Outdoor First Aid Course

Lesson 1 • The Outdoor First Aid Mindset

Defines the wilderness responder's role versus urban EMS and establishes core decision-making principles. Sets the mental framework for all subsequent skills.

Lesson 2 • Patient Assessment System Overview

Introduces the structured primary and secondary survey framework used throughout the course. Provides a repeatable process for evaluating any patient.

Lesson 3 • Scene Safety and Situational Awareness

Teaches systematic hazard identification before approaching any patient. Directly reduces responder injury and enables effective care.

Lesson 1 • Airway Management Fundamentals

Covers manual airway techniques and positioning for unconscious patients in outdoor environments. Establishes airway control as the first priority in life-threatening care.

Lesson 2 • Automated External Defibrillator Use

Trains students to operate an AED safely and integrate it into CPR sequences. Addresses moisture, cold, and terrain challenges unique to outdoor settings.

Lesson 3 • Rescue Breathing Techniques

Teaches mouth-to-mouth and barrier device ventilation for non-breathing patients. Builds on airway management to deliver effective rescue breaths.

Lesson 1 • Direct Pressure and Wound Packing

Teaches manual pressure and gauze packing for controlling severe wounds. Builds from basic pressure techniques to advanced packing for deep lacerations.

Lesson 2 • Tourniquet Application and Improvisation

Covers commercial tourniquet use and improvised alternatives for extremity haemorrhage. Addresses common errors and field-specific challenges.

Lesson 3 • Haemorrhage Recognition and Classification

Identifies arterial, venous, and capillary bleeding and assesses severity. Provides the diagnostic foundation for selecting appropriate bleeding control methods.

Lesson 4 • Infection Recognition and Prevention

Identifies early signs of wound infection and teaches preventive measures in austere environments. Prepares students to make evacuation decisions based on infection progression.

Lesson 1 • Upper Extremity Injury Management

Addresses shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand injuries common in outdoor activities. Applies splinting principles to specific upper extremity anatomical challenges.

Lesson 2 • Lower Extremity Injury Management

Covers femur, tibia, ankle, and foot injuries with emphasis on weight-bearing assessment. Connects lower extremity management to evacuation planning and patient mobility.

Lesson 3 • Assessing Musculoskeletal Injuries

Teaches the six P's assessment and neurovascular checks for extremity injuries. Provides the diagnostic framework used before any splinting or reduction attempt.

Lesson 1 • Spinal Anatomy and Injury Mechanisms

Reviews relevant spinal anatomy and identifies mechanisms that produce spinal injury. Provides the anatomical foundation for selective immobilisation decision-making.

Lesson 2 • Selective Spinal Immobilisation Criteria

Applies evidence-based criteria to clear or immobilise the spine without imaging in the field. Reduces unnecessary immobilisation while protecting high-risk patients.

Lesson 3 • Head Injury Assessment and Monitoring

Teaches Glasgow Coma Scale scoring and serial neurological assessments for traumatic brain injury. Identifies deterioration patterns requiring immediate evacuation.

Lesson 1 • Altitude Illness Recognition and Treatment

Covers acute mountain sickness, high-altitude pulmonary oedema, and high-altitude cerebral oedema. Teaches descent decisions and portable hyperbaric chamber use.

Lesson 2 • Hypothermia Recognition and Rewarming

Classifies hypothermia severity and applies field rewarming strategies matched to patient condition. Addresses the afterdrop phenomenon and cardiac risks during rewarming.

Lesson 3 • Heat-Related Illness Management

Distinguishes heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke and applies appropriate cooling interventions. Emphasises rapid cooling as the life-saving priority in heat stroke.

Lesson 4 • Lightning and Electrical Injuries

Addresses lightning strike triage, reverse triage principles, and field treatment priorities. Connects scene safety to patient assessment in ongoing storm conditions.

Lesson 1 • Seizure Management

Covers seizure types, patient protection during an episode, and post-ictal care in the field. Identifies red flags requiring urgent evacuation versus observation.

Lesson 2 • Diabetic Emergencies

Differentiates hypoglycaemia from hyperglycaemia and applies appropriate field interventions. Emphasises glucose administration as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool.

Lesson 3 • Chest Pain and Cardiac Events

Teaches recognition of acute coronary syndrome and differentiates cardiac from non-cardiac chest pain. Applies aspirin therapy and positions patients for optimal cardiac function.

Lesson 4 • Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reactions

Distinguishes mild allergic reactions from life-threatening anaphylaxis and administers epinephrine auto-injectors. Addresses repeat dosing and monitoring during prolonged evacuation.

Lesson 1 • Improvised and Commercial Litter Construction

Teaches construction of improvised litters from field materials and use of commercial rescue litters. Addresses load distribution and structural integrity for varied terrain.

Lesson 2 • Litter Carry Techniques and Team Coordination

Develops multi-person carry techniques for flat, steep, and technical terrain. Emphasises communication and role assignment within the carry team.

Lesson 3 • Evacuation Decision-Making and Planning

Applies urgency criteria to determine evacuation method, route, and timing. Synthesises patient assessment, environmental factors, and available resources into an evacuation plan.