Tomorrow I am traveling to Landmark Learning in Cullowhee, NC. There will be no kayak with me for I have enrolled in an eighty hour class. I am taking a NOLS Wilderness First Responder class to enhance my knowledge and skills in helping others when they need it most.
The Wilderness First Responder course trains participants to respond to emergencies in remote settings when there maybe no help on the way. Special topics include but are not limited to: wound management and infection, realigning fractures and dislocations, improvised splinting techniques, patient monitoring and long term management problems, and up-to-date information on all environmental emergencies.
If you have never heard of NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) then you should check them out. It is the only school that focuses on wilderness skills, leadership, environmental ethics, and this makes NOLS the leader in wilderness education.
There are usually three things you can expect in a NOLS course. Classes are more hands on than book lectured. FUN. The instructors/coaches are enthusiastic. And I have been told that the WFR class will also have two additional elements that I can count on. The WFR will “teach a logical way to organize thoughts in emotional and chaotic situations”, and “how to recognize the symptoms of malfunction based on logic verses simply memorizing a long list of ailments”
If the Internet is working I plan on posting daily updates on what I did in class. Although, what I really am hoping for is a technology blackout. LOL. Check back on the 13th of July to read about my experiences. – Jeff
Liquid Rhythm Adventures' Journal 
I have several outdoor medical and first aide books and this one is the best. It really approaches topics that other books avoid like what to do if you cannot get to a doctor or hospital. The suggested kits in the back are also the best I have found. I only have two negative comments:
1. The techniques and advice in the text could be cross referenced to the medical kits better.
2. The references for more information are old or not very good. The website for the book seems to be underconstruction for at least a year and the major suppliers only offer about half of the items suggested. Most of the hard to find items can be purchased at Amazon or Moore Medical.
The other book to consider for dealing with a lack of traditional medical care is “Where there is no Doctor” but that is geared towards running a clinic in the third world rather than hiking.
Jeff — Great recap of the week. It really made me miss those 9 days!
I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.