These classes fit well into my preparedness and survival regimen because whether I’m in an urban or wilderness setting there is always the possibility of injury or illness. Typically there is more advanced equipment available in urban settings but general first aid and CPR are applicable in each environment. Knowing what to do in an emergency can save lives!

The photo illustrates the First Aid Recovery Position. Putting someone in the recovery position will keep their airway clear and open. It also ensures that any vomit or fluid won’t cause them to choke. It is meant to protect a person who is unconscious but has regular breathing and pulse.

To achieve this position start by placing the person on their back and kneel on the floor by their side. Take the arm nearest you and lift it outstretched above their head. Lift their other arm and place their hand on the shoulder nearest you so that the back of their hand is touching their cheek. Bend the knee farthest from you into an upright position. Grasping their far shoulder in one hand and the far knee with the other, pull them toward you so that their body rolls on axis until they are laying on their side facing you. Their head will be in a slight downward position enabling any fluids to drain and helps to keep their airway open. It is best to stay with the person and monitor their condition until help arrives.

First Aid and CPR courses are developed by organizations such as Red Cross, American Health & Safety Institute (ASHI), and American Heart Association and may be offered online or at different locations such as YMCA, Red Cross centers, Colleges, your workplace, or other Public Service organizations. It’s a great investment of time and money for the ability to save lives, including yours!

I was able to learn a few things with a little guidance from my friend: a single upstream pointing “V” indicates a rock to avoid; when encountering a double upstream pointing “V” you can pass between them safely; on the downstream side of a rock there is often an “eddy” that you can steer into which is generally calm and can sometimes draw your kayak upstream slightly – this is a good place to “park” and rest a bit. I had a variety of experiences, sometimes reading the current correctly and shooting through and a few times reading it wrong and hanging up on the rocks… a very educational experience.

When we beached the kayaks it was relatively easy to disembark and then re-board, however, I took a dump at the final exit point at some stairs along the bank of the river. I was glad to have a waterproof case for my phone. On the bright side I was able to collect two new lures just prior to my exit from fishing lines that had snagged in some trees so it helped to off-set my embarrassment.

There are more difficult passages to conquer in the future but this was a great entry into my first river experience and I’m sure more training will provide more confidence and safety to meet the new challenges ahead.

As part of my job requirements I attend First Aid and CPR classes bi-annually for certification. Because of the public/corporate environment there, other segments included are the operation of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Emergency Oxygen Administration. In the photo I am practicing how to transport an unconscious person out of harms way by moving them along their spinal axis to avoid possible injury.

In my case the fees involved for these courses are covered by my employer as they are part of my job requirements but some companies have instituted a safety training program at their workplace and seek volunteers for training. This may be your opportunity to gain knowledge and experience so that you can be prepared to help yourself, family, friends, and your community in the event of medical emergencies.

Some folks who are reading this are already certified or may have been certified in the past. As in any field of endeavor there are always changes and improvements. If you fall in the category of “previously certified” you may want to consider enrolling in a current class to become familiar with updates and perhaps clear the fog of time and fading memory. There’s no substitute for “hands-on” learning for clarity and confidence.

First Aid and CPR courses are developed by organizations such as Red Cross, American Health & Safety Institute (ASHI), and American Heart Association and may be offered online or at different locations such as YMCA, Red Cross centers, Colleges, your workplace, or other Public Service organizations. It’s a great investment of time and money for the ability to save lives, including yours!

It’s comforting to know that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responders are equipped with proper professional tools and supplies. However, most of us are not equipped beyond a simple first aid kit for day-hike trips or car kits. These usually consist of sterile wipes, adhesive bandages, gauze and possibly a variety of ointments. These are all good supplies but are limited and don’t address the primary rule of first aid response “universal protection”.

“Universal protection” is the approach by responders to employ appropriate barriers to possible transfer of infectious diseases when attending to persons requiring first aid. More folks are becoming aware of this need and have begun to carry disposable gloves as part of their kit. However if none are available, you can use other barriers such as sandwich bags, bread bags or shopping bags as gloves.

There are other ways in which to improvise first aid supplies. Towels, new diapers, or absorptive feminine hygiene items can be used as a compress to suppress external bleeding wounds. Rolled up magazines or newspapers can be used to stabilize possible broken limbs. Bandanas can be used as slings and bindings for stabilization.

“Improvising” is a key element in survival whether for shelter, food, or navigation, but in the initial response to a first aid scenario it can make a huge difference in the victim’s chance for full recovery and in the extreme case for life or death.