Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities

Founded in 1976 as a school dedicated to teaching WIlderness and Emergency Medicine, SOLO has provided emergency medical training for professional guides, mountain rescue teams, NOLS, Outward Bound, the Appalachian Mountain Club, Natahala Outdoor Center, the Sierra Club, the National Park Service, thousands of individual outdoor enthusiasts as well as fire, rescue and ambulance services.SOLO is staffed by a group of dedicated outdoor professionals who are involved in wilderness activities, adventures and expeditions. Their qualifications range from WEMT's, to paramedics and physicians. SOLO's instructors are active healthcare providers involved on mountain rescue teams, fire departments and ski patrol services. They instruct from a hands-on, pre-hospital level of experience using currently accepted techniques and procedures which are constantly under review by physicians and emergency care professionals serving SOLO in an advisory capacity. Combining the theoretical with the experiential, SOLO Wilderness and Emergency Medicine courses are designed to teach the skills and knowledge for a successful rescue operation or outdoor venture. Regardless of the course, emphasis is always on awareness and prevention with lots of hands-on experience.

 May 31-June 1, July 5-6

 While much of the material appears to be standard emergency care information given on all standard fist aid courses, the backcountry emphasis, long-term patient care  and evacuation complications make this course unique. Course material can be modified to meet the specific needs and issues relevant to the participating group, ie:  cycling, hiking, kayaking, climbing etc.

 * If you have a group of 10 or more interested in taking the WFA course, custom course dates can be arranged to meet your group's schedule. Please  contact Esprit for more details.

 Advanced Wilderness First Aid (WAFA): 36 hours

 May 20-23, July 15-18

 $475 (tuition only)

 Wilderness First Responder (WFR): 72 - 80 hours

 April 12-19, May 10-18, August 9-17

 $675 (tuition only)

 Fast becoming the international standard for wilderness trip leaders and commercial guides, the 72 hour Wilderness First Responder is complete medical training for  anyone tripping or working in remote environments. The WFR curriculum uses the principles of long-term patient care, improvised resources and varying environmental  conditions as the framework for learning.

 Course highlights include: Patient Assessment, medicolegal concerns, blood borne pathogens and infectious disease, trauma and medical emergencies, environmental  hazards such as hypothermia and heat injuries, long term patient management, improvisational skills, basic search and rescue, patient packaging and evacuation  techniques, dislocations/reductions, spinal assessment/clearance, advanced wound management, CPR certifications and protocols as well as practical simulations and  mock scenarios to optimize learning opportunities. The WFR course is fast paced and both physically and mentally challenging.

 Created to provide outdoor leaders and guides with the knowledge and skills necessary to deal with crises in remote settings, the WFR course meets and exceeds all  licensing standards in Canada and most DOT (Department of Transportation) standards in the US for outdoor guides/professionals and emergency care givers.

 * The WFR course is provided by both SOLO and WMA. Check course dates for specifics on the course provider linked to each date. There are some slight variations in  course content between course providers, however, the differences are minimal. For specifics, please contact Esprit's office at 1-800-596-7238.

 * If you have a group of 10 or more interested in taking the WFR course, custom course dates can be arranged to meet your group's schedule. Please  contact Esprit for more details.

 April 12-May 2

 COURSE OVERVIEW:

 The Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician course has been brought to Canada to  provide individuals, outdoor professionals, EMS providers and search & rescue  services with advanced wilderness medical training.

 Going beyond the Wilderness First Responder, the WEMT is designed to exceed the  US Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements for EMT-Basic certification, with  the basic 110 hour curriculum necessary for successful completion of the National  Registry of EMT's examination. In addition, there are 50+ hours of wilderness-specific  training integrated throughout the course. The wilderness training includes treatment  for  emergencies such as extended patient care, severe environments, limited  resources,  aggressive wound cleaning, toxins, diving injuries, altitude problems, etc.

