stocked/missing equipment, the best equipment/broken equipment, dirty/clean.
When I started my own company I made a decision not to cut corners, to provide the highest quality of equipment for training, matching the best of what professionals are using in the field, and organizing it in a standard, methodical way. Training for the real world means training with the right equipment, and part of that training is putting time and precision into how you organize your kit so that you're not fumbling during an emergency situation.
So how important is it that a medical bag is organized, complete and with equipment that is in good working order? The result is knowing what you have available, you can trust it, and you know where to find everything you need without having to think about it. It may seem simple, but makes a huge difference when seconds count.
]]>