Course Syllabus

OLE 1542 Wilderness First Responder

Course Description

This course addresses the practice of advanced wilderness medical techniques and protocols for situations requiring extended patient care and management in remote, backcountry, or wilderness environments with limited resources. SOLO Wilderness First Responder Certification offered with successful completion. (Course fee required.)

Justification

The Wilderness First Responder is recognized as the industry standard for those who work in the backcountry or remote environments. Students who successfully complete OLE 1542 receive a nationally recognized certification through SOLO. This course may transfer as major credit, general education, or elective. It fulfills general education credit within the Integrated Exploration (IE) category.

General Education Outcomes

1. A student who completes the GE curriculum has a fundamental knowledge of human cultures and the natural world. Students will have an opportunity to experience and address issues dealing with patient care in remote, wilderness environments. They will learn and experience how outdoor environments can greatly impact treatment and care. The course will utilize case studies, written assignments, discussion, and practical hands-on applications.
2. A student who completes the GE curriculum can read and research effectively within disciplines. Students are required to read, retrieve, and interpret a variety of data from charts, graphs, maps, online resources, and print sources to complete assignments and activities. Retrieving, evaluating, and interpreting accurate data is essential for group effectiveness, efficiency, and safety. Students will be evaluated with case studies, written assignments, discussion, and practical hands-on applications.
3. A student who completes the GE curriculum can draw from multiple disciplines to address complex problems. Students will have opportunities to address complex problems. They will apply knowledge from multiple disciplines (including anatomy, science, and social science) to evaluate and address problems and assist in patient care and group management. Students will be evaluated with case studies, written assignments, discussion, and practical hands-on applications.
4. A student who completes the GE curriculum can reason analytically, critically, and creatively. Students will apply hands-on critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical reasoning while performing patient care in a wilderness/outdoor environment. Students will be assessed through discussion, practical application, and written assignments.

General Education Knowledge Area Outcomes

1. a) Students will apply teamwork, leadership and group management specific to a wilderness/outdoor medicine environment. Students must work and collaborate with each other both in small groups and as a class to achieve course goals and outcomes. Individual actions actions (lack of teamwork) can lead to real-life consequences. The nature of wilderness first responder requires an effective team who can trust each other in demanding situations while performing patient care in a remote setting. Working effectively as a team will be assessed through discussion and practical assessment. a) Students will apply teamwork, leadership and group management specific to a wilderness/outdoor medicine environment. Students must work and collaborate with each other both in small groups and as a class to achieve course goals and outcomes. Individual actions actions (lack of teamwork) can lead to real-life consequences. The nature of wilderness first responder requires an effective team who can trust each other in demanding situations while performing patient care in a remote setting. Working effectively as a team will be assessed through discussion and practical assessment.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Convey the role and limitations of wilderness first responders in pre-hospital emergency care including medicolegal issues.
2. Exhibit an understanding of the anatomy and physiology as well as pathophysiology at the WFR level of training.
3. Apply personal preparation, safety, and hygiene in the outdoor adventuring context.
4. Recognize, treat, and prevent wilderness medical emergencies.
5. Demonstrate proficiency in improvising, organizing, and implementing wilderness medical care.

Course Content

This course promotes a learning environment by focusing on building community, where each student has the opportunity to develop physically, emotionally and intellectually as it relates to wilderness first responder. Efforts are made to make learning meaningful and transferable by providing multiple perspectives and various viewpoints by using several methods/activities to deliver course content which focuses on prehospital, emergency patient care in a wilderness environment including: the patient assessment system and finding and treating medical, environmental, and traumatic injuries.