Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital hosts wilderness first aid training

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To help community members who enjoy spending time outdoors in remote areas, Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital offers a wilderness first aid course. The course includes the opportunity to become certified in Wilderness First Aid.

Help may be far away if you become injured or ill while hiking or recreating in remote areas. As part of its community outreach and education efforts through the Level 2 Trauma Center program, Good Samaritan is partnering with Backcountry Pulse to offer 16 hours of wilderness first aid training in a two-day course Nov. 2-3. The course teaches participants how to anticipate risks and hazards and identify medical, traumatic and environmental problems. identify life-threatening problems; Initiate primary care and provide a coherent report to emergency medical personnel.

Dan Cheek is an emergency medical technician at Good Samaritan who began his career after participating in an outdoor leadership program in college, followed by a career in ski patrol and teaching for Outward Bound.

“I was an enthusiastic outdoor person. I took the two day course and it completely blew me away. I ventured into the wilderness for years without knowing any of this information,” he said.

He then became interested in the question of how you can care for someone in this environment, limited to the resources you have in your backpack.

Dr. Cheek said his first experience with the need to learn wilderness first aid came while preparing dinner in a remote cabin during his college program. One person spilled boiling water in their boot and suffered second-degree burns. The next day they had to hike six miles, and Dr. Cheek said he was ready to handle the situation well.

He recommends the wilderness course to anyone who enjoys nature.

This type of training equips individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to deal with medical emergencies when professional help is not immediately available. Here are some key reasons why wilderness first aid training is important:

1. Immediate response: In the wilderness, medical help can be hours or even days away. Wilderness first aid training allows individuals to provide immediate assistance, which can be critical to preventing further injury or complications.

2. Life-saving skills: Training covers essential life-saving techniques such as CPR, wound care and fracture treatment. These skills can significantly improve survival rates in emergencies.

3. Readiness: Wilderness first aid training means being prepared for a variety of scenarios, from minor injuries to serious medical illnesses. This preparedness can reduce panic and improve decision-making in stressful situations.

4. Independence: Wilderness first aid training promotes feelings of confidence and self-belief. Knowing how to manage medical emergencies independently can improve the overall outdoor experience and encourage more people to explore the outdoors.

5. Team safety: For groups or teams venturing into the wilderness, training members in first aid ensures everyone’s safety is a priority. It also promotes a culture of caring and responsibility within the group.

6. Environmental awareness: Training often includes education about environmental hazards and how to avoid them. This awareness can prevent accidents and injuries and make outdoor activities safer for everyone involved.

The cost of the course is $195. The course is for Saturday and Sunday, March 2nd – 3rd. November, planned. To register, visit intermountainhealthcare.org/classes-and-events/list/wilderness-first Aid. More courses will be offered in 2025.

For more information, email [email protected].