Muscle Shoals & Phil Campbell, Ala. – Northwest-Shoals Community (NW-SCC) is sponsoring a hands-on Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course from March 21-29, 2009. Offered by the Outdoor Leadership Program and the Division of Health Studies, the WFR is designed to train individuals to respond to first aid emergencies when they are miles from help and dialing 911 is not an option.

Wilderness Medicine differs from traditional first aid in three respects. First, transport times are measured according to days and weeks rather than minutes and hours, so many phases of patient care must be carried out on the field. Second, severe environments dramatically increase the complexity of any emergency and heighten risks to patients as well as their rescuers. Thirdly, limited equipment makes resourcefulness essential in the field.

The course leads to national certification and is taught by instructors with the Wilderness Association of Maine.  The program is particularly useful for

• volunteer fireman in rural districts
• fishing guides
• physicians, nurses, and paramedics
• outdoor teachers and guides
• leaders of school field trips
• timber company personnel
• railroad workers
• summer camp personnel
• foreign mission trip leaders and participants

The WFR course will be held at Camp Westmoreland near Florence, AL.  The cost is $675.00 per person and includes all texts and other materials.  Special rates will be provided for groups of five or more.  Contact Bob England, Ph.D., W.F.R. at 256-331-5309 for further information.