Who is a Wilderness EMT, Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid certified?

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afootorafloatLJ

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afootorafloat here,
I became a Wilderness First Responder to be able to provide extended medical care to my family and work mates.
As a geologist and water quality specialist I spent a significant amount of time away from medical care at remote locations.
As for my family we spend a significant amount of time camping and adventuring well off the beaten path.
I found the the initial 80 hours of training and bi annual refreshers very informative and fun though they are challenging. The training is also great networking opportunity.
I would strongly encourage those interested and with the resources of time and $ to sign up for training. My certification is through the NOLS-Wilderness Medicine Institute.
I proudly display my WMI sticker on my jeep and i let me fellow members in the 4x4 clubs I belong to know of my training. The training is also a great way to know of others in your group who are medically trained. For instance one of the clubs I roll with also has an RN on most trips. This knowledge is helpful so we both know we can work together to help someone injured if need be.
I think it would be great to have a OB badge that identifies wilderness medicine trained members.
So who else out there is medically trained?
 

oneleglance

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I am an ICU RN at a 560 bed hospital....
I got my WUMP (Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals) years ago and love it...
Now that my older son is a Paramedic we have been looking at the Remote Medical International Classes as he wants to transition to remote work...I just want to take the class with him for the fun of it :)
 

afootorafloatLJ

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Boise, ID, USA
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I am an ICU RN at a 560 bed hospital....
I got my WUMP (Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals) years ago and love it...
Now that my older son is a Paramedic we have been looking at the Remote Medical International Classes as he wants to transition to remote work...I just want to take the class with him for the fun of it :)
Very cool!
 

El-Dracho

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afootorafloat here,
I became a Wilderness First Responder to be able to provide extended medical care to my family and work mates.
As a geologist and water quality specialist I spent a significant amount of time away from medical care at remote locations.
As for my family we spend a significant amount of time camping and adventuring well off the beaten path.
I found the the initial 80 hours of training and bi annual refreshers very informative and fun though they are challenging. The training is also great networking opportunity.
I would strongly encourage those interested and with the resources of time and $ to sign up for training. My certification is through the NOLS-Wilderness Medicine Institute.
I proudly display my WMI sticker on my jeep and i let me fellow members in the 4x4 clubs I belong to know of my training. The training is also a great way to know of others in your group who are medically trained. For instance one of the clubs I roll with also has an RN on most trips. This knowledge is helpful so we both know we can work together to help someone injured if need be.
I think it would be great to have a OB badge that identifies wilderness medicine trained members.
So who else out there is medically trained?
Great! That sounds really good! I regularly refresh my first aid knowledge and recently attended a special trainig on first aid situations in sports and outdoor activities.

Unfortunately, I don't know something similar here in Europe to what you describe as a Wilderness First Responder. Do you have a source of information where I could do a little research on the Wilderness First Responder training? Thanks.
 

slomatt

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I've taken Wilderness First Aid courses from both the Red Cross and NOLS, which reminds me that I should sign up for a refresher course. I'd love to get a WFR certification but have a hard time justifying that much time off of work. In contrast, the WFA class is only 2 days and I highly recommend it to anybody who travels to remote locations where they are more than 3 hours from advanced care.
 

maddscot

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Wilderness First Aid and Responder certified, and need to get a refresh. Mine was needed due to backcountry wilderness survival courses (trainer and badge counselor) as well as Naturalist for hikes for flora, fauna and Native American culture. Also was doing thru-hikes and backcountry out and backs for a few years.
 

chanceboarder

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I got my WFR cert through WMI about 15 years ago and unfortunately just recently let the certification lapse, life got too busy to recertify in that last year. Great knowledge to have though and while I'm sure my skills will dull as time goes by my initial training and recerts over the years I'm sure will provide a good base of knowledge to fall back on should the skills ever be needed again. I would highly encourage anyone that's looking to get out into the backcountry and off the grid to get some sort of formal first aid training, even just basic first aid course goes a long way.
 
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GreenLine74

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afootorafloat here,
I became a Wilderness First Responder to be able to provide extended medical care to my family and work mates.
As a geologist and water quality specialist I spent a significant amount of time away from medical care at remote locations.
As for my family we spend a significant amount of time camping and adventuring well off the beaten path.
I found the the initial 80 hours of training and bi annual refreshers very informative and fun though they are challenging. The training is also great networking opportunity.
I would strongly encourage those interested and with the resources of time and $ to sign up for training. My certification is through the NOLS-Wilderness Medicine Institute.
I proudly display my WMI sticker on my jeep and i let me fellow members in the 4x4 clubs I belong to know of my training. The training is also a great way to know of others in your group who are medically trained. For instance one of the clubs I roll with also has an RN on most trips. This knowledge is helpful so we both know we can work together to help someone injured if need be.
I think it would be great to have a OB badge that identifies wilderness medicine trained members.
So who else out there is medically trained?
Good information thank you.
 

MMc

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Do any of those certifications really mean anything, except to the certifying body? There isn't a National Registry like NREMT is there?

Knowing what to do is the point. Those of us that have WFR like to make sure we know the latest best practices and what has changed. I personally like to be reminded what to do so I spend less time remembering what to do when the poo hit the fan. The cert is less important than the knowing.
 

RangerMedic

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Greetings! I am a 30+ yr NREMT Paramedic with a specialty in austere and remote medicine.

My certs:
- WUMP (Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals
- RMAP (Remote Medicine for the Advanced Practitioner)
- WEMT (Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician)
- FAWM (Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine)

I am an instructor for:
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Emergency Medical Responder
- Wilderness First Aid and First Responder
- Basic Life Support
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support

I'm in the North Denver Area
 

thorstenson203

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What are the differences in WFR vs urban EMT, EMT-I and EMT-P?
Medically wise, it's most of the same information taught but with the addition of how to respond when help (medical/fire) is hours away. In urban situations, help will be able to respond a lot quicker then when in the middle of the wilderness.

National Outdoor Leardership School or NOLS is a good resource. And one of the primary certifying bodies for wilderness medical certifications.
 

Rav4_Overland

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I used to be an EMT for search and rescue! I also took the WFR course through NOLS. Sadly they have a lapsed since I became a new dad and quit doing that.
 

OcoeeG

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I am not current but I have been WFR certified for many years as a whitewater raft guide, also I has a lifeguard for many years before that and in boyscouts growing up our scoutmaster was crazy about first aid so it is something we drilled religiously. I agree, it is very important to know how to handle any injury or illness situations in the field. If you have never had ANY training get something, anything it could save someones life.
 
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Rav4_Overland

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I am not current but I have been WFR certified for many years as a whitewater raft guide, also I has a lifeguard for many years before that and in boyscouts growing up our scoutmaster was crazy about first aid so it is something we drilled religiously. I agree, it is very important to know how to handle any injury or illness situations in the field. If you have never had ANY training get something, anything it could save someones life.
Agreed, something as basic as first aid/CPR could make all the difference.
 
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