We have an emergency! Possible anaphylaxis, hypothermia, hypovolemic shock, amputation, spinal injury, partial thickness burn, shoulder dislocation, fractured femur and an abdominal flap avulsion. Sounds like a one-hour episode of the television show "E.R." where all problems could be quickly responded to by well-trained medical personnel using cutting edge equipment. Wilderness travelers usually aren’t fortunate enough to have advanced medical care available within a few minutes notice. What would you do if you were trekking along a remote section of the A.T. equipped with just the contents of your pack and limited first aid knowledge when someone in your group had a medical emergency? If your answer is "call George Clooney", perhaps it’s time to consider learning about Wilderness First Aid or your next trip into the woods could turn into a disaster.

On April 5-6, over thirty AMC members took the initiative to learn about Wilderness First Aid (WFA) by attending a 16-hour Wilderness First Aid course conducted by CT-AMC and Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO). The WFA course was held at White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield, Connecticut. Amongst the backdrop of the Litchfield Hills, freshly fallen spring snow and comfortable rustic accommodations, SOLO instructors Leo Kelly and Clare Long laid out the rigorous agenda consisting of classroom cram sessions, intense group discussion and real world outdoor rescue simulations.

During classroom sessions, participants explored how to conduct patient exams, principles of trauma management, management of soft tissue and musculoskeletal injuries, and dealing with environmental emergencies. Students also learned sufficient medical terminology, buzz words and acronyms to impress the nurse on their next orthopedic visit.

Just when the students began to show signs of GOE (new acronym for glazed over eyes) they headed outdoors for some rescue simulations and a chance to practice treatments for possible spinal injuries, lightning strikes, compound fractures, abdominal contusions, finger amputations and anaphylactic reactions. All scenarios were exceedingly realistic as the mock patients performed like aspiring actors and the SOLO instructors masterfully modeled soft tissue wounds using something resembling Halloween makeup. Some of the severe situations were enough to make even the most extreme adventurer consider trading in their crampons for fuzzy slip-ons.

As the weekend drew to a close, the WFA graduates felt more comfortable with their ability to respond appropriately to wilderness emergencies. What they wear and carry in the wilderness has taken on new significance. Some gung-ho grads left eager to find injured adventurers upon which to practice their newly acquired skills. So, if you’re on the A.T. and happen to stumble across a SOLO Wilderness First Aid Graduate waving their Leki’s, an insulated mug and a Crazy Creek chair, have no fear… they may just want to practice applying a trekking pole traction splint to your hypothetically fractured femur. Now, I’d bet George Clooney couldn’t do that!!!

For information on Wilderness First Aid contact: Leo Kelly, AMC-CT Education Director; education@ct-amc.org