From February 23rd to March 3rd, the crew of the New Hampshire Conservation Corps completed a rigorous and informative Wilderness First Responder course. The crew spent nine days intensively training and preparing themselves for possible emergency situations in the front and back country.
Among the skills obtained were CPR certification, knowledge of how to deal with a multitude of ailments such as broken bones, bleeding and shock, responsive and unresponsive patients, as well as sprains, strains, allergic reactions and altitude sickness. The crew spent hours listening to lectures that described the interplay between physiological, psychological, and environmental factors when considering proper care for a patient.
In addition to testing the crews mental stamina, the WFR course also demanded that the crew actually face the natural elements. This meant scenarios were played out in the snowy woods of Bear Brook State Park. One scenario was staged at night, making the chill and anxiety of an emergency situation palpable. After nine days the crew completed a written test as well as a four hour scenario to successfully graduate with certifications as Wilderness First Responders.