Preparing For Anything: Paddler First Aid Training

August-September 1999

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Sue Handel

Prior to the start of each summer kayak season, guides of all descriptions clamor to certify the necessary aspects of their "tool kit - VHF radio operators certificate, food service course and guide exam among other things. For me, the next thing on the list was Advanced Wilderness First Aid and, to tell you the truth, I wasn't looking forward to it.

My fear of first aid stems from an occupational first aid course that I took for tree planting a few years ago. Our instructor was not good at creating what I would call an effective learning environment. He would put a plastic Annie doll in front of me (the ones used for practicing CPR), and then read out an accident scenario for me to "solve". I've block out most of tile experience, but I do recall a scenario that went something like this:

"You come across a person who appears to be unconscious but no one knows what happened to him and he doesn't work for you. There's a grain silo near by, the guy is wearing steel-toed boots, he's got coffee breath and a paper cut on his left index finger. What do you do? You've got three minutes, now GO!"

As I would try to figure out what to do for this "Annie" person, the instructor would lean over my shoulder, shouting out how many seconds I had left before my patient died.

So needless to say, the prospect of signing up for another round of first aid torture-I mean training-made me nervous.

Fortunately, this time the kayak gods were looking out for me. When I finally worked up the nerve to register for the course, the phone was answered by Tracy Fry at Slipstream Wilderness First Aid in Victoria, BC.

Tracy is the oh-so-friendly voice behind Slipstream's Wilderness First Aid headquarters and I'm not kidding you when I say that she is the main reason I carried through with the whole thing. Her cheerful, calming nature convinced me that I was doing the right thing, that becoming a kayak guide was worth the effort of this course.

So I booked time off and warned my friends not to call. I knew that for the duration of the 10 day course, I would do nothing but eat, sleep and breathe first aid.

Enter Brooks Hogya, one of the co-founders of Slipstream and the owner/operator of Slipstream Wilderness First Aid. With his incredible knowledge of the backcountry, Brooks has been teaching advanced wilderness first aid since 1991. On the first day of class he set down a few ground rules. The first was that we would be evaluating each other's progress frequently and that constructive criticism was the order of the day. This brought about instant relief from visions of the militaristic inclinations of my previous first aid instructor. Brooks' second point was that this course wouldn't be about memorizing scenarios as much as about coming up with creative solutions.

At times, our classroom focus would wain a little and we would find ourselves querying Brooks about his experiences with medical rescues. He obliged us with a few stories, but insisted that apart from being entertaining (sensationalists that we are) his stories didn't serve to teach the hard and fast rules that we were looking for. Rather, the lesson was that there are no hard and fast rules. A sensible approach goes a long way towards survival in the wilderness and Brooks wanted to focus our minds on thinking critically rather than memorizing.

During the 10 day course we spent a lot of time outside, learning to build shelters, splints and stretchers out of whatever was available. Tarps, sleeping bags, tree branches and kayak paddles became intricate parts of our medical kit. Most of the students in my course were sea kayak guides and Brooks adapted the course to fit the conditions in which we would likely find ourselves. Brooks is a pretty laid back guy, but don't let him catch you off guard. In this course-as in real life, we had to be prepared for anything. We found ourselves at the ocean, in the ocean, in the rain and in the dark. No wonder they recommend bringing a change of clothes!

Slipstream offers three levels of first aid training: the 32 hour Essentials course, the 56 hour Essentials For Leaders course and the 80 hour Advanced wilderness First Aid which I took in accordance with the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance requirements for full guide certification. Non-guides should also consider taking a course in first aid. Weekend courses can easily be fit into busy schedules and Slipstream can also create custom courses for groups.

Brooks utilizes a massive mental library of creative scenarios to teach. Equally massive is his mental library of 1980's tunes to which he knows all the words. This may or may not impress you, but the course will.

To find out more, call 1-800-760-3188 (you'll get to speak with Tracy) or browse www.slipstreamadventures.com. The next advanced wilderness first aid course takes place in Victoria BC on August 21-30, 1999. Pre-registration is required.