At the moment, I am knee-deep in snow and fake blood, wrapping up this ten-day wilderness first responder course. It is taught here on our campus by NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School), and it is amazing. It is kicking my ass.
This is a professional medical certification, a step or two below an EMT (about half an EMT, or 80 hours). Except, it’s all in a backcountry context. Think, mechanical femur traction with found objects, and what to do with a head trauma patient when help IS NOT ON THE WAY. (Not much.)
I like to call it Superhero Class, or McGyver training.
There’s an amazing amount of self-discovery built in to the class. These NOLS folks really know what they are doing. I have never been quite so urgently motivated to fix my chronic weaknesses as I am now that someone’s life could hang on them (Linear thinking? Clarity in communication? Quick decisionmaking? Calm? Huh?!)
Some new year’s resolutions are being formed.
Obviously, this training is meant to boost the safety of the Nepal trek in June. But I am now McGyver-ed up for anything!
Discussion
No comments yet.