Possible NSPN SOLO WFA/CPR class

[eneumeier]

Mike Crouse has asked me to check out the level of interest and costs involved in sponsoring a SOLO Wilderness First Aid/CPR class. The class would be all day Saturday, Saturday evening and all day Sunday. The WFA and CPR certifications are good for 2 years.

In 2002 we ran 2 sessions, with a total of 40 people. A few of those people were from outside the club but most were members and trip leaders/candidates.

If you want more information please go to the SOLO website: http://www.soloschools.com/home.html Click on course information and the course schedule. Quite a few different organization hire SOLO to run this training and price it differently. Note whether food/lodging are included.

The break-even cost for NSPN to run the course is likely to be $165-185 per person. This will include food and beverages for breaks, and lunch both days. We normally have pizza delivered and people chip in, but it might be simpler to just add this to the fee. If we use the Lanesville Community center in Gloucester again, people will be able to camp overnight at no additional cost.

The Board is also looking into first aid training that is more directly related to on-water issues. Jim Brayden has done a lot of research into this.

Please understand that if we do the SOLO training again, they have to teach their set curriculum in order to certify that you completed it. The benefit, IMHO, of doing such training with other kayakers is that at least the questions people ask are relevant to our trips, as opposed to mountaineering, we can practice with gear we have while paddling, and we take the training with people we paddle with.

If you are interested in taking an NSPN-sponsored SOLO WFA/CPR training this spring, assuming it can be arranged, please send me an email. I'll report back to the Board on the response.

Liz N.

[CLapite]

Hi Liz: I would be interested, although my response may be too late to be helpful...Constance