Avi Companion Rescue Remote First Aid

Course Information

AST courses provide essential skills to help you travel safely in the backcountry; including a solid basis of companion rescue skills if the worst was ever to happen. But happens when you do recover your friend from an avalanche?

Extrication is only the first step of survival; first aid and extended care are the other life saving parts of the equation.

Take our integrated Avalanche Companion Rescue Remote First Aid course and you’ll get three days of integrated practice! We will walk you through the full rescue and first aid process, providing you with tools & skills to problem solve your way out of emergencies.

There will be a maximum of 8 participants, and 8:1 ratio will be maintained when on the snow.

Course Ethos

Gain the confidence you need to make informed decisions in emergencies when advanced rescue response time is unknown! If you spend any time skiing in the backcountry, Avalanche Companion Rescue Remote First Aid will prepare you to manage medical emergencies when resources are scarce and rescue could be hours away. Don’t expect rigid protocols - a focus on basic principles, simple and effective techniques, and informed decision-making is at the heart of our instructing philosophy.

Schedule & Locations

Day 1 (Classroom Learning) - 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Squamish Training Base: 1909 Maple Drive, Unit 101

Days 2-3 (Outdoor Experiential) - 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Whistler Blackcomb Backcountry
Please Note: A $45+GST/day backcountry pass or other lift access is required.

Prerequisites

AST-1: Participants are expected to have backcountry snow travel experience with a ski touring or splitboard set-up and be competent in basic skills such as transceiver use.

Certifications

Successful completion of the course earns you a Remote First Aid with CPR C certificate from the Canadian Red Cross, valid for 3 years. No certificate for companion rescue, just the warm fuzzy feeling of keeping friends safe and skills sharp.

Recertification

Recertification for the first aid portion is conducted over 8 hours; you must hold an unexpired 20 hour Wilderness or Remote First certificate on that day to recertify.

Course Outline

Holly & Ivan have combined their expertise to create a an integrated 3-day curriculum and lesson plan that takes a blended approach to cover all material in both subjects.

The course will include group discussions and mini-lectures along with skill practice in dedicated breakout groups, and will culminate in combined, comprehensive scenarios highlighting and consolidating the rescue & first aid skills that you’ve learned.

Remote First Aid

Companion Rescue Skills -

• In the Companion Rescue Skills portion of the course, you’ll learn what to do when an avalanche burial occurs.

  • You’ll know how to look for additional hazards and coordinate the resources in your group.

  • You can expect to learn how to respond to a variety of rescue scenarios.

  • When the clock is ticking, you’ll learn how to react calmly and proceed with efficiency and accuracy so that you have the best outcome possible.

  • You will learn how to locate and extricate quickly while assessing the physical and mental condition of your backcountry partner(s).

  • We will review best practices for single, double, multiple and deep burials, as well as teach efficient probing techniques.

  • Lastly and most importantly, we will teach you how to dig and dig really fast and effectively - it takes a lot of effort to dig through all that solid snow.

  • Once your partner is recovered, the first aid part of the course will dive deep in keeping your partner(s) alive.

Tuition, Payments & Refunds

Course Fees: $595 + GST

Payments: Payment can be made by credit card at registration, or by bank transfer, cheque or cash. If you would prefer to pay by one of these methods, contact us directly.

Refunds: Cancellations that occur more than 14 days prior to the course start date are eligible for a full refund or reschedule into new course dates.* Cancellations that occur less than 14 days prior to the course start date are not eligible for refund. However, it may be possible to reschedule you into new course dates.

* Credit card refunds are subject to a 5% processing fee

Learning Supports

If you require any learning supports, or adaptation for a physical or learning disability, please let us know at registration. We will do everything we can to support you during this program.

Required Gear

Equipment List - Please note consumable first aid supplies (ie. bandages, tensors, etc.) will be provided. It will be up to you to bring supplies to keep your patients warm. An extensive discussion around packing first aid supplies will occur on the Friday and there will be the ability to borrow minor supplies.

• Avalanche Safety Gear

  • Avalanche Transceiver (3 antennae) with fresh batteries

  • Shovel: Collapsible aluminum shovel.

  • Probe: Normal length probe somewhere between 240cm to 320cm.

• Hardware

  • Ski touring skis or splitboard, plus bindings, skins and poles

  • Ski touring/snowboard boots

  • Suitable day pack 30 - 40L

• Clothing

  • Waterproof/breathable jacket and pants

  • Lightweight, breathable jacket (for uphill skinning/climbing)

  • Insulated jacket (synthetic insulated jacket is strongly recommended)

  • Baselayers

  • Lightweight gloves for climbing/skinning

  • Warm gloves

  • Warm hats

  • Balaclava or another type of neck warmer

  • Ski helmet

• Miscellaneous

  • Sunglasses

  • Goggles

  • Sunscreen

  • Sun hat

  • Ski strap

  • Small personal ski or snowboard binding repair kit

  • Personal first aid kit / medication

  • Camera/cell phone