A desert first responder, or woofer, is trained to respond to emergencies in remote locations. Basic life support, patient transport, and desert survival skills are taught in an 80-hour course. Woofer training is often a qualification for other outdoor jobs.
A desert first responder, sometimes known as a WFR or woofer, is a person who is trained to respond to emergency situations that occur in remote locations such as the desert or backwoods. First aid training, patient transport, desert survival skills and physical training are all part of a desert first aid training course. The majority of participants serving the wilderness are not full-time employees who respond to emergencies in the wilderness; woofer training is considered a qualification for another job such as a park ranger or outdoor guide. A woofer can also act independently on a volunteer basis, helping to respond to emergencies in the wilderness as part of a larger team.
A wilderness first responder’s responsibilities vary with each specific emergency, but all woofers must be trained in the same areas. Basic life support is one of the first topics of instruction in a desert first aid course; this training prepares a woofer to treat a patient before he can reach a hospital. Basic life support can be performed with or without medical devices and is the same type of support that an emergency medical technician, or EMT, can provide in an urban or even rural setting. Woofer certification training can take up to 80 hours of instructional time and will also include education in transportation techniques, specific medical emergency treatments and other topics pertinent to the position.
One of the most challenging aspects of a wilderness first responder position is working in ever-changing environments with limited resources. A woofer may be responsible for transporting a patient out of the desert over difficult terrain, which means he or she will need to constantly assess the situation for the safety of the patient and the woofer itself. Before any transport or treatment can be undertaken, a woofer must carefully assess the situation and ensure that he fully understands the patient’s condition, the options available for treatment and transport, and the possible risks of the undertaking.
Many jobs that take place outdoors now require a candidate to obtain wilderness first responder training. A candidate can get this training from various outdoor training schools. The 80-hour course can take a significant amount of time to complete; therefore, job seekers are encouraged to complete training before applying for a position. Like other types of teaching, a fee will be charged for woofer training.
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