Cue in the valuable work of Canada's AdventureSmart search and rescue prevention program. Their goal is to give you the tools and knowledge to have a safe and enjoyable outing, regardless of your outdoor adventure passion. By following three easy steps, AdventureSmart believes that outdoor recreationalists will significantly improve their chances of survival should they become hurt or lost.
- Trip Planning (write a trip plan before you go and leave it with a friend or family)
- Training (obtain the skills and knowledge you need before heading out)
- Taking the Essentials (carry the essentials and know how to use them)
Even when you're fully prepared, all it takes is a turn in the weather, mistake in judgment, unexpected injury, equipment failure, or sudden nightfall to quickly change any recreational outing into a crisis. Add to that, bad weather or injuries can lead to further delays and an extended crisis. It's a harsh reality that the deeper you head into the backcountry, the higher your risk that help may not arrive for several days. This is where Wilderness First Aid and Outdoor Emergency Courses can play a critical role. They differ from typical first aid classes which are designed for situations where emergency response professionals can get there quickly — you're trying to keep a person safe, while waiting for professional help to arrive. In additional to medical training and CPR 'C' certification, a Wilderness First Responder curriculum is supplemented with unique approaches required when responding in isolated and extreme environments. Supplementary topics can include leadership, critical thinking for outdoor/low-resource environments, and the wilderness medicine triad: hypothermia, hypoglycemia and hypovolemia.
"It is all right to talk about roughing it in the woods. But the real woodsman is the man who can be really comfortable in the bush." ~Ernest Hemingway