Posted: 3/15/2012 6:14:28 PM EDT
| Where does everyone go to get training? I've lloked at the Redcross' site but $110 seems steep for a beginners course. I don't have much experience but that needs to change. If it matters, I'm in Madison WI. Thanks guys. |
Agree completely. One word of warning though. I completed an EMT-B course 18 years ago and ended up all the way to licensed Paramedic running a volunteer MICU ambulance service for a town of 30k+. Great training. Can be addictive. Definitely leads to less sleep. 
You could just take the red cross first aid class and get extremely basic stuff - but you will actually learn the when, why, what, and how from the EMT class. It is a big time commitment. You need to decide how far down the rabbit hole you want to go. What are your objectives? |
| My objectives would be to be able to care for my family and others. I have evaluated the group of family which I would live with if SHTF. No one there has much medical training. Seems the logical choice to me. A big plus for me is I have two young boys. I gaurantee if they are anything like me, some of this training will come in use! |
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My objectives would be to be able to care for my family and others. I have evaluated the group of family which I would live with if SHTF. No one there has much medical training. Seems the logical choice to me. A big plus for me is I have two young boys. I guarantee if they are anything like me, some of this training will come in use! My kids are why I started learning medical as well. I started when my son was a baby and before my daughter was born. Now they are 20 and 16. I definitely have had cause to use the training from time to time and it has been a source of confidence whenever dealing with other medical professionals. Check out the basic EMT course and see if it meets your needs. When you complete, see if you can find a volunteer EMS agency to get some street time in. The street time gives you the ability to perform under pressure and allows you the framework to manage things you wouldn't ever want to see in your family. Go in eyes open though. It does require a big commitment of your time and your heart. If you are looking for something less, I recommend the red cross training. |
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IF your just starting out, and don't have much knowledge on FA, Red Cross is cheap and a good quick intro. With that being said, if you really want to learn some practical hands on skills and retain it, I highly recommend the wilderness First Aid and even wilderness first responder (if you want to take it to that level). Even if you never step foot outside of civilization, the skills are highly useful. This is coming from someone who has both EMT and Wilderness FA/Responder certs. Depending on where you are, you can take Wilderness FA courses from NOLS, SOLO, and others. Good luck in your learning, and props to you for learning something that IMHO everyone should get training in. As my good friend, the Dr. says, Remember, air goes in and out, blood goes round and round. Squish and blow, baby.
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At $110 it should be everything I should need, but I've heard otherwise... I can't agree with this. Firsty, IIRC this is the cost for first aid and cpr, a 6-8 hour block of instuction(unless price varies from state to state FA only is $70/3 hours) Or rougnly $23 an hour that includes all the materials needed. If it is $110 for three hours that is still roughly $36 an hour, 110 for 5 hours $22 an hour. Contrast that with the cost per hour of a firearms class, where you provide the most expensive part of the materials (ammo). Second, define everything you need. If everything you need is the ABC's for normal injuries/accidents until professional help arrives this gives you that. If all you need is more than that, then you will pay a LOT more for that training. Locally an EMT B course runs between $800 and $1200 depending on which school you pick and whether or not books are included. There is a lot more knowledge gained, but you are spending a lot more money to get it. It is basic first aid. If you are serious about being prepared you will need more training. Just like a NRA basic pistol class does not turn you into a gunfighter. However. the redcross basic first aid class, like the NRA basic pistol, gives you a foundation to start your training. Another option to the community college EMT is join your local volly FD. Your class will probably still be at the local CC, but the FD may foot the bill (time vs money). I would say take the basic first aid. Then expand from there to more advanced and specialized training that you feel you need, AFTER you get the basics. |