I have also taken the first aid, infant/child CPR, adult CPR and AED. It's like taking taking basic arithmetic, and geometry and finding out if you really want to do anything useful you have to have trigonometry and calculus.

I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure there are certifications that get you in all 50 states. Might want to look into something like that if you travel alot, or may move. That way you can actually do something.

Take the Advanced F.A. It's much more involved and there are a LOT less "have to be there's". You will actually learn something .

Dave

I agree if you can take the EMT class it would be better, but I am an EMT.

Another option would be a Wilderness medic class(WEMT), if you have that option in your area.

One of the best Wilderness Medical classes I have taken was sponsored by NASAR.....National Association of Search and Rescue. It was a week long 24/7 class taught by Paramedics and physicians started at "OH"600 and went to midnight, taught in classroom and in the field. Final day was an in field all day/night exercise.

I really enjoyed getting my Wilderness First Responder certification - but that's a 9-10 day commitment, plus renewals every couple of years. I took mine from NOLS/WMI in Arizona. Highly recommended if you have the time and inclination.

I tried a local Wilderness First Aid class, and it was a waste of time; it was just a basic Red Cross First Aid class with a Wilderness Medicine pocket-sized book tossed into the mix, and very little discussion of anything outside of standard city-style first aid.

I saw a couple of post that knid of talked about it but look into MFR(medical first responder) courses. Also go talk to your local Fire Dept. sometimes they will let people in to there MFR or EMT courses. It is usually cheaper that way. If you do consider a career change you need to get your medic. But be prepaired from where you are now it will take 2 years. Around here (Michigan) it will run you from $1000 (through FD's) to $10,000 (through a couple of colleges that have them.) WMI of NOLS has great courses! If you can take em.

Interesting thread!!
In two weeks time I got a 2 hour CPR class coming up. Its is compulsory for my study and it assumes no previous knowledge of the subject... I've had three years of continuing FA classes during my time in the ACF. Also FA is an active interest of mine so I read several books/manuals about wilderness FA. Now should I keep my mouth closed, get it over with or spill the beans and explain it is not Doctor ABC but Doctor ABCCDDE?? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Take the EMT course. You will learn many valuable skills but also why you doing them.

Another vote for the Wilderness first aid course -- much more in depth and less fluffery. Reccomended

TRO

When you take this class, I would be interested in finding out if you are taught the new CPR protocol that was formalized last year, or if it is still the old curriculum. Just wondering how long it takes for this new info to percolate down to the lay classes. I had heard that some classes would change this spring, but it takes money to change materials and retrain instructors, so maybe that was optimistic.

Anyone interested in the new procedures can read my original post here and follow the link in the post.

Honestly, that being called a first aid course bothers me. Here in BC your basic first aid course is generally Occupational Level 1 or Emergency, which is about an 8 hour course costing about $90 canadian, and covers scene safety, patient assessment, cpr, treatment of shock, wounds, and so forth. Sure there's lesser courses out there for young people or the general public but the former is the bare minimum for anyone who would require first aid at work. St John Ambulance has several very good courses including Standard w/ CPR C (16 hours); Wilderness (additional 22 hours) if you're going to be in remote locations; Advanced/Emergency Medical Responder (80 hours) which will qualify you as a professional first aid attendant, or start you toward being a paramedic. I would assume there's courses in the US equivalent to these, but that should give you an idea of what's out there at least. In my opinion 1.25 hours of instruction does not a first aid course make, I find it hard to believe that Red Cross would even put their name to that. For better descriptions of the courses i mentioned take a look here: http://www.stjohn.ab.ca/index.php?option=content&task=section&id=5&Itemid=33
Hope you're able to find a good first aid group in your area, just don't be discouraged by one poor course!