Submitted by San Juan Island EMS

Altogether, 59 outdoor enthusiasts and youth leaders on three islands received three, two-day courses from June 9 to the 15. On June 9 and 10, YMCA Camp Orkila hosted instructor Karl Kuetzing to teach the Wilderness First Aid course. Two days later, Kuetzing and co-instructor Kaitlyn Johnson boated to Camp Nor’wester on John’s Island to instruct 24 students in Wilderness First Aid. On June 14 and 15, a third Wilderness First Aid class was presented on San Juan by Kuetzing and co-instructors Lainey Volk and Margaret Longley for 14 students from the Conservation Corps plus two other agencies.

First aid responders need training tailored to the challenges of primitive settings. San Juan Island EMS receives many requests from organizations desiring wilderness first aid courses.

To accomplish this training, SJIEMS affiliates with the SOLO Wilderness Medicine School based in New Hampshire. The Wilderness First Aid is 16 hours, the Wilderness First Responder class is 80 hours, and there’s a refresher classes for both. In the fall or winter, SJIEMS sometimes offers a 40-hour Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician Module. Participants must be certified EMTs.

San Juan Island EMS congratulates students for completing their certifications to support a safe summer.