Outdoors lovers learn wilderness First Aid

By Melissa Ganje, FOX 21 News

DULUTH - Outdoor enthusiasts spent their weekend in class.  At Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center, Northland outdoors fans learned what to do when they're on their own in an emergency.

A dozen Northlanders were thrown into real life scenarios this afternoon and put what they learned to the test.  It's all part of the Wilderness First Aid Basics Course.  "It's very realistic, it's one thing to learn it in a classroom but then to actually go out in the field and have a scenario, it really helps," said John Geissler of Duluth.  It's a 2 day course through the American Red Cross that covers everything you need to know about First Aid in a secluded area.  Wilderness First Aid Basics Instructor Cindy Haensel says, "It's for delayed help situations whether it be a rural area or out in the Boundary Waters or wilderness type activity." 

Haensel says over the past 2 days, the students have learned the basics of how to control bleeding, along with wound and fracture care and splinting.  We talk a little bit about snake bites and spider bites as well as high altitude, hypothermia and heat illness," said Haensel.  Julie Belden of Duluth says, "You never know what might happen to yourself or what you might come across and it just gives you a little more confidence in your skills to be able to help somebody."  The course gives those who work, live and play in remote areas, the tools they need to survive an unexpected emergency.  "911 service and EMS service doesn't extend to all areas so if you are going to wait for an ambulance for an hour or more you may need to start doing some first aid care before that ambulance is going to get there," said Haensel.

Haensel says getting them out in the field to practice is key.  The students ran through 4 scenarios Sunday including victims with bee stings.  "We were hiking and came across 3 people that had been stung by bees so we had to prioritize, figure out what equipment we had and treat the person that was down," said Belden.  "They did a great job with the bee sting scenario," said Haensel.  And they all left with important life saving skills to help themselves or others in a wilderness emergency.  Haensel says, "They were very enthusiastic, they had a great time, they were very interested, asked a lot of good questions and are actually very well trained now."

There will be another Wildnerness First Aid Basics Course, August 1st and 2nd.  For more information or to sign up call Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center at (218) 721-3731.  A course outline is available at www.namebini.com