I just finished the most intense ten days of medical training I have ever had.  Please excuse me, because I am taking some liberties with the use of the word medical.  I know many of the medical professionals out there will take offense, but for someone who has never taken anything that remotely resembles medical training, this course was it.  I attended the Wilderness First Responder Certification Course at the University of Utah.  The course is an intensive eight to twelve hour a day, ten day long first aide course led by a division of the National Outdoor Leadership School, the Wilderness Medical Institute.

I signed up for the course for a few reasons.  At first, I just wanted the medical knowledge because I spend a lot of time riding in the backcountry far away from civilization. In case anything was ever to happen, I wanted to make sure I had the appropriate skills to keep not only myself but also my family safe and sound.   Second, I spend time as a youth leader and volunteer and needed to be prepared should a medical need suddenly arise.

This was not my first time attending a class sponsored by The National Outdoor Leadership School, a few years ago I attended an avalanche awareness class in Rocky Mountain National Park, just outside of Estes Park Colorado.  That class was great but this class was even better.

From a simple headache, which I found out is not so simple, to a compound fracture of the femur; the class covered all type of injuries, traumas and ailments.  We learned to identify, treat and then evacuate all types of medical problems commonly associated with being in the wilderness.   All the while, doing it with little or no formal medical supplies, products or medicine.

The class was taught both in the classroom and outside.  Most, if not all of the real teaching was accomplished through real life scenarios that were outside in the cold, wet and dark.  Yes dark, on two nights the class continued into the evening hours and on one occasion, a complete night rescue was staged.  The instructors even managed to get a life-flight helicopter to show up.

What does this have to do with youths, leadership or sports?

It all has to do with leadership. You should always be practicing and perfecting your leadership, personal and professional skills.  Responsibility, foresight and dependability are three of the leadership character traits that are exemplified in the class. Not only did the class teach teamwork, preparation and prevention but most of all it taught task management.

Attending a class can remind you how fun, easy and rewarding it can be to learn a new skill or activity.

Get off your butt and go do something. Do something with your kid.  Take a chance.  Take a class.  Attend a seminar.  Go play ball or Frisbee.  Learn a skill you can teach your kids this summer.  It is right around the corner, after all. You don’t have an excuse. Every town has a school, college or university.  Ha, you say, I live on a deserted island. Well, then you should learn to sail.

You may just find out you like something new, better yet, you may just find out your kids like something new, and best of all you all may find you all like something new.

The bottom line is I really enjoyed the class. Truthfully, it even got me thinking of enrolling in another class and eventually returning to school and getting a masters degree in something much more fun than history.