GLSKA - Trip Reports

GLSKA TRIP REPORTS

A selection of GLSKA Trip Reports from the 2008 paddling season

[Past Trip Reports from the Archives]

WILDERNESS 911

Sean Granville

Sucking chest wounds, shoulder dislocations, collapsed lungs, strangulated hernias – bad day at the office for an inner city EMS professional? No, just some of the challenges that a few of us faced as part of an Advanced Wilderness First Aid course delivered for GLSKA by Jill Baxter of Canadian Wilderness Medical Training.

Injuries and ailments that occur in a Wilderness setting require different strategies than conventional First Aid and CPR. Help is not quickly available via a simple 911 call and First Aid supplies are relatively limited. Add some higher risk activities such as cold water immersion, walking on slippery rocks, cooking with white gas, dealing with poison ivy or wildlife and it is easy to see that a different way of thinking is needed. Decisions need to be made, treatment initiated and improvised. For example, where standard First Aid counsels students to never move a casualty with a suspected spinal injury, that luxury just doesn’t exist in a wilderness context.

These were some of the key learnings over three long days at David Iven’s house near Shelburne. Taking the course were 7 GLSKA members as well as 3 university students. Lots of teamwork was demonstrated during scenarios where simulated casualties were efficiently treated in an outdoor environment. Tough decisions had to be made ("Give up on the CPR on the dead guy so we can save the cute jogger.") even if I happened to be on the losing end of that decision.

Overall it was an excellent weekend – lots of fun, good food, great accommodations. A special thanks to David for allowing us to take over his house for the weekend. Thanks also to Johanna for arranging the course and organizing the food and to Melissa and Kevin as the gourmet chefs.

This course is highly recommended. We all love kayaking because we can get away from civilization and paddle in wild and remote areas. With this training, I feel much better equipped to handle the unexpected (give or take a strangulated hernia).

Further information can be found on the Canadian Wilderness Medical Training web-site:

[Past Trip Reports from the Archives]

email: glska@canada.com