Backcountry Medical: Course Information

Course Information

Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)-

Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) courses are nationally recognized continuing education programs, 16 hours for prehospital emergency health care professionals that bring the care of the trauma patient into a single focus.

PHTLS courses provide a prehospital trauma care philosophy, stressing the need to treat the multisystem trauma patient as a unique entity with specific needs. This may require an approach to the trauma patient that varies from traditional treatment modalities.

PHTLS courses are based on the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), a course for physicians developed by the American College of Surgeons-Committee on Trauma. More importantly, PHTLS courses follow the principles of care of trauma patients as developed by the Committee on Trauma.

The primary goals of Prehospital Trauma Life Support are as follows:

To provide a description of the pathophysiology and kinematics of injury
To provide an understanding of the need for a rapid assessment of the trauma patient
To advance the participant's level of knowledge in regard to examination and diagnostic skills
To enhance the participant's performance in the assessment and treatment of the trauma patient
To provide an overview and establish a management method for the prehospital care of the multisystem trauma patient

The PHTLS course is designed to provide the practicing prehospital care provider with a specific body of knowledge related to the prehospital assessment and care of the trauma patient. It is stressed that this is a continuing education program and contains information that may be a review for some or all participants. The uniqueness of this program rests not with an entirely new body of knowledge but instead with advances in prehospital trauma intervention techniques. We are using new combinations and application of existing skills and knowledge to better our patients' chances at surviving traumatic events.

Course Length: 2-day (16 hours)

Upon completion you will receive an a PHTLS Certification card good for 4 years.

Basic Wilderness First Aid (BWFA)-

Basic Wilderness First Aid is an intensive eight to ten hour course for those who are involved in wilderness recreation. This course may also meet the needs of casual hikers, hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, volunteers and professionals who lead groups on short trips in relatively low-risk situations.

Prerequisites- None.

Recommended book- AAOS Wilderness First Aid: Emergency care for Remote Locations

Cost $95

Upon completion you will receive an ECSI Basic Wilderness First Aid Card good for 3 years

Wilderness First Aid (WFA)-

Want to push your wilderness training to the next level?

Wilderness First Aid is an intensive 16- to 20-hour course for those who are involved in serious wilderness activities. This course is the choice of many wilderness trip leaders, Search and Rescue Volunteers, avid hunters, people who go on extended trips into the backcountry and guides.

Prerequisites- None. Basic First Aid recommended.

Cost $165

Book: AAOS Wilderness First Aid: Emergency care for Remote Locations (Included)

Upon completion you will receive an ECSI Wilderness First Aid Card good for 3 years.

Wilderness First Responder (WFR)-

The Wilderness First Responder course is an intensive 80 hour course designed to give you the tools to deal with more complex emergencies in remote environments.

Prerequisites- None

Upon completion you will receive an ASHI Wilderness First Responder Card and CPR for the Professional Rescuer.

Please contact us at info@backcountrymedical.com for pricing

Wilderness EMT/Prolonged Prehospital Emergency Care

Our Wilderness EMT/PPEC is tailored to people working or wishing to work in remote wilderness environments. We pick up where traditional urban EMT courses leave off. This is an intensive 100+ hour class culminating in a 2-day field exercise. Prerequisites- Must be a current state or National Registry EMT prior to admission.

Upon completion you will receive an ASHI Wilderness EMT certification, Washington State PPEC and CPR for the Professional Rescuer.

Please contact us at info@backcountrymedical.com for pricing

Whitewater Rescue Technician-

This course is designed specifically for professional guides, private boaters, fish and game personnel, and others who work or play on or around flowing water. Students will benefit from this intensive, hands-on course and will learn to use techniques and simple equipment to assess and perform river rescues. Presented in three-day format and focuses on real problems that students may face. The emphasis is on speedy, low-tech, and improvised rescue techniques that are effective and require minimal equipment.

Minimum age: 18 years old

Basic Equipment needed (equipment available for rent at additional cost)-

-Full Wetsuit or Drysuit

-Lightweight water or kayak helmet

-USCG Type III or V approved Personal Floatation Device

-Thick soled water boots or tennis shoes

-Gloves

Cost $345

Book included

Upon completion will receive an Rescue 3 Whitewater Technician Certification

Swiftwater Rescue Technician Unit 1

SRT 1 is an intensive, three-day class (24-30 hours) that includes one day of classroom instruction followed by two days of developing and practicing water rescue skills. The initial emphasis of this course is on self-rescue skills and covers all of the skills taught in Operations, Swiftwater First Responder. In addition, other skills include:

rescuing and extricating an accident victim from the water.
safely swimming in swiftwater and maneuvering so as to negotiate river hazards and obstacles at various water levels.
handling small inflatable boats by paddle, oar and on tether.
knowing the responsibilities of law-enforcement and on-scene leadership.
understanding swiftwater rescue team organization and the response of the victim.
utilizing climbing and technical rescue gear applicable to swiftwater rescue.
fording shallow and fast-moving water utilizing various techniques.
crossing deep, slow-moving and fast-moving water utilizing basic climbing gear, small boats, and combinations of the two.

This course provides the fundamentals of swiftwater rescue
and is recommended for anyone who may be called upon
to affect in-water rescues

Minimum age: 18 years old

Basic Equipment needed (equipment available for rent at additional cost)-

-Full Wetsuit or Drysuit

-Lightweight water or kayak helmet

-USCG Type III or V approved Personal Floatation Device

-Thick soled water boots or tennis shoes

-Gloves

Cost $375

Book included

Upon completion will receive an Rescue 3 Swiftwater Rescue Technician Certification

Basic First Aid

Basic first aid is designed to teach participants to recognize the signs and symptoms of injuries and sudden illness. Crucial information about how to deal with emergencies like shock, burns, strains, strokes and seizures.
This program was reviewed by and meets the guidelines of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration and the Department of Transportation.

Basic First Aid Cost $40

Basic First Aid + Adult CPR $55

Basic First Aid + Adult, Child and Infant CPR $60

Electronic Student Book included