CPR and Wilderness First Aid skills are essential for rescuers

OK, so SWR skills enable us to get the victim out of harms way - now what? In some cases, First Aid will need to be performed. At a minimum, get CPR training. CPR training is often available at work sites for free or a nominal fee. Red Cross CPR certification classes are a half-day and cost $45 - $65. The certification must be renewed annually. The Red Cross First Aid certification class is also 4 hours, costs $40, and is good for 3 years. A combined Red Cross CPR and First Aid class (8.5 hours) costs $75.

All ACA certified instructors must maintain an appropriate level of first aid training: ACA Instructor Requirements. In a nutshell, CPR certification is required no matter where you teach. The standard Red Cross First Aid course is really only practical if you are less than 4 hours away from emergency services. This works well in urban environments like places along the Potomac near Washington, DC but isn't really practical for most of the places we paddle. I highly recommend the next level of training - Wilderness First Aid (WFA). The WFA class takes only a weekend and prepares your with much more solid training and decision making skills. One of the best values in WFA (and the more comprehensive Wilderness First Responder (WFR)) training is the Center for Wilderness Safety (CWS). Prices typically run between $165 - $180, a tad less expensive than NOLS which costs between $200 - $220. Another option is Wilderness First Aid which runs about $240. Ignoring cost, CWS provides two more important benefits:

  • Practice: CWS mans the first aid stations for several big events like the Sierra Club One Day Hike
  • Inexpensive/convenient/excellent supplies: CWS Gear Shop

Just like rescue training, periodic practice is exceptionally valuable. Fortunately or unfortunately, first aid practice is much more difficult to come by. I strongly encourage volunteering to help out with a first aid station at a major event once a year to keep those skills sharp.

Even if you are not a professional instructor or a river guide, good first aid training and a current first aid kit will give you piece of mind when participating on paddling trips.

Obtain more training; calling 911 is rarely an effective option

Many of our favorite runs are pretty remote. For many runs in West Virginia, it may take a team of emergency responders a half-day to reach you - AFTER they have been properly contacted. Unlike urban locations, cell phone coverage might not be available. It doesn't hurt to carry your cell phone in a dry bag, you might get lucky if you have a decent wireless provider like Verizon or AT&T.

It is essential to properly prepare for that initial contact for professional help. As a general rule, serious injuries can't wait that long - First Aid needs to be started quickly. For your piece of mind and your fellow paddlers, it only makes sense to get proper First Aid training.

As instructors, you are required to present proof of both current CPR and First Aid training. If your class is conducted in an area that is over 4 hours from the nearest hospital, the first aid training level must be Wilderness First Aid or higher. Here is some further information on this topic: First Aid Training options.

First Aid skills become rusty just like throw bag skills. It isn't a bad idea to do some volunteer work for a major event like the Sierra Club One Day Hike. The Center for Wilderness Safety is a great organization to volunteer through. They often provide extra training for free, all the first aid gear, and exceptionally qualified personnel. These special events attract hundreds of persons and you will get lots of useful practice during the course of a day - not a bad investment in time.

Here are some more articles that might interest you:

Don’t make the situation worse

Head, neck, and back injuries require great care when moving the victim. Think carefully before giving a person a drug, they might have an allergy. In really serious injuries, write down pertinent information like symptoms/injuries, location, identification details, and phone number/s. Give this paper to a person so they can get professional help. The following article describes the Patient Assessment Form (PAS) and SOAP forms which are valuable when talking to professional first responders: SOAP Note. Jotting down this information can save rescue personnel a great deal of valuable time and enables them to respond with exactly the right equipment.

NOT a first aid class; perform medical care to your level of training

First Aid can be a challenging undertaking. The number one rule of thumb is "Do No Harm". Most states have Good Samaritan laws that provide some protection against civil litigation, at least for lay persons. Unfortunately, these laws are not consistent from state to state. Here is an article that discusses Good Samaritan coverage for Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, DC, and West Virginia: Good Samaritan Laws By State.
The best advice is:

  • Get trained and certified
  • Don't exceed your training
  • Get professional help and turn over to them ASAP
  • This is a touchy subject - if you start CPR, don't stop until the professionals arrive and relieve you
  • You are here:  
  • Home
  • Medical Issues Training Material