Wilderness First Aid class, especially for members and leaders - new two-day option

Saturday, January 22, 8:30 to 5, Chapter Office, 2530 San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley. Optional second day: Sunday, January 23.

Come to a special all-day class in Wilderness First Aid sponsored by the Sierra Club Bay Chapter Activities Committee. It satisfies the first-aid requirements for most outing leaders (confirm requirements with your section/group officers). The Chapter pays the class fee for the first day for leaders, and members get a substantial discount.

Students now have two options:

do the one-day class on Saturday and receive the Basic Wilderness First Aid (BWFA) certification of the American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI); or
sign up for two days (Saturday and Sunday) for an additional $30 and receive ASHI's higher-level Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification. The Sunday class will be outdoors (weather permitting) and feature more advanced skills as well as many role-playing scenarios.

Instructor Steve Donelan trains you with vivid slides, an interactive teaching style, and creative skills practice. You'll learn how to improvise with whatever you carry on your outdoor trips or find on the scene. Topics include hypothermia and frostbite, altitude, heat illness, sunburn, lightning, hazardous animals and plants, bites and stings, water disinfection, assessing and treating injuries, wilderness medical emergencies, and first-aid kits.

Current trip leaders should register by Wed., Jan. 19, with Joanne Drabek, (510) 848-0800, ext. 315, or Joanne -at- sfbaysc.org

Then mail a $30 deposit check (made out to the "Sierra Club SF Bay Chapter") to:
Joanne Drabek
Sierra Club
2530 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702

This deposit will be returned in class to those who show up. Include your mailing address, e-mail, phone number, and which section you lead for. Indicate if you are attending the Sunday class; you will pay the $30 for the second day at the class.

To be eligible for leader registration, you must be a currently active trip leader with your name included in a list of current leaders provided by your activity section or regional group to the Chapter Activities Committee. The Chapter will cash deposit checks of leaders who do not show up.

People who are not current leaders can register by contacting the instructor at donelan -at- mindspring.com

People without e-mail may write him at:
P.O. Box 1227
Berkeley, CA 94701

Sierra Club members get preference if the class fills; include your membership number. Be prepared to pay the $50 fee (which includes the instructor's comprehensive textbook) in class.

Other dates

Steve teaches the same one-day course at Piedmont Adult School on Saturdays, Dec. 4, Jan. 29, Feb. 19, and March 19. For information, call (510) 594-2717. Register at www.piedmontadultschool.org or by fax at (510) 595-8173. Give your name, address, phone number, and credit-card number; and the course name and date. Cost is $65 (not including the textbook).

For more information about Steve's courses visit www.wildernessemergencycare.com

Steve Donelan developed and directs the national wilderness program for the American Safety & Health Institute ( www.ashinstitute.org) and wrote the textbooks. He also trains instructors and edits the Instructor's Bulletin for the American Red Cross Bay Area, teaches for the National Ski Patrol and Wilderness Medical Society (www.wms.org) and is section editor on education for the Society's journal, Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.