 COURSE FORMAT

 The W-EMT Basic is 180+ hours of integrated lectures, practicals and simulations. The  classes run Mondays to Fridays, 8:30am to 5:00pm, with weekends and evenings set  aside for clinicals, practice, ,studying, case studies and relaxation. The W-EMT Basic  course is split in two components. The first half of the course will take place at  Esprit's basecamp in Davidson, Quebec. Esprit's facility is situated on the banks of  the Ottawa River and provides easy access to the river for whitewater paddling as  well as to the local bike trails. The second half of the course will take place at SOLO's  wooded campus in North Conway, Hew Hampshire - in the heart of the White  Mountains. The move to the US is made to comply with licensing requirements for the  National Registry's EMT-Basic certification. Accommodation at Esprit is provided in  Esprit's HI Hostel which is shared accommodation in dorm-style rooms of four. While  at SOLO in NH, accommodation is similar in style with shared accommodation in  small rooms of 4. At both locations, meals are healthy and delicious as well as  equally suitable for both vegetarians and meat lovers alike. Return transportation  to/from SOLO is provided for course participants at no additional charge.

 CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

 To fulfill certification requirements and gain valuable field experience, all students will  complete a minimum of10 hours of clinical rotations at local emergency rooms, clinics  and ambulance services.

 CERTIFICATIONS

 Upon successful completion of the W-EMT Basic course, students receive: CPR  certification (AHA - Health Care Provider), a SOLO W-EMT certification and a National  Registry of EMT's certification (NR-EMT). Currently, the NR-EMT is recognized at  various levels by 45+ states and is the only national certification available to EMT's.

 Since 1976, SOLO has trained more W-EMT's than any other school of its kind. SOLO  students have gone on to provide excellent emergency care to tens of thousands of  people from the house down the street to the wildest spots on the planet... all with the  skills acquired here! The SOLO W-EMT was the first and it remains the most up to  date, highly regarded and respected program of its kind in the world.

 COURSE SYLLABUS:

 A: Patient Assessment and Critical Care:

1. Wilderness emergency care versus urban emergency care
2. Medicolegal Issues
3. Infectious Disease Control
4. Body Systems Overview
5. Patient Assessment System
6. Kinematics: Mechanism of Injury
7. Vital Signs and Patient Exam
8. Patient Interview: History taking skills
9. SOAP NOTE
10. Backcountry essentials
11. Circulatory System
12. CPR
13. CPR considerations in the remote environment
14. Automated external defibrillation (AED's)

 B: The Principles and Management of Trauma

1. Soft tissue injuries
2. Blister care
3. bandaging techniques
4. Long term wound care
5. Burns
6. Facial injuries
7. Respiratory system
8. Shock
9. Airway management
10. Oxygen therapy
11. Caridothoracic trauma
12. Musculoskeletal System
13. Fractures (stable vs. unstable)
14. Joints and joint injuries
15. Splinting and splint improvisations
16. Head injuries
17. Spinal Anatomy
18. Spinal cord injury management
19. Litter packaging and transport
20. Abdominal cavity
21. Abdominal and genitourinary trauma

 C: Principals and Management of Environmental Emergencies

1. The Human Animal
2. Hypothermia
3. Cold Injuries of the extremities
4. Heat illness
5. Lightning
6. Drowning and near drowning
7. North American bites and stings
8. Altitude Illness and Injuries
9. Diving Emergencies and Dysbarisms
10. Allergic Reactions
11. Common Expedition Problems
12. Water disinfection
13. Long term patient care and monitoring
14. Death in the backcountry

 D: Principals and Management of Medical Emergencies

1. Medical Emergencies: Respiratory, Cardiovascular and Central Nervous systems
2. Diabetes Mellitus
3. Behavioral and Psychiatric emergencies
4. Acute Abdomen
5. Poisoning
6. Emergency Childbirth
7. Pregnancy: Changes and complications
8. Geriatric Medicine
9. Pediatrics

 E: EMS Operations and Mass Casualty Incidents

1. Mass casualty incidents
2. Incident command system
3. Hazardous materials
4. Lifting and carrying techniques
5. Wilderness survival skills
6. Personal first aid kit