Any Tasmanians keen for bushwalking specific first-aid?

[biggbird]

Hi all,

Not sure how many of you saw the brief discussion in another thread in this sub-forum, but I'm fairly keen to get some bushwalking/remote specific first-aid training in, but having trouble finding anything which seems suitable already established in Tas.

With that in mind, and having heard various good reviews (pretty much all from this forum), I thought we might look into inviting the good folk of the Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad down to conduct a course or two down here. Essentially, their courses are run over 4 days (2 consecutive weekends currently in NSW, though potentially this could be modified I assume if they were to come down) and involves what sounds like a fairly hands on type of course teaching you important first aid that can be applied in a setting where emergency services are unreachable or a long way off (read: Tasmanian bush).

Completing the course will give you 3 qualifications in first aid, including:

Apply first aid
Apply advanced first aid
Apply first aid in a remote setting

This course is work cover approved, so if you're needing to redo your first aid cert for work, this could be a great opportunity, and your qualification will last for 3 years.

The course normally costs $250 (which is great for 4 days worth of quality instruction!), but that rate would presumably rise to somewhere between $3-400, depending on how many were to attend, in order to cover flights/accomodation for the BWRS crew.

As you can probably tell, I'm pretty keen on doing this course, but rather than spending the money to fly up to NSW two weekends in a row, I thought it might be better if myself and other interested could subsidise travel and accomodation costs for Dave Sheppard (the instructor) to make his way down here and teach us Taswegians in our own backyard! I haven't actually contacted Mr Sheppard or the BWRS at all yet, as I wanted to gauge the interest of people here first to see whether it's really plausible or not.

So let me know here if you (or friends) are keen, and we'll see if we can get something organised!

Cheers

[biggbird]

Also, should have left this here in the first post:

http://www.bwrs.org.au/?q=remote-area-first-aid

Link to details of the course for those who are interested.

Sounds good, get excited! (Please )

[tas-man]

I will forward your post to Bushwalk Tasmania, the peak state body representing most of the bushwalking clubs here, and see if there is any support from this area for such a course. The Launceston Walking Club has only recently sponsored a St. John's course with a focus on remote first aid, for nearly twenty club members to update and obtain current "Apply First Aid" certificates, so may not provide a lot of support at this time. However having members trained and self sufficient with current first aid training is an obvious risk management strategy, so with the state wide bushwalking club member numbers it should be feasible to make such a course happen here. I will post back any responses in this thread.

[stepbystep]

Yep I'd be keen at that sort of price it's been 20 years since I did my BM. Well overdue for a refresher.

Best approach them and see what sort of numbers they want etc

[biggbird]

Brilliant, nice to see there's some interest

I've sent an email to Dave Sheppard proposing the idea/trying to gauge his position on it, so will hopefully hear back soon!

[biggbird]

Oh and thanks Tas-man!

[Nuts]

Where did you try locally, Red Cross has some good trainers and we have had discussions about tailored courses with them along the lines of Tasman mentions. I'd guess S&R do it this way?
All thats really needed (that could be taught in any short course) is expanding on basic first aid for longer term management ie, if they haven't likely been evacuated first, nothing special..

[davidmorr]

All thats really needed (that could be taught in any short course) is expanding on basic first aid for longer term management ie, if they haven't likely been evacuated first, nothing special..

The current standard first aid courses are designed so industry can meet its obligations to provide first aid in the workplace. This is the market at work. As such, they are tailored to the sort of incident likely to be found in factories, mines and other workplaces. To some extent, these incidents can occur anywhere, such as a broken leg, so the courses can be useful outside of the workplace.

Nevertheless, the workplace is the current orientation. And because employers do not want to be paying employees who are being trained (ie, not working), the courses have gradually been cut down in content and depth to meet this need. The first Senior First Aid course I did in 1984 lasted about six or eight weeks, one night a week (18-24 hours). And I also spent about 10 hours studying for the test too. Now it is two working days, ie, 14 hours, with the test included.

And because most workplaces are in built-up areas, ambulances are readily to hand if needed. First aid training therefore focuses on stopping bleeding and applying CPR if needed until the ambulance arrives. There is very little assessment of the state of the injured person and investigation of non-obvious injuries - this is left to the professionals.

And I also note that there is very little real practice of the techniques being taught. I was told once that the idea is that anything you do is better than nothing, and if people know roughly what to do until the ambulance arrives, that is usually good enough.

When you are in a remote area, very little of this applies. You are stuck with an injured person where help may be hours or days away. Even just dealing with the dynamics of the group in organising a response to an incident can be a major task. For example, if the best first aider is the leader, does he/she do the organising or the first aid? How do you handle a bunch of upset people all rushing around trying to do what they each think is useful but may not deal with the most important issues? Who decides which techniques are best for stabilising a condition, protecting the casualty from the elements, insects, etc? What can you do to allow the casualty to go to the toilet while waiting for help to arrive? Should they be allowed to eat something if help is 24 hours away?

So a good wilderness first aid course is more than expanding on a basic course.

I will add that Dave Sheppard's course used to last four very full days which included all the theory, a lot of practice, realistic situations, and improvisation with the sort of things bushwalkers have or can find. He now sends out the theory notes in advance, and you are expected to have done all that before you turn up. The four days now include a lot more practice and exploring situations of the kind you are likely to encounter in the bush.

[abowen]

Hi biggbird,
This very subject was raised at a walking Club meeting last night. Said Club would be very interested in sending some members along if the price was reasonable. It might be something that is partially subsidised by the Club, ie 50/50. I know that from a recent Workplace Level 2, an out of pocket cost of $150 to $200 is very good value for what you get.
What sort of numbers are required to make it viable? What is the max that BWRS would take before the student/teacher ratio is ineffective?
The Club's timeframe for this would be early next year to capture active walk's co-ordinators before they ramp up for summer walking. However, I don't know whether this timeframe fits with what you are investigating or fits with BWRS's schedule. Happy for you to PM me anymore details rather than clog up the forum.
Cheers
Andrew Bowen

[Mountain Rocket]

My house-mate just finished her wilderness first aid earlier in the week as part of her Cert IV in Guiding through the Polytechnic in Hobart.
Anyway, I would also be interested depending on price. I could probably convince a few of my other friends too.

Keep us posted

[davidmorr]

Hi biggbird,
This very subject was raised at a walking Club meeting last night. Said Club would be very interested in sending some members along if the price was reasonable. It might be something that is partially subsidised by the Club, ie 50/50. I know that from a recent Workplace Level 2, an out of pocket cost of $150 to $200 is very good value for what you get.
What sort of numbers are required to make it viable? What is the max that BWRS would take before the student/teacher ratio is ineffective?

There is a maximum of 24 in a course.

The Club's timeframe for this would be early next year to capture active walk's co-ordinators before they ramp up for summer walking. However, I don't know whether this timeframe fits with what you are investigating or fits with BWRS's schedule.

Dave is fairly heavily booked and for a trip to Tasmania, you may have to look at 12 months time. But talk to him to see what can be organised.

[I'm speaking as one who organised for him to come to Newcastle to run a course for my own club. He is very busy.]