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Blog post:
WFR Recertification Tips
Date:
this blog came out some time before year 2017. A facebook blog app
ceased to function, and MEDIC's back-up captured the content but not the date of
writing.
Taking the MEDIC SOLO WFA class to recertify your Wilderness First Responder?
Here are some special notes and tips for you.
1) Here's a nifty online
quiz, helping to refresh your knowledge.
Notes:
> Many of the questions are WFResponder level, some are higher level.
> A few of the questions don't jive with SOLO protocols. The treatment protocols
taught at the major wilderness medical schools are mostly the same, but there
are some differences.
> Terminology: there are a few differences as compared to what SOLO
teaches. For some things, there are multiple commonly-understood terms out
there which mean the same thing.
> With all of the above in mind, this is a great tool and fun to take / test
yourself and refresh your memory (or inspire in you some new-learning research).
Enjoy!
2) As noted in the course final details .pdf you found / will find near
the bottom of the registration form, you *must* bring in to class any rigid
element that's at least as tall as your shoulder (NOT a trekking pole), which
you will use in improvising a fractured femur traction splint. An
instructor will teach / assist you as needed.
3) At the end of the WFA class, you'll receive a 2-year WFA certification card,
as a temporary hold-over. The SOLO home office controls the issuance of
WFR recert cards.
4) The first few pages of the WFR re-cert packet you'll receive, have a form and
instructions on what to mail directly to SOLO to receive your 3-year SOLO WFR
cert card, *after* completing this 2-day upcoming class. The instructions
note that
> if you don't have current CPR certification, you'll have two months from the
end of this class to get it, via an AHA, Red Cross, or equivalent course which
has a hands-on component (not just online; and ignore "Heartsaver Plus"
requirement in the instructions); and
> you need to "sign a WFR review roster"... all you'll need to do on this point
is put your name on the course grade sheet that I'll pass around at the
beginning of class.
5) Compared to your original 72- to 80-hour WFR class, the 2-day class can't
cover all WFR topics. The topics covered in the 2-day course are the ones
SOLO feels are most likely to be encountered in-field. Here are the
additional WFR topics NOT covered in this 2-day class; consider focusing your
own review time on these topics in preparation for the written test at the end
of class, and feel free to ask your instructor any WFR-specific questions in
class (either during breaks, or after class) – Matt is also a WFR instructor and
will be very happy to chat with you.
[in order of the topics presented in the WFR recert packet you will receive in
class, or by mail if you spent the extra $5]:
- MedicoLegal Issues
- History of Present Illness (e.g. OPQRST)
- Improvised Traction Splinting
- Dislocations
- Cardiothoracic Trauma
- Head Injuries
- Abdominal and Genitourinary Trauma
- Drowning and Near-drowning
- Altitude-related Illnesses
- Changes in Level of Consciousness - Central Nervous System
- Pneumonia
- Spontaneous Pneumothorax
- Angina Pectoris
6) In autumn 2014, the SOLO doc published a first-rate, world-class, brand new
"WILDCARE" textbook, now used in new WFR and WEMT courses (sorry, SOLO only
includes the new textbook in new, full-on WFR and WEMT classes). With 329
color pages (see "Sample Pages" file in the link below) chock full of
photographs, diagrams, and interesting factoids. It's pretty fantastic,
with tons of additional learning including extra topics not covered in WFR.
It serves as an awesome reference manual, and MEDIC highly recommends it.
Check it out.
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Jan. 16-17, 2021:
Norfolk
area, VA
Jan. 23-24:
Farmville, VA
Jan. 30-31:
Harrisonburg / Staunton
area, VA
Feb. 20-21:
Richmond, VA
Wilmington
area,
NC
Feb. 27-28:
Norfolk
area, VA
Mar. 6 - 7:
Chattanooga
area, TN
Spring weekends t.b.d., tentative:
CO Springs,
CO
Denver, CO
Grand Junction,
CO
Greeley,
CO
Indianapolis, IN
Mar. 20-21:
Charlottesville,
VA
Mar. 27-28:
Norfolk
area, VA
Washington
DC area
Apr. 10-11:
Lexington, VA
PhiladelphiaPA area
Apr. 24-25:
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VA
Triangle area
west, NC
May 8 - 9 or 15-16:
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VA
May 15-16:
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May 22-23:
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May 29-31 (3 days):
Mountains retreat above Blacksburg,
VA
June 5 - 6:
Washington
DC area
June 19-20:
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June 26-27:
Advanced WFA Pt II, Old Fields, WV
Sep. 4 - 6 (3 days):
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