Mazamas

Mazamas 2009-10 First Aid Class Application Form

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Attention MFA Graduates!

The First Aid committee is always looking for new members and for skill checkers for our lecture modules or the always exciting MFA weekend!  Please contact us at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if we can add you to our volunteer mailing list!

Important dates for 2009-10 First Aid classes

• September 21, 2009 Please register by this date for for the Fall MFA class
• January 11, 2010 Please register by this date for the Winter MFA class

General Information

Classes in CPR, First Aid Basics, and Mountaineering First Aid (MFA) are taught twice a year by Mazamas, in Sept-Oct. and Jan-Feb.  While Mazama members and non-members are welcome to apply for these courses, class size is limited. When submitted by the deadline, acceptance priority for Mountaineering First Aid is as follows:

1. Climb leaders and Climb Leadership Development candidates/li>
2. Intermediate Climbing School (ICS) students
3. Other Mazamas activity leaders
4. General interest, in order of date application is received

Autumn classes are generally easier to get into than the winter classes. To ensure your admission, please consider taking the class in the autumn if you can.
Note: Most Mazamas classes may be audited for free if you are not enrolled in the class.  Our First Aid classes may NOT be audited for free.

Application deadline

There is no true deadline as we will accept students into the class until it is full. We do, however request that you register as early as possible. Applications received by the dates listed above will be accepted in the order listed above. Applications received after this date will be accepted in the order they are received. Notification of acceptance will be sent to all applicants within a week after this date. Acceptance notices will be sent by email unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is supplied along with the application.

Registration, Payment and Refunds

You can register for ALL Mazamas First Aid classes using the Mazamas 2009-10 First Aid Class Application Form.  You will not be charged for Mazamas First Aid classes unless you are accepted in the class.

After acceptance, students who withdraw more than one week before the class date will receive a full refund. After that time, refunds will not be granted.  No-shows will not receive refunds.

Leader re-certification and reimbursement

MFA re-certification: To maintain leadership status, you must: 1) have a valid CPR card, and 2) recertify in the MFA class.  Those who want to re-certify are encouraged to take the 8 hour MFA re-certification class.  Therefore, it is NOT necessary for climb leaders to sign up for the entire MFA course.  Red Cross CPR must be re-certified each year. American Heart Association (the one we teach) CPR must be re-certified every two years.

Mazamas will reimburse Climb and other activity leaders for class fees upon completion of the course.  Note that leaders must submit full payment when applying for the class.  Upon class completion, send the receipt for your class along with a completed reimbursement form to the Mazama Mountaineering Center (c/o the committee that will be paying for the reimbursement.) at 527 SE 43rd Avenue, Portland OR 97215.

Other classes

Note:  CPR and First Aid Basics classes are offered regularly through hospitals, fire departments, workplaces, etc. by Red Cross and the American Heart Association.  You are welcome to certify through these other locations if you want.  The reimbursement policy above applies.

Questions?  Please contact the First Aid committee directly:  (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Class Descriptions

All classes are held at the Mazama Mountaineering Center at 527 SE 43rd Avenue, Portland OR 97215

Adult CPR is a one-evening course. An American Heart Association 2 year certification is awarded. No text-book required.

Mountaineering First Aid (MFA) consists of five evening lecture-skill sessions (approx 3 hours each) and a weekend practicum at the Mazama Lodge. It is designed to teach the first-aider how to apply first aid skills in the wilderness, perform advanced patient assessment, improvise equipment and cope with wilderness-specific conditions.  First Aid Weekend is the culmination of the Mountaineering First Aid program. The MFA weekend field session is a full day on Saturday of small group practical scenarios and a half day on Sunday focusing on a multiple casualty (triage) scenario.

The MFA weekend is required for course completion. A written final exam will be given at the lodge. A Mazama Mountaineering First Aid card will be awarded to students who complete all modules and the weekend.

