From: paque@pangea.Stanford.EDU (Julie Paque)
Subject: Re: First Aid Classes
Organization: Stanford Univ. Earth Sciences
Distribution: ca
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1992 17:56:46 GMT

In article <1992Aug14.235622.6331@cco.caltech.edu> fritz@gumby.cs.caltech.edu writes:
>Several people have mentioned a "hiker-oriented advanced first aid" class
>offered by the American Red Cross.  As I know a little something of the
>class, I thought I might shed some light.
>
>The class of which I am aware is called "Advanced First Aid: Mountaineering
>Oriented"; it is offered under the auspices of the American Red Cross.
>It is offered in one place only, to the best of my knowledge: the ARC
>Los Angeles Chapter, Valley District, on Sherman Way in Van Nuys, CA.
>
>This is an unusual course.  It has been offered for quite some time --
>more than a decade, with two runs of the class per year.  If you are

The Palo Alto Area chapter has been offering a Wilderness oriented Advanced
First Aid class every spring for quite some time.  

(information concerning time commitment of course deleted)

>
>As I said, the class is unusual.  It is (or will soon be) the only ARC
>Advanced First Aid class offered anywhere, since the ARC is phasing out
>AFA in favour of the new "First Responder" classes.  The class is special:
>its curriculum was originally based on the "white book," but it has been
>significantly updated and expanded over the years, through the efforts of
>the instructors under the guidance of the ARC at the national level.

The AFA course is no longer going to be supported by the National Red
Cross, in the printing of books and provision of instructor materials.
If a local chapter decides that they want to continue teaching the 
course they can, and it will probably be a function of student demand.
I can't find the information on the new First Responder course that gave
exact information on how long AFA is going to be supported, but I suspect
that it will be several years, since the First Responder course won't
be released until early next year (they're waiting on the CPR revisions).
I have seen the field test version of the materials for the First 
Responder course and they are impressive.

>
>The textbook for the class is something you will accumulate over the
>course of the class.  It is a collection of typed notes and handouts
>which, collectively, fill a 3 inch thick 3-ring binder.  Of particular
>interest to the readers of this newsgroup, the class places considerable
>attention on the management of first-aid type situations in a delayed
>care scenario -- i.e., what do you do if you can't call 911 for help,
>or if the 911 operator tells you it'll be >1 hour until you will receive
>help.  This is what the course instructors mean by "Mountaineering
>Oriented."
>
>I think the class was very much worth the time and effort -- enough so
>that I'll be back soon for a refresher.  If you want more information on
>the class, I suggest you call the American Red Cross Valley District in
>Van Nuys, CA (call information at 818-555-1212 for the number).  If you
>want impressions from someone who has taken the class, ... well send me
>e-mail, I'm rather busy these days, but I'll try to respond.
>
>Oh, yes, one other thing: Usually the class is held twice each year,
>once beginning the last Tuesday in February, once beginning the last
>Tuesday in August.  If things stay true to their norms, that means the
>next class should be starting in 11 days, on Tuesday, August 25, 1992.
>
>		Fritz Nordby.	fritz@gumby.cs.caltech.edu

Julie Paque
(formerly of Caltech!)
paque@pangea.stanford.edu
julie@vger.arc.nasa.gov