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Should I be an EMT?

There are many advanced medical programs available, EMT-B is only one of them. Here are a few options you have through KCSARA that might just fit your purposes better. Only you know what's best for you. If you have any questions, please email KCSARA's EMS Training Officer, Joanne Bottenberg, at Joanne.Bottenberg@comcast.net.

Mountain Oriented First Aid (MOFA)

MOFA is an adjunct to, and required for graduation from, The Mountaineers' Basic and Intermediate Climbing, Alpine Scrambling, and Telemark Ski courses. The course covers injuries common to mountaineering activities, and first aid in wilderness situations. The 25-hour course is based on the American Red Cross Standard First Aid Course but goes beyond the Red Cross Course by adding "extended care" to situations where help is hours, or even days, away. MOFA is always offered in conjunction with the American Red Cross (ARC).

The MOFA Refresher (MOFAR) Course is a one-day (12-hour) course taken every three years that provides a review and update of first aid information and an opportunity for participants to practice and demonstrate their skills in five realistic injury scenarios. Note that KCSARA requires a refresher every two years, regardless of the expiration of the card.

Contact Seattle Mountaineers for course schedule information.

Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

A wilderness first responder is trained to deal with any situation that may be encountered in the wilderness. A person must undergo a wilderness first responder training course and certification. These courses are usually focused primarily on teaching the students to assess a situation and use available resources to stablize the patient. They usually include, but are not limited to, the following principles

The course usually entails 75-80 hours of work and may or may not include certification.

Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC)

Outdoor Emergency Care® is the National Ski Patrol's (NSP) award-winning training program for patrollers and others in the recreation community who deal with emergency situations. This nationally recognized program is designed to help you manage the toughest emergencies, in all seasons. Developed in the late 1980s for the 26,000 members of the National Ski Patrol, Outdoor Emergency Care is a training program that is tailored to the nonurban rescuer. Over the years, OEC has evolved to address the needs of other outdoor-based emergency care providers too, including wilderness medical technicians, river rafting and mountaineering guides, members of search and rescue groups, mountain bike patrollers, and parks and recreation employees. Today, OEC is considered the standard of training for emergency care in the outdoor environment and is recognized by resorts and recreational facilities in all 50 states.

An OEC course typically runs 80 to 120 hours in length. OEC Technicians must complete annual refreshers and maintain a professional level CPR certification to remain certified.

Students are responsible for the tuition and personal supplies when attending an OEC class. OEC classes generally run $300 to $400 for the general public, and $30 to $40 for a member or associate of the National Ski Patrol and affiliated organizations.

Pre-requisites:

For courses and annual refreshers being held in the Washington area

Please contact Mike Graves (NW OEC Administrator)
mike_graves@hotmail.com
or (206) 409-3987.

To become an Affiliate Member of the National Ski Patrol

Contact registration@nsp.org
or call 303-988-1111 (ask for Registration Department)

Last updated on July 05, 2007.