Certifications

Bill and I have wanted to go backpacking together for quite some time. However, I refuse to go on a trip of any significant duration with someone who isn't trained in CPR or basic First Aid. Which is to say, in any group at least two people need to have appropriate training—I can talk someone through doing first aid on me, I can't talk them through CPR.

Last week I found a class and asked Bill to come with me—my certifications had long since lapsed—and he agreed. After a full day of training we are now both CPR and basic First Aid certified. These certifications are good for 1 and 3 years respectively. The people in the class were kind of interesting, of the 12 students, there were only 3 of us who weren't there for some work requirement. When we mentioned that we go backpacking and need it for the safety of our companions the instructor recommended we take the wilderness first aid class. So, I've set about finding a wilderness first aid class. Ironically, those classes include the basic first aid certification, so if we take that we wouldn't have needed to take the one we already took. Oh well.

I'm glad that Bill sees the necessity of these classes. And, I feel much safer with the idea of packing with him knowing he at least knows the basics. Now, we just need to get him a first aid kit, and lots of practice time.