Troop 100 renews its commitment to Emergency Preparedness
What is Wilderness First Aid? WFA employs advanced delayed-care skills used, in both urban or remote areas, when traditional emergency response help is delayed 20 minutes or longer. WFA is comprehensive training in how to react, respond, and save lifes in remote, life-threatening situations.
On April 26, eight members of Troop 100 completed a 30 hour comprehensive ASHI Certified Wilderness First Aid Training Course as part of their preparation for this summer's high adventure trip. Philmont requires that at least one person in each 12 person crew be currently certified in American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid (a 16 hour course) or the equivalent. Troop 100 will have 4 persons in each crew trained in these advanced first aid skills. In addition, all eight of these individuals received their certification in American Red Cross Adult CPR/AED.
The Wilderness First Aid course far exceeded our expectations. It was a hands-on course that prepares us to avoid, prevent, or cope with emergencies in the wilderness. The course posed questions like: “What could cause an emergency out in the wilderness?”
Some examples are:
• Injuries, ranging from the big and dramatic to the lowly blister on a foot;
• Environmental stress from heat, cold, or altitude;
• Biological hazards such as bugs, snakes, plants, and contaminated water;
• Medical problems that are aggravated in the wilderness.
Another question we were able to consider was: “How can we make our wilderness activities safer and cope with emergencies when they happen?
Examples included:
• Recognize hazards and the warning signs of emergencies, so that you can avoid or prevent them.
• Learn how the body normally works and how injuries, illnesses, or environmental stress affect it.
• Find and assess problems, set priorities, and plan what to do.
• Do effective emergency care with limited or improvised equipment.
• Manage the psychological stress of emergencies in ourselves and others.
To accomplish all of this we had to:
• Conduct a quick review of the body – how it works, how it can be damaged, what can go wrong;
• Observe injuries and the effects of environmental stress;
• Observe biological hazards;
• Practice, practice, practice skills;
• Do role-playing scenarios to combine our skills and prepare ourselves for real emergencies.
Besides classroom discussions and demonstrations we spent a lot of time re-enacting different emergency scenarios. Moulage, the art of using makeup to simulate injuries, was used to make these scenarios more realistic. Moulage typically includes the use of wax putty, simulated latex wounds and fake blood. Volunteers were “made-up” to appear as if they had incurred injures or wounds. Some volunteers displayed wounds on their extremities, back, head or abdomen. The following pictures give you a good representation of what we saw.
These pictures show "Moulage" -- No one was injured -- the individuals shown are volunteer actors pretending to be injured. This is only makeup.
These pictures show "Moulage" -- No one was injured -- the individuals shown are volunteer actors pretending to be injured. This is only makeup.
If you are interested in taking this American Health & Safety (ASHI) certified course, contact the NCAC program office at (301) 214-9156 or Craig Johnson at craigbsa@msn.com