A current CPR card is needed to successfully complete MFA. CPR is not taught as a part of the MFA curriculum.

Mountaineering First Aid (MFA) recertification class
This class will be an 8 hour classroom format, for those who have previously taken MFA. You must have completed MFA within the last 4 years in order to take this class. If it has been more than 4 years since you took MFA you will need to repeat the entire class. If you want to take this class, please register using the standard application.

Texts:  Texts for CPR, First Aid Basics and MFA are included in the cost of the class.  The MFA text is Wilderness First Aid: Emergency Care for Remote Locations, Third Edition, published by Jones & Bartlett Publishers for the Wilderness Medical Society & AAOS.

Class Fees

American Heart Association (2 year card) CPR: $30

Red Cross First Aid Basics (FAB, 3 year card):  $35

Mountaineering First Aid (MFA) evening lecture series: $145 members, $190 non-members. Fee covers lectures and instruction for approx 30 hours, the Lodge weekend (lodging and meals) and the required textbook.

MFA re-certification class: $50 for the 5 lectures or the re-certification class, $110 for the Lodge weekend. If you chose to recertify on the weekend, please note that you will be participating as a student for the entirety of the weekend, not acting as a skill checker.

NOTE: If you are taking more than one class, you can pay for all of the classes on the first night of the first class. Please be prepared to pay in full with check (preferred) cash, or credit card at the first lecture and please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the start of class to allow time for sign-in and payment. 

Fall 2009 Schedule

CPR: October 12 or October 15 – Classes begin at 6:30 pm.

Mountaineering First Aid: All lectures 6:30 - 9:30 pm (lecture topics subject to minor changes)

Lecture 1 – October 20 Introduction, legal issues, patient assessment
Lecture 2 – October 22 Minor trauma
Lecture 3 – October 26 Major trauma
Lecture 4 – November 2 Medical and environmental
Lecture 5 – November 5 Misc. topics, triage, evacuation

First Aid Weekend - Sat-Sun, November 7 & 8 at the Mazama Lodge. Saturday, 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM; Sunday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Winter 2010 Schedule

CPR: February 1 or February 8 – Class begins at 6:30 pm.

Mountaineering First Aid, all lectures 6:30 - 9:30pm (lecture topics subject to minor changes)

Lecture 1 – February 11 - Introduction, legal issues, patient assessment
Lecture 2 – February 15 - Minor trauma
Lecture 3 – February 18 - Major trauma
Lecture 4 – February 22 - Medical and environmental
Lecture 5 – February 25 - Misc. topics, triage, evacuation

First Aid Weekend - Sat-Sun, February 27 & February 28, Location to be determined. Saturday, 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM; Sunday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Mountaineering First Aid re-certification: March 9 & 11;  6:30 - 10:30 pm. Please use the application form to register.

Dressing and bandaging materials for First Aid classes

Dressings are used next to wounds to absorb drainage and offer protection. In a real situation, you would use sterile gauze, but for practice you may want to use some “mock” dressings such as 3”x3” or 4”x4” squares of cotton fabric.

Bandage materials:  Bandages are used to secure dressings or splints. In a real situation. bandage materials might include gauze strips or “kling” from your first aid kit, elastic bandages (“Ace”) or makeshift strips of material. For bandaging practice old sheets work well.

Strips should be 3”-4” wide and 6’-8’ long.  Triangular bandages may be purchased, but tend to run small.  A more useful size is illustrated below.  Extra large bandanas work well too.

Please remove all stray threads from your homemade bandages! They litter the floors and the environment.

Splinting materials: For bandaging and splinting practice, as well as in a wilderness emergency, you will employ a variety of gear from your pack such as ice axes, ski poles, foam pads, snow shovels, extra clothing, webbing, pack frames, sleeping bag, emergency blanket, etc. Plan to bring a complete ski or summit pack to MFA modules, #2, #3, #4, & #5 and the weekend practicum.

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