Saturday November 07, 2009
OA First Aid & Safety Training
Whether you want to be prepared for an emergency on campus, at home, or when traveling in the wilderness, make sure you have the proper training to safeguard yourself and others. CPR and an approved wilderness first aid course can help prepare you to handle a first aid emergency.
HeartSaver CPR course (with AED training) 
Heart disease is a significant health problem that, according to the American Heart Association, affects nearly 8 percent of all Americans and results in nearly 350,000 deaths each year. While several electrical abnormalities can result in sudden cardiac arrest, the majority begin with ventricular fibrillation. Rapid treatment of ventricular fibrillation, through the application of a controlled electrical shock, is essential to the victim’s survival.
Outdoor Action teaches American Heart Association (AHA) CPR classes. Our HeartSaver CPR Course teaches lay rescuers how to recognize and treat life-threatening emergencies, including cardiac arrest and choking for adults and children over age 1. Students also learn to recognize the warning signs of heart attack and stroke in adults and breathing difficulties in children. This course will instruct you how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). People successfully completing the course will receive AHA certification good for two years. Outdoor Action also offers additional CPR courses during the school year including courses that cover CPR for adults, children and infants. Departments wishing to schedule a special course should contact 8-6230. CPR course fees: students $35, faculty/staff $50, OA leaders $25. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
- Tuesday, 11/3/09; 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Location: Frist MPR "B" ** CANCELLED **
- Thursday, 11/5/09; 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Location: Frist 307
- Friday, 11/6/09; 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Location: Frist 307
- Tuesday, 11/17/09; 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Location: Frist MPR "C"
HEART (Health Education and Rescue Training)
Wilderness First Aid 
This is an intensive Amercican Safety & Health Institute course that covers patient examination and evaluation, body systems and anatomy, wound care, splinting, environmental emergencies, and backcountry medicine. Hands-on simulations provide first-hand training in treating patients. This is an excellent course taught by experienced Wilderness First Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians and is highly recommended to anyone traveling in the outdoors. Successful completion of the WFA and CPR courses fulfills the First Aid requirements for OA Leader Training (other first aid courses do as well, contact the OA Office for more information). When there are two sections offered at the same time is possible to combine classes and take a Monday/Thursday class or a Tuesday/Wednesday class. Certifications: ASHI Wilderness First Aid is included for those who pass the course. WFA course fee: $105 leaders-in-training, $105 students, $130 faculty/staff. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
- "B" Section (Fridays, 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.): 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 11/13, 11/20, 12/4/09; Location: Jadwin Physics A09; or
- Fall Break "Fast Track" Section- (Wednesday, 11/4/09 through Sunday, 11/8/09, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.; Location: Jadwin Physics A09
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Course - Intersession 
Dates: Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., then daily 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ending Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, around noon
Location: On Campus (to be announced)
This 80-hour advanced first aid (WFR) course, taught be Wilderness Medical Associates, is specifically designed to emphasize the wilderness context-remote locations, severe environments and simple improvised equipment. The course will cover patient examination and evaluation, body systems and anatomy, trauma care, environmental emergencies, splints, wilderness rescue, and backcountry medicine. This course meets 10 hours each day with morning lectures and afternoon skills practice including simulated rescues, daily quizzes, and a final exam. Be prepared for awesome outdoor first aid simulations!
People who successfully complete this course receive a three-year certification and are eligible to teach wilderness first aid on campus. The course will be held on campus to make it easy for seniors and others to participate.
Fee: $515 OA Leaders, $615 Students, $715 Faculty/Staff. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: I am already certified in CPR do I have to take
CPR again?
Answer: All OA Leaders must be CPR certified. If you are currently
certified when HEART starts you do not need to take CPR at that time. However,
whenever your CPR expires you will need to take a refresher course.
Question: I am an EMT do I need to take HEART?
Answer: Emergency Medical Technician training is a great skill.
There are some fundamental differences between "street" first aid
and "backcountry" first aid. It is also important to understand OA
first aid protocols so all EMT's are required to take the HEART course. It will
be a bit of review and ensures that all OA staff are operating from the same
knowledge base.
Question: Do you offer Wilderness First Responder Courses?
Answer: Yes, we offer a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course each January during intersession. The course is 8 days long and it satisfies the OA first aid requirement for leaders.
Question: Do other first aid courses count?
Answer: The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and the Wilderness Advanced First Aid course (WAFA) offered by SOLO, Wilderness Medical Associates and the Wilderness Medicine Institute counts. The 16-hour Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course does not count as a replacement for HEART Wilderness First Aid.
EMT Courses
EMT-Basic courses for New Jersey (done by county) are listed at:
http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/dhss/ems/courses.pl
Van Driver Training
OA Leaders are strongly encouraged to become authorized van drivers. You must complete an online course and quiz on driving mini-vans. Drivers must also complete a 30-minute road test. To gain access to the online course and schedule a road test see the Public Safety Office website for more information (http://web.princeton.edu/sites/publicsafety/FleetSafety.htm).
Outdoor Safety Information
- OA Guide to Building Program Protocols - how to develop activity protocols for your outdoor program
- OA Guide to General Emergency Procedures - excerpt from The Backpacker's Field Manual
- OA Guide to Outdoor Safety Management - explains how accidents occur and how to reduce the risk of accidents through effective pre-trip planning and trip leadership.
- OA Guide to Developing a Safety Management Program - a guide for outdoor programs to help them implement a Safety Management Program.
- OA Guide to Planning a Safe River Trip - an article about how to run a safe river trip that applies the Dynamics of Accidents Model to paddling situations.
- OA Paddling Decision Tree - a checklist to help you decide "do I run this drop or not?"
- OA Sample Caving Protocols (Adobe Acrobat format)
- First Aiders Guide to Alcohol
- OA First Aid Protocols - DRAFT ONLY
- HEART Wilderness First Aid Course
- OA Guide to Giardia, Lyme Disease and other post trip illnesses
- OA Guide to Heat & Cold Weather Injuries - excerpt from The Backpacker's Field Manual
- OA Guide to Heat Related Illnesses & Fluid Balance
- OA Guide to Hypothermia & Cold Weather Injuries
- OA Guide to High Altitude: Acclimatization & Illness
- OA Guide to Water Purification
- Heat Index - Adobe Acrobat version (14K)
- Wind Chill Chart - Adobe Acrobat version (20K)
- Download free Adobe Acrobat reader
Other Health Information
- Environmental Health Services - Center for Disease Control
