Outward Pursuits Final Exam Is Front Page News

A final exam given at CUC made the front page of the Red Deer Advocate, fortunately for all the right reasons. 

For their final exam students in the course International and Advanced Wilderness First Aid faced a simulated mud slide in a Nepalese school in a Northern Himalayan community.    The students performed first aid triage and treated 30 volunteer victims each with a specific “injury" and in conditions ranging from dead to slightly injured.  Over the course of the exam the volunteer victims, mainly grade 8 and 9 students and teachers from College Heights Christian School,  were tagged with appropriate colour triage tags, treated and/or moved out of the danger zone, and ultimately to a warm, safe transport rescue area.

The first aid students had to contend with winter weather, limited first aid supplies, screaming victims, possibility of personal injury, a broad spectrum of physical injuries, psychologically impaired victims, and media personnel including one from the Red Deer Advocate daily newspaper who were asking directed questions.

The Outward Pursuits students kept their focus and dealt with the circumstance in a professional, effective and efficient manner.  It was so stressful and realistic that one student said,  “I never want to have to deal with this in real life!"  Students agreed that they are better prepared after having completed the simulation.  

“Students who complete this course should be able to help out in anything from a Haitian earthquake to flooding from typhoons in the Philippines like has happened recently — and maybe even a weekend camping trip,” said instructor Paul Lehmann.

To read the story published by the Red Deer Advocate please click here.