ACA & ARC

The ACA teams up with the American Red Cross:

Washington, DC [March 2010] – The American Red Cross and collaborating organizations – such as the American Canoe Association, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts – are now recruiting instructors nationwide for the new American Red Cross Wilderness and Remote First Aid course, which is designed for scouts, paddlers, hikers, other outdoor enthusiasts and people who work in remote wilderness environments.

Collaborating agencies seek instructors who will help meet training needs within their own organizations as well as that of others. With the course just released, the immediate goal is to develop widespread instructor capacity, which then can meet demand for the basic level training.

The new Wilderness and Remote First Aid course fills a real need across the country. Immediate care can help save lives and prevent serious injuries; and this course is an excellent means to help protect people who spend time outdoors for work or play.

Instructor candidates for this new program include scout leaders, canoeing and kayaking instructors, guides, camp directors, camp counselors, outdoor leaders, park rangers, teachers and adult youth leaders. Experience in the outdoors is recommended. Instructor candidates must be at least 17 years of age and have a valid basic-level certificate in Wilderness and Remote First Aid from the American Red Cross or equivalent training from another agency.

Any current American Red Cross instructor or instructor trainer in Emergency Response, Lifeguarding or Lay Responder First Aid/CPR/AED can easily bridge over to a Wilderness and Remote First Aid authorization through obtaining copies of the texts and participating in a few hours of online training. Red Cross instructors can find all the information they need and access to the online bridging course through the American Red Cross Instructor’s Corner (https://www.instructorscorner.org/RedCross).

A special class for new instructors is being conducted April 16-18, 2010 at Ft. Fisher North Carolina – For more information and registration, go to this website: http://preparednessandresponseconference.com Check it weekly for updates and news about this and other training.

The new 16-hour Wilderness and Remote First Aid course gives people the skills needed to respond to an emergency when help may be delayed. The course includes training on:
· Head (Brain), Neck and Spinal Injuries
· Heat-Related Emergencies
· Hypothermia
· Altitude-Related Illnesses
· Allergies and Anaphylaxis
· Burns
· Bone and Joint Injuries
· Wounds and Wound Infection

The course also offers enhanced content and topics to meet OSHA’s Best Practices for Workplace First Aid Training Programs—particularly important for occupational environments that are impacted by federal regulations.

The course is based on the Boy Scouts of America Wilderness First Aid Curriculum and Doctrine Guidelines, which were developed by a joint task force involving Boy Scouts, Red Cross, and a number of subject matter experts from a number of backgrounds, including Wilderness Medical Society. Many of these same experts worked on developing the new Red Cross program. Further, it has been reviewed and/or supported by the American Camp Association, American Canoe Association, National Recreation and Park Association, and JCC Association.

To find out how you can become an instructor or participate in Wilderness and Remote First Aid training, contact your local Red Cross Chapter, go to www.redcross.org

To find out more about what the ACA is doing on your behalf, visit: www.americancanoe.org