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Wilderness First Responder (WFR) courses will be offered in March at Western Illinois University's Horn Field Campus. A 72-hour WFR course is slated for March 9-17 and a re-certification course is scheduled for March 18-20. According to Horn Field Campus Program Coordinator Mindy Pheiffer, these courses appeal to current and potential leaders, outdoor educators, wilderness and adventure guides, military personnel, professional search and rescue teams, individuals involved in disaster relief and recreationalists. The courses provide instruction about the skills and insight needed to improvise, adapt and exercise reasonable judgment for wilderness-related accidents and injuries. Information and online registration is available at www.wiu.edu/coehs/rpta/horn_field_campus/programs/training.php.
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Wilderness First Responder Courses at Horn Field Campus in March; Registration Deadlines Late Jan./Early Feb.

January 10, 2013

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MACOMB, IL - Enjoying the great outdoors is often filled with fresh air, exercise and camaraderie, particularly for those who love hiking, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing, climbing and camping. But spending time in the wilderness—whether the "wilderness" is located in a remote or urban location—can also bring injury and illness, turning what was meant to be an enjoyable experience into a life-threatening situation.

To provide training for wilderness enthusiasts, staff at Horn Field Campus at Western Illinois University will offer Wilderness Medical Associates International's Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Wilderness First Responder Re-Certification courses in March for the 20th consecutive year. The 72-hour Wilderness First Responder course is scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, March 9-17, coinciding with Western Illinois University's spring break. The re-certification course is slated for Monday-Wednesday, March 18-20. Horn Field Campus Program Coordinator Mindy Pheiffer noted the 24-hour re-certification course is for individuals who have been WFR certified in the past and need to renew his or her certification.

According to Pheiffer, these courses appeal to current and potential leaders, outdoor educators, wilderness and adventure guides, military personnel, professional search and rescue teams, individuals involved in disaster relief and recreationalists. The courses provide instruction about the skills and insight needed to improvise, adapt and exercise reasonable judgment for wilderness-related accidents and injuries.

"These are intense training courses, taught by accomplished professionals of the world's leading provider of remote emergency training," Pheiffer said. "Horn Field Campus is one of only two locations in Illinois to offer these courses."

According to the Wilderness Medical Associates' website, the organization was founded in 1984 by Dr. Peter Goth and has grown to be the world's leading wilderness medicine training company with more than 100 instructors teaching over 350 courses to 8,000-plus medical and non-medical students annually around the world.

"We are thrilled to have Edward Goett, WEMT [wilderness emergency medical technician], and Graham Stokes, WEMT, paramedic, as our WFR instructors this year," Pheiffer noted. "Edward was safety director for China's first and most professional guiding company Chinaclimb/Insight Adventures and has also worked as an outdoor educator and facilitator for Outward Bound Hong Kong. He has created and led adventure based educational trips all over Asia including Mongolia, Oman, Vietnam, Malaysia and mainland China. Graham is a volunteer firefighter in north central Ohio. He is also the owner and head guide of Tall Man Outfitters, which offers guided fishing, fly fishing instruction and dynamic wilderness medical training."

According to Pheiffer, as part of Wilderness Medical Associates International's commitment to medical rescue training, the instructors will evaluate the WFR courses' participants' needs, customize the curriculum and design instruction according to the group members' backgrounds, environmental locations and experiences. Simulations and hands-on activities will be realistic and relevant.

"I encourage anyone who would like to be prepared for the unexpected, regardless of his or her vocational background or skill level, to register for our Wilderness First Responder course," she added.

Wilderness First Responder Certification

Upon successful completion, students will receive a Wilderness First Responder certification and certification of CPR taught to an equivalent health care-provider level. Certifications are valid for three years.

Wilderness First Responder Re-Certification

All eligible students who complete the re-certification course will receive Wilderness Medical Associates' International Wilderness First Responder, anaphylaxis, and BLS/healthcare provider-level CPR certification. These certifications remain valid for three years.

Registration

Early registration cost for the 72-hour Wilderness First Responder course is $650. After Sunday, Jan. 27, registration cost is $700. A required deposit of $300 is due when registering. The balance is payable at check-in. Registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 1.

Early registration for the 24-hour Wilderness First Responder Re-Certification course is $300, and the registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 8. After Friday, Feb. 8, the registration cost is $350, providing there is availability. A required deposit of $200.00 is due when registering and the balance payable at check-in.

All registration fees include "Wilderness and Rescue Medicine: A Practical Guide for the Basic and Advanced Practitioner," "The Field Guide of Wilderness and Rescue Medicine," a wilderness medicine workbook, WFR class notes, SOAP [subjective objective anticipated plan] notebook, lodging at HFC and use of the Horn Field Lodge kitchen for meals.

For course information and the online registration form, visit www.wiu.edu/coehs/rpta/horn_field_campus/programs/training.php. For Wilderness First Responder curriculum information, visit www.wildmed.com/wilderness-medical-courses/first-response/wilderness-first-responder.php.

For more information, contact the WIU Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (which administers Horn Field Campus) at (309) 298-2026 or Pheiffer at Horn Field Campus via email at HF-Campus@wiu.edu. Learn more about Horn Field Campus at www.wiu.edu/hfc.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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