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Wilderness First Responder Click For Registration Form WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course has been created for guides, outdoor leaders, field workers (e.g. biologists, geologists), CLICK rescue personnel and anyone who works or travels in an environment where there is no immediate backup support of the emergency medical system (911). COURSE DESCRIPTION The internationally recognized Wilderness First Responder course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to administer emergency and medical care in non-urban environments. The curriculum covers basic anatomy and physiology, assessment and treatment of a variety of injuries and illnesses, appropriate short-term to multi-day patient care, and evacuation considerations as applicable to remote environments. The Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) Wilderness First Responder training program is a nationally recognized program that trains participants to respond to emergencies in remote settings. The 80 hour curriculum includes standards for urban and extended care situations. Special topics include, but are not limited to: wound management and infection, realigning fractures and dislocations, improvised splinting techniques, patient monitoring and long term management problems, up-to-date information on all environmental emergencies, and advice on drug therapies. Emphasis is placed on prevention and decision-making. Course format includes lectures as well as hands-on application of skills. The course includes several major mock-accident scenes where students will be given the opportunity to assess, treat and evacuate patients. Video debriefs will also be used. The course includes a two-year American Heart Association provider-level CPR certification. CERTIFICATION Upon successful completion of practical and written exams, you will receive a three-year WMA Wilderness First Responder certification CLICK card, a two-year American Heart Association provider level CPR certification card, certification of blood-borne pathogen training, certification of anaphylaxis training, and a WMA patch and pin. Please Note: Complete course attendance is required to pass this course and receive certification. REGISTRATION & POLICIES Please fill out the enclosed registration form and include the non-refundable deposit in order to reserve a place in this course. The balance is due 30 days before the first day of the course. Tuition is payable by cash, check, money order, Visa or MasterCard. The tuition fee covers equipment, text, and all exam fees. Tuition is non-transferable. No tuition refunds will be given if you cancel your enrollment within 30 days of the start of the course. In the unlikely event that AMS would need to cancel the course, a full refund would be given. Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risks Release and Indemnity Agreement: You are required to sign this release form in order to participate in the course. This document will be mailed to you along with your acceptance packet. It must be signed and returned to AMS before the first day of class. Please read it very carefully as it affects your legal rights. If you are a minor, the document must be signed by both parents or guardians. Course participants, including minors, will have unsupervised free time throughout the course. Any activities during the free time are not part of the program and are at the sole risk of the participant. Class Format And Where To Meet The course will be held at AMS, in Talkeetna, Alaska, 113 miles north of Anchorage. Check in is at 7:45 AM on the first day. Course days will run from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with the exception of the final course day which may end at 6:00 or 7:00 PM. There will one day off on Day 5. Please note that this course is academic and very intensive. It involves long days, 50-100 pages of required reading each night, and a quiz each morning. There will be short breaks throughout each day, with a break for lunch and a 20-30 minute evening break for a quick dinner. We encourage students to bring snacks. The text for the course will be sent to you along with your acceptance packet. The course format integrates classroom lectures with practical scenarios, skills practice sessions, case studies, role-playing and simulated rescues. Attendance is required for all scheduled classes. Scenarios and practice sessions will take place both inside and outside. Please bring outdoor clothing appropriate for playing the role of both rescuer and patient, laying on the potentially wet, muddy, snowy and cold ground. Frequently, stage blood (moulage) and makeup will be used to emphasize the reality of a scenario. The classroom environment lends itself to a pair of comfy shoes or slippers. Bring your favorite pair to wear. Equipment And Clothing Temperatures in Talkeetna can range from the 50’s down to zero at night and there could be snow on the ground. Expect snow or rain, but hope for sunshine. Be prepared for Talkeetna’s climate with warm clothing. You will want to have sturdy, insulated boots, warm layers of upper and lower body clothing, waterproof jacket and pants, a warm hat and sun hat, sunglasses, headlamp or flash light, a watch with a second hand, and a day pack. An outdoor mock rescue is part of the curriculum, so please dress