University News
Wilderness First Responder Course at WIU
January 9, 2007
MACOMB, IL -- You're backpacking in a remote area of a national park when a member of your party falls into a ravine and breaks his leg and you're miles from help. With any luck you've learned how to handle emergencies in the outdoors through Western Illinois University's Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course.
The 72-hour hands-on class will be held during Western's Spring Break, Saturday, March 10 through Sunday, March 18 at Western's Horn Field Campus, south of Macomb. According to Horn Field Campus Program Director Mindy Harpman, the intensive training course is recognized as the world's leading provider of remote emergency training.
"This course is a must for an outdoor professional or an enthusiast," Harpman said. "The last few days of the course will provide students an opportunity to role play different emergency scenarios as victims or rescuers in the woods."
Professional instructors from the Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) will lead the course. According to the WMA, the mandatory fast paced classes will teach students about, among other things, wilderness rescue and backcountry medicine. Mornings are devoted to lectures and exams, while afternoons are devoted to practical hands-on experience with a number of rescue simulations. The evenings are reserved for studying and assignments.
For those individuals already possessing WMA and CPR certifications, a WFR recertification course will be held Monday and Tuesday, March 19-20.
Graduates will receive the following certifications: WFR, Anaphylaxis and American Heart Association CPR.
For more information or to register by the Wednesday, Feb. 7 deadline, contact Harpman at 309/833-5798 and MJ-Harpman@wiu.edu or Tammie Leigh Brown at 309/298-2026 and TL-Brown3@wiu.edu. Cost is $600 before Jan. 31 ($650 after Jan. 31), which includes all course materials, lodging and use of the lodge kitchen.
For curriculum information, call WMA at 888/WILD-MED or visit www.wildmed.com.
* EDITOR'S NOTE: Reporters and film crews may be able to attend the final simulations March 17 and March 18; however, advance notice is required. For more information or to attend, contact Mindy Harpman at Horn Field Campus, 309/833-5798 or Darcie Shinberger, University Relations, 309/298-1993.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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