Tom357

As a long-time EMT, I'd say yes, it will prepare you to use most of what is in those basic field first aid kits; but, there are things in those kits that your class won't cover, and to be honest, that you may never need. As others have said, you may want to supplement your kit(s) with the supplies and equipment you anticipate needing. All field emergency medical care, whether you are a Paramagic, EMT, or an average Joe, starts with basic first aid.

I would encourage everyone to take a basic first aid course, at least, that also certifies them in CPR and use of the AED. An advanced first aid course would be better. If your community college doesn't offer courses, the Red Cross often does. Ideally, if your community uses volunteer rescue squads, I'd encourage you to consider becoming a volunteer EMT in your community. The skills are useful, the classes are usually free, I've never seen a rescue squad that didn't need more volunteers, and being there for others is a priceless service to your community.

If you're dealing with a gunshot wound, you will need to activate EMS and provide basic first aid - manage the airway, control the bleeding, and keep the heart going - until EMS arrives. So, a basic first aid course will give you the skills you are likely to need, until someone with more advanced skills and equipment arrives to take over and get the injured to the hospital. This could range anywhere from a few minutes in the city or suburbs, to an hour or more in the country.

If you are in a rural area, or go into remote wilderness, I'd encourage you to take a more advanced course than basic first aid. You may need to take care of yourself or someone else for an extended period of time, until help arrives, and having more knowledge and a wider skillset would serve you well. It might also make you change the stocking of your kits.

My range kit is geared toward firearm-related injuries, including gunshot wounds, hammer and slide bites, eye injuries, and basic cuts and scratches. I stocked my own, using a ballistic nylon backpack first aid bag from back when REI sold them empty or stocked. Although not as compact as some, it is sufficient without being excessive. I keep a more complete jump kit that I put in the car, when I go anywhere, for a wider range of first aid needs.

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- Tom
You have the power to donate life.

mercop

Excellent advice. Thanks for contributing.- George

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2010 MCS Calander
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgb7wjh3_299f8tncbcz

mercop

Next year will will be adding a trauma management course to every class. It will not teach you to be a PJ but rather how do first do no damage and then manage a trauma victim until EMS arrives ,5-8 minutes. This will be done with the contents on the TIM (Traumatic Injury Management) kit we are putting together. Whether someone falls through a glass door or shot, you need to be able to deal with it while everyone else is hand wringing.- George

__________________
2010 MCS Calander
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgb7wjh3_299f8tncbcz

chiefjason

A couple of things to think about if you are looking for a class. There is a course called Wilderness First Responder, that has some great info. It is geared towards first aid outside of an area with fast EMS response. Another option, and maybe a step up in the cool factor, is the National Ski Patrol Outdoor Emergency Care Technician. You can hook up with a local ski area and Volunteer on their patrol. They have yearly refreshers that are required to keep the certification up. It's a great certification, unfortunately I let mine lapse. But the info is still with me.

If you look for those course, check community colleges around ski areas or schools that offer outdoor ed classes. Wilderness Medical Associates runs a lot of the WFR classes in different areas around the country.

After one of the other threads, or maybe this one. I ran through all my first aid stuff that was stashed in boxes. Divvied it up into a few bags and threw them in my cars. Unfortunately, my ski patrol vest full of goodies was stolen out of my tool box over the summer. They got my good CPR mask and my sam splint plus all the assorted stuff. GRRRR

Now for the dark first aid humor. I had the pleasure of sitting in on a conference lecture with Dr. William Forgey. He was talking about CPR in a wilderness setting and mentioned that occasionally CPR might not even need to be started. Of course in a room full of hot shot college kids somebody had to try to prove him wrong. So someone stated that they could not think of a situation where CPR would be contraindicated. Without missing a beat, Doc Forgey responded, "Decapitation comes to mind." The kid did not open his mouth the rest of the lecture.