accordingly. Kneepads, a Crazy Creek chair, and a bike are also convenient. For those planning to camp at AMS, you will need a tent, warm sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove, cooking utensils, water jug and a food storage bin. Camping is free. Bring your rock shoes to boulder on AMS’ Matt Porter climbing wall. And, don’t forget your notebook, pens, and reusable mug for coffee and tea available during the course! Travel & How To Get To Class The course will take place at the Alaska Mountaineering School in Talkeetna, Alaska, population 800. Talkeetna is approximately 150 miles south of Denali National Park and 113 miles north of Anchorage (2 to 3 hours driving time, depending on road conditions and construction). From Anchorage, follow the Glen Highway/Route 1 north approximately 40 miles to the Parks Highway/Route 3 junction. Follow the Parks Highway/Route 3 north towards Fairbanks, traveling through the town of Wasilla. Continue driving about 65 miles to the Talkeetna Spur Road junction located at milepost 99. Turn right. The Talkeetna Spur Road is 14 miles long and ends in the town of Talkeetna. Once in town, turn left on Veteran’s Way, continue to the T and turn right onto D street. Take another right onto Third Street and follow it one block to the end. Alaska Mountaineering School is located at the end of Third Street on the left. Van shuttles offer service between Anchorage and Talkeetna. Prices range from $41 one way to $100+ roundtrip. Be sure to make your shuttle reservations before booking your flight to ensure that you’ll be able to arrive in Talkeetna on the day that you desire. Talkeetna Shuttle Service 907-373-8548 www.denalicentral.com Denali Overland Transportation 800-651-5221 www.denalioverland.com Parks Highway Express 888-600-6001 www.alaskashuttle.com Request a ticket into downtown Talkeetna. The Shuttle Man 907-677-8537 elvisonline@gci.net For information on flights to Alaska, travel within Alaska or Talkeetna lodging, contact Karey Larson at Talkeetna Travel: 907-733-8728, 888-567-8728, or www.talkeetnatravel.com. ANCHORAGE LODGING Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city with a population of 260,000 and is nestled against the Chugach Mountains. Bed and Breakfasts are often a more pleasant and less expensive options than hotels. Earth Bed and Breakfast 907-279-9907 www.alaskaone.com/earthbb Anchorage Guesthouse 907-274-0408 www.akhouse.com Executive Suite Hotel 800-770-6366 www.executivesuitehotel.com TALKEETNA LODGING You are welcome to camp at AMS for free. You will need to provide your own camping set up: warm sleeping bag, pad, tent, stove, pots, etc. We do not have any bathroom or water facilities available at the camping area. Showers are available for $3 at the Laundromat on Main Street. Bathrooms are located at the Ranger Station across the street. The Talkeetna Roadhouse will open in the evenings for a warm place to study and will offer a family-style breakfast and lodging special to course participants who wish to participate (a great deal!). The Talkeetna Hostel also offers a great deal to WFR students. Their options include camping with the use of indoor facilities, and bunk rooms. Please contact the Roadhouse or Hostel to find out more about their student lodging and breakfast specials. Other accommodations located nearby are: Talkeetna Roadhouse 907-733-1351 www.talkeetnaroadhouse.com Talkeetna Hostel International 907-733-4678 www.talkeetnahostel.com The Talkeetna Motel 907-733-2323 TalkeetnaMotel@netscape.net Swiss-Alaska Inn 907-733-2424 www.swissalaska.com Chinook Wind Cabins 800-643-1899 www.chinookwindcabin.com Student Special from the Talkeetna Roadhouse The Talkeetna Roadhouse is offering participants of the Wilderness First Responder and the recert a Lodging and/or Breakfast special. The special includes family style breakfast every morning at 7am (class starts at 8am), which includes: eggs, bacon, homemade homefries and toast, orange juice, lots of hot coffee and tea, and sometimes Trisha makes her delicious sourdough pancakes. The rooms are comfortable and share two full baths down the hall. The Roadhouse is a 10 minute walk to the WFR class room and three blocks from AMS. Please contact Trisha Costello at the Talkeetna Roadhouse if you wish to participate in this program. It is best to sign up a head of time. Phone number:    (907)733-1351 Email:    trisha@talkeetnaroadhouse.com Address:    Talkeetna Roadhouse    PO Box 604    Talkeetna, AK 99676 FOOD AND FACILITIES There are seven restaurants in Talkeetna, three small grocery stores, four bars, a lodge, three “motels”, and several bed and breakfasts. There is also an ATM machine, laundromat, and shower facilities. The closest grocery store is in Wasilla, which is a 1.5 hours drive south. It is best to stock up on food before arriving in Talkeetna if you choose to cook your own meals! Top of Page Travel & Lodging General Info Email Us Alaska Mountaineering School Colby Coombs & Caitlin Palmer, Directors PO BOX 566, 3rd Street, Talkeetna, AK 99676 USA phone: (907)733-1016 fax: (907)733-1362 email: info@climbalaska.org AMS top image: Alaska Range viewed from Talkeetna Mount Foraker (17,400'), Mount Hunter (14,570'), Denali (20,320') © 1996 AMS. All rights reserved. No portion of the text or images on this page may be reproduced without the express written consent of AMS. Website: Anya Zolotusky