resources Does not include: Assessing blood pressure Assessing lung sounds Assessing pupils Assessing or evaluating complex illnesses Invasive or mechanical airway adjuncts Needle decompression Circulatory System Identify common causes of volume shock (vomiting/ diarrhea, bleeding) Recognize signs and symptoms of volume shock (vital sign patterns) and differentiate from an acute stress reaction Initiate appropriate treatment to include Administer oral fluids for a patient with normal mental status Stabilize injuries Control external bleeding with well-aimed direct pressure, pressure or clot-enhancing bandage, or tourniquet Protect from adverse environmental conditions Make an evacuation decision when faced with high- risk problems associated with volume shock Cannot stop fluid loss or losses exceed ability to restore volume Persistently abnormal or worsening vital signs Inability to maintain core body temperature Acute Coronary Syndrome Recognize signs and symptoms Initiate appropriate treatment to include Stop activity Support a reliable patient with their personal medications (e.g., prescribed nitroglycerin or aspirin) Initiate evacuation and access EMS or search and rescue (SAR) Respiratory System Recognize the most common causes and signs and symptoms of respiratory distress and respiratory failure (asthma, airway obstruction, trauma) Initiate appropriate treatment to include: Maintain appropriate and comfortable position Maintain patent airway and ventilation as needed Support the patient using their personal medications (e.g., prescribed inhaler) and treatment plan Initiate evacuation when faced with high-risk problems associated with respiratory compromise Cannot improve respiratory status Worsening symptoms despite treatment Persistent abnormal mental status Does not include: Use of epinephrine to treat asthma Nervous System Identify the most common causes of abnormal mental status (trauma, extremes of temperature, inadequate oxygen, low blood sugar, seizure) Recognize signs and symptoms of head injury or altered mental status Alteration of mental status Loss of consciousness Confusion, disorientation Initiate appropriate treatment: head injury Protect the airway Protect the spine Protect the patient from environmental extremes Initiate appropriate treatment: nontraumatic causes of abnormal mental status Administer oral sugar as needed Cooling in the presence of heat stroke External warming in the presence of mild hypothermia Protect the patient (airway, spine, environmental extremes) Initiate evacuation when faced with a high-risk nervous system problem from any cause Any altered mental status or disorientation Decreased level of consciousness No improvement despite treatment Spine Injury
Recognize red flag signs and symptoms necessitating evacuation Abdominal pain tenderness, fever, persistent vomiting, getting worse over 12 hours, known pregnancy) Vomiting and diarrhea (blood, fever, tenderness, output exceeds intake) Any noticeable blood in stool, urine, or vomit Cough, upper respiratory infection (URI: respiratory distress, fever, coughing up colored phlegm) Urinary tract infection (UTI: fever, back pain or tenderness, vomiting) Ear, nose, and throat (ENT: visual problems more than blurring, fever, airway compromise) Fever (abnormal mental state, headache, other signs or symptoms as above) Prevention: camp hygiene (handwashing, kitchen sanitation), water disinfection. Does not include: Detailed discussion of pathophysiology, signs, symptoms, and treatment of common medical conditions
Elective WMS WFA topics required for ASRC members Strike-out indicates topics not recommended for ASRC member minimum training Dislocations Elective with program specific parameters Passive reduction of shoulder dislocations (simple hanging arm/Stimson) Passive reduction of patella dislocations Reduction of obvious digit dislocations Does not include: Reduction of the hip, ankle, wrist, or knee Spine Injury Management It may be for students to learn how to accurately and correctly perform a spine evaluation (e.g., National Emergency Utilization Study (NEXUS) or Canadian or NEXUS) within the context of a standard 16-hour WFA course. WFA training providers may, on a case-by-case basis, supplement the core WFA topics with training modules covering spine evaluation and patient packaging. Local Cold Injury (Frostbite and Nonfreezing Cold Injury) Recognize signs and symptoms of frostbite and nonfreezing cold injury Initiate appropriate treatment If not frozen, warm the injury If frozen, warm water bath (37.2°–38.9°C [99°–102°F]) Protect from refreeze, do not use radiant heat or massage Evacuate if blisters form, patient is unable to use the injury, or you cannot protect from refreeze Prevention: identify predisposing environmental conditions and preventive strategies Altitude Recognize signs and symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and key indicators of serious altitude illness, high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) and high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) Initiate appropriate treatment: Stop ascent if symptomatic Descend if no improvement Descend immediately in presence of shortness of breath (HAPE) and ataxia or mental status changes (HACE) Evacuate altitude illness with shortness of breath (HAPE) and ataxia or mental status changes (HACE) Prevention: identify predisposing environmental conditions and preventive strategies Does not include: Dispensing prescription altitude medications. Poisoning Know common sources of poisons in the wilderness Initiate appropriate treatment Ingested poisons Supportive care and evacuation Consult with poison control