First Aid

Download the 2008 First Aid class Application (MS Word Format)
Download the 2008 First Aid class Application (PDF Format)

SOAP Note - First Aid accident report form and patient assessment

Important dates for 2008 First Aid classes

• January 17, 2008 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 Leadership Development
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 by January 17, 2008 for the Winter 2008 MFA class. Applications received by these dates 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

Payment for all First Aid classes is due in full on the evening of the first class. Please do NOT send in payment with your application.

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 recertification and reimbursement

MFA Recertification: To maintain leadership status, you must: 1) have a valid CPR card, and 2) recertify in the MFA class.  Those who want to recertify are encouraged to take the 8 hour MFA recertification 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 recertified every two years.

Mazamas will reimburse leaders for class fees upon completion of the course.  Note that leaders must submit full payment on the evening of the first lecture.  Upon class completion, send the receipt for your class to the Mazamas office to be reimbursed (527 SE 43rd Avenue, Portland OR 97215.) NOTE: Red Cross First Aid Basics is not required for climb leaders.

Other classes

Note:  CPR and First Aid Basics 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: 

Class Descriptions

All classes are held at the Mazamas 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.

First Aid Basics (FAB) is a one-evening course covering basic first aid in an urban and wilderness setting. A two year certification is awarded.  No textbook required.  Note that First Aid Basics is NOT a prerequisite for the MFA class.

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 Mazamas 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, published by the National Safety Council and the Wilderness Medical Society.

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 recertification class: $50 for the 5 lectures or the recert 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. 

Winter 2008 Schedule

CPR: January 8, January 10 or January 17. Class begins at 6:30 pm.

First Aid Basics: no class scheduled

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

Lecture 1 – February 4 - Introduction, legal issues, patient assessment
Lecture 2 – February 7 - Minor trauma
Lecture 3 – February 11 - Major trauma
Lecture 4 – February 14 - Medical and environmental
Lecture 5 – February 19 - Misc. topics, triage, evacuation

First Aid Weekend - Sat-Sun, February 23 & 24, Mazama Lodge, Mt. Hood. Saturday, 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM; Sunday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Mountaineering First Aid recertification: March 10 & 13; 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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