CAUTION! - Lives depend on proper use of these skills. The information here is introductory and basic. For the health and safety of yourself and your patients you should take a course with a qualified instructor.
CPR Certificate - Numerous on-line courses are available to acquire a Basic CPR Certificate. The better on-line courses require a hands-on in-person session with an instructor after completing the on-line portion. The better courses are generally certified or provided by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association (AHA) with the in-person session available through the on-line provider or your local hospital (See Mammoth Lakes and Bishop Information). More advanced certificates include Health Care Provider CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
First Aid Certificate - Numerous on-line courses are available to acquire a Basic First Aid Certificate. The better on-line courses require a hands-on in-person session with an instructor after completing the on-line portion. The better courses are generally certified by or provided by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association (AHA) with the in-person session available through the on-line provider or your local hospital (See Mammoth Lakes and Bishop Information). More advanced certificates such as Wilderness First Aid (WFA, Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Emergency Medical Technicion (EMT) are also avalable.
Extended First Aid Skills - Mono County Search and Rescue Team members are required to also demonstrate proficiency in the following skills which may be done as part of a Team training session, or individually demonstrated to a Team instructor:
Splinting (full body, femur traction, leg and arm)
Wilderness Medicine | Focused Spine Assessment NOLS - The decision to maintain or release spinal stabilization in a wilderness environment is a critical one. WMI teaches the focused spine assessment as an additional evaluation tool for wilderness medicine providers practicing in remote environments. This is an advanced assessment that WMI teaches on its more comprehensive courses.
Litter assembly - an example of one type of litter
Stokes Litter Assembly and Inspection
Transporting victim on Russ Anderson Wheel Litter from Arrowhead Lake
Carrying Litter and Russ Anderson Wheel on Hilton Lakes Operation
Russ Anderson's Universal Litter Wheel fits most litters, including plastic litters and the metal litters that have flat metal bottom straps, as it clamps to the top rail. Large all terrain tire provides patient comfort and litter stability. The unique locking device clamps the frame securely to the litter. See also the Mule II Litter Wheel which seems to have replaced this wheel.
Patient tie-in - There are many ways to do this - here are several examples. The emphasis here is on packaging patients in a litter that will be moved overland either to a helicoter on the ground or via trail to a trailhead. These litters are either hand carried or on a wheel. Packaging patients for hoist by a helicopter is covered in the Helicopter training. Packaging patients for manual hoisting or lowering on cliffs or steep terrain is covered in the Technical Rescue training.
Patient Packaging PDF - Placer County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue, Mountain Rescue Team.
Patient Packaging - North Richland Hills Fire Rescue
New Technique from the Roco Rescue Channel
Patient Packaging-Stokes Basket Lashing
Severe bleeding or hemorrhage is a major cause of shock (hypoperfusion), which can be life threatening if the body loses an excessive amount of blood.
If the body loses enough blood, the cells of the body will not receive enough oxygen and begin to die.
Once cells begin to die, bigger cells such as organs will also fail and eventually the entire body will fail and death will occur.
This Wikipedia article - Emergency Bleeding Control provides a good explanation of bleeding situations and how to control.
The advent of terrorist attacks which result in victims with severe bleeding has resulted in a meeting of various agencies to establish an education program on controlling serious bleeding.
Wilderness Medicine | Patient Assessment - NOLS The foundation of any medical assessment is a thorough, organized patient assessment. Watch NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute Instructors in action as they model this process. All WMI courses build on this foundational skill preparing you to respond in a wilderness environment.
First Aid and CPR Classes Available in Mammoth Lakes and Bishop
