Remote area first aid

[Tortoise]

Apologies if I've missed this topic on searches. I stumbled on a couple of related topics, but couldn't find this one.

Having been in 2 situations in recent months where we came across someone with a significant injury, I've started looking at more info. (I did a (edit: remote area first aid) course a few years ago, but when it happened in real life, I was very glad there were other people who at least had basic first aid training.)

I found this interesting and well presented:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkBhNEU3RfQ

Last edited by Tortoise on Sat 15 Jun, 2024 12:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Warin]

My experience?
I have done a St John remote area first aid course. 3 days. And that is just the remote area course, these days they expect you to have a 'seniors first aid certificate' - another 2 days of training.

Assessing a first aid course could be done by the amount of time the course takes.. or by the expected time for help to arrive - the care information given in the course is suitable for so much care time. The number of days of training is very easy to evaluate. The later expected time is harder - but you can simply ask. Note I'd not be guided by costs. In USA they do a 2 week course for trail guides etc ... includes time in an ambo, actually carrying a patient out of somewhere...

Here most first aid courses expect there to be ambo response within 30 minutes... that includes 'seniors first aid' though it does include the more complex and grouser problems. The remote area course deals with multiple day treatment...

Books?
Where There Is No Doctor
Wilderness Medicine, Beyond First Aid
Medicine for Mountaineering

Picking a time to go? They usually offer weekend or week time courses. Week time courses can be taken by people needing these qualifications for work - offshore fishermen, remote mine workers .. so they could get slanted towards the injuries they get to experience as they can form the largest part of the class.

------------------------ Basic respect
Never step over a patient, walk around them keeping some distance so you are not a threat.
Talk to them, even if you think they are unconscious. If nothing else it will help you.

[north-north-west]

I would have thought that you'd need basic first aid as a prerequisite for RAFA. What I've seen of course materials was pretty comprehensive, even including mental health issues.

[Warin]

I would have thought that you'd need basic first aid as a prerequisite for RAFA.

The 'rules' change with time. IIRC the RAFA course was the third fist aid course I'd done within 2 months...

[johnw]

I would have thought that you'd need basic first aid as a prerequisite for RAFA.

The 'rules' change with time. IIRC the RAFA course was the third fist aid course I'd done within 2 months...

I did RAFA around 2007 with St John. At that time there were no prerequisites. Back then it was 4 full days run over 2 weekends.
It was quite full on and the practise scenarios pretty intense. Unfortunately passage of time and lack of application means I've forgotten most of it.
I still have the little waterproof handbook they gave out, which may prompt my ageing memory.

[Tortoise]

Sorry my original post was confusing. I posted mainly because it's one of the clearest, most sensible presentations I've come across, and thought others might like to watch it.

Unfortunately, while I could probably write a First Aid training course, I can't predict how my brain will function in the moment. Fortunately many years ago when it really mattered, my brain worked well enough to save someone's foot in a very remote place. Unfortunately that whole episode wasn't so good for me.

[Warin]

Unfortunately, while I could probably write a First Aid training course, I can't predict how my brain will function in the moment.

Yep. In the real world we don't know how we will react. Fellow first aider I worked with did first aid with the local football club, he got lots of practice over the years ... if you want experience I am certain you can find a club who would like to have you help, hopefully with another first aider already there.