We’re raising awareness about learning important skills to care for yourself or others who may become ill or injured in the outdoors by spotlighting members of our community who have earned their Wilderness First Aid Certification or higher!
Join us November 4-6 to earn your Wilderness First Aid + CPR Certification at historic Sturtevant Camp!
Hatie Parmeter, Founder of Whoa Magazine, Wilderness First Aid
What inspired you to learn Wilderness First Aid? What was your favorite part of the experience?
I wanted to take wilderness first aid because I started leading my own personal trips and no longer had camp counselors to rely on. I LOVED it so much. Doing the scenarios where you had to figure out what is wrong with someone was so much fun. I learned A TON in the two-day course, including the realization that I knew basically nothing beforehand and could have been in some serious situations with no idea how to help while in the backcountry.
Have you ever used your skills in the field? Tell us about it.
I have not yet used my experience in the field but I do repeat some of the acronyms on the daily so I remember them, like CA SAMPLE which helps you assess a person. (Chief complaint, Age, Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Pertinent medical history, Last in’s and outs, Events leading up to incident) I repeat them while I’m falling asleep. Sometimes I get bored and practice the physical assessment on my dog, like rolling someone over without moving their spine and doing the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation) just to make sure I remember them forever.
