Full policy

RELEASE FROM LIABILITY AND WAIVER OF ALL CLAIMS AND  ASSUMPTION OF RISKS 

WARNING: BY ACCEPTING THIS DOCUMENT YOU GIVE UP THE RIGHT TO SUE, AND ASSUME BOTH RISK  AND EXTRAORDINARY RISKS INHERENT TO FIRST AID PROGRAMS 

 

TO: Solid Medical & Safety Systems Ltd. (the “Training Agency”) 

1. I am aware of and acknowledge that the accident simulations and participation in the First Aid Program, indoors and  outdoors, have dangers and risks, sometimes extreme, some of which include but are not limited to: 

a) Slippery Terrain - wilderness areas with steep slopes in their natural state have many obstacles and extreme hazards. These  areas may not have been traveled before and may not be regularly patrolled or examined. Participants may become lost or  separated from the Training Staff or other participants in locations where communication could be difficult and rescue and  medical treatment may not be available. 

b) Manmade or Natural Falling Objects – Falling objects may frequently occur in wilderness terrain used for outdoor accident  simulation sites due to natural forces including steepness of slopes or by changing weather conditions, or both. It is often  difficult or impossible to predict when or where falling objects may or may not occur. 

c) Coastal Terrain - wilderness areas bordering or crossing water bodies with slopes in their natural state have many obstacles  and extreme hazards. Hazards such as strong currents and waves may lead to risks which include, but are not limited to, hypothermia and drowning. Many of these areas may not have been traveled before, are not regularly patrolled, or examined.  Participants may become lost or separated from the Training Staff or other participants in locations where communication  could be difficult and rescue and medical treatment may not be available. 

d) Weather - weather or weather conditions may be inclement and extreme and can change rapidly without warning. Proper  clothing and equipment is necessary for safety and comfort. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate clothing  and equipment. 

e) Marine and Ground Vehicle Travel - additional risks are posed by boat transportation in marine areas, in the variable  weather conditions associated with these areas, and in vehicle travel on highways, roads, back-country roads, and roads that  are not maintained.  

f) Conduct of the Training Agency - the conduct, including negligence and poor judgment, of the Training Agency, or  Training Staff, the conduct of other wilderness area users, and the conduct of fellow class participants.  

g) Performing first aid procedures – additional risks are posed when practicing first aid techniques on fellow class participants  or Training Staff and by having such techniques practiced on you. Techniques include, but are not limited to touching during  full body exams; pulling, pushing, rough handling on all parts of the body, lifting heavy objects including people, being  carried and strapped in a stretcher or spine board; constrictive bandages; splints including traction splints; handling equipment  such as pressurized oxygen; and sharp objects (scalpels, saws, hypodermic needles etc.) which may not be sterile.  

h) Exposure to Pathogens – Risks of being exposed to pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, including the virus which causes COVID-19, can occur at any time, especially when practicing first aid techniques with or on fellow class participants. 

2. I willingly accept all the risks of first aid training including without limitation the risks described above and the possibility of bodily injury, death, illness or death from pathogens, including but not limited to COVID-19, property damage, loss or expense resulting  therefrom. I acknowledge that the enjoyment and excitement of first aid training is derived in part from either indoor or outdoor, or  both, on what may be difficult or dangerous terrain and that the inherent risks of first aid training contribute to such enjoyment and  excitement. 

3. I hereby agree to indemnify, release, and save harmless the Training Agency, its employees, instructors, agents and  representatives (collectively the “Training Staff”) from any loss or damage whether to the person or to property, arising from  and during my participation in the First Aid Program and furthermore release and forever discharge the Training Agency and  its Training Staff from any and all actions, causes of actions, claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses and compensation  whatsoever which I may hereafter have against the Training Agency which arises out of or is connected with, directly or 

indirectly from my acceptance into the First Aid Program due from any cause whatsoever including but not limited to  negligence or gross negligence on the part of the Training Agency or the Training Staff. 

4. In entering into this agreement I am not relying on any oral or written representations or statements made by the Training Agency or  the Training Staff including those in any brochures to induce me to take a First Aid Program. 

5. I agree that this Agreement is to be interpreted pursuant to the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada. I agree that any  errors and/or omissions accorded in this document will not discount this Agreement and agree that the document will be binding. 

6. I confirm that I am of the full age of nineteen years (eighteen if the course is held in Alberta, Canada) (or attained the age of  majority elsewhere) and that I have read and understood this Agreement prior to signing it and agree that this agreement will be  binding upon my heirs, next of kin, executors, administrators, successors and all members of my family.  

 

©2020 Solid Medical & Safety Systems Ltd. v2.0 1-800-760-3188 www.wildernessfirstaid.ca

Full policy

Slipstream Wilderness First Aid courses and all educational materials are based on the following set of 8 assumptions:

1. You will have to improvise some medical supplies, because heavy, non-portable medical supplies may be unavailable.

2. There may be little or no road access; consequently you could be stranded for hours or even days. Discussions and scenarios will be based on wilderness activity and environments without road access.

3. Sometimes you will be unable to contact a medical doctor and will have to make important medical decisions on your own.

4. You may have to move an injured or ill patient to protect them from the environment and/or evacuate them.

5. Wilderness evacuations may require outside help; for example, air ambulance, military, SAR, parks personnel, and/or private charter aircraft or boats.

6. You will act within the limits of your own training, knowledge, and capabilities. For example, if you are a licensed medical professional (MD, RN, paramedic, etc.), you will act as a licensed medical professional, with all the background knowledge that entails. If you are not a licensed medical professional (ex. Guide, ski patrol, recreational paddler, etc.), you will not act as a licensed medical professional, etc.

7. If your action or inaction causes your patient harm, you may be liable.

8. For Wilderness First Aid training you will be assumed to have a leadership role and responsibility to other participants on the trip, and therefore a duty to care.

Disclaimers

We left it boring on purpose... no really, just read it!

Typographical and other errors will be found! This document is a working draft.

· This document is intended as a study aid rather than a definitive source of current first aid information. Solid Medical & Safety Systems Ltd. (Slipstream First Aid), its employees, instructors, contributors, illustrators and associates disclaim any responsibility for problems that may occur as a result of following the information, procedures or techniques in this work. 

· First aid is defined as “the immediate care given to a person who has been injured or taken ill”. This learning material is written primarily for the wilderness, and many of the techniques and procedures included are not appropriate for an urban environment. Instead, in such an environment, injured or ill people should seek medical attention from a licensed health care provider (doctor, nurse, medical attendant, etc.). In the wilderness, injured or sick people should seek medical attention from a licensed health care provider whenever or as soon as possible. In the wilderness, a patient’s condition and needs may change given the long-term nature of Wilderness First Aid, and treatment approach will vary from that of an urban environment. In the wilderness, sometimes decisions are made without contacting a licensed health care provider due to remoteness and, often, lack of reliable communication. Efforts have been made to supply information within this document (and Slipstream’s courses) to help make the sometimes difficult, independent decisions. The guidelines within this document are suggestions; your personal level of training, judgment, experience and expertise will determine your willingness and ability to put into practice what is laid out in this document (and/or Slipstream’s courses). In practice, each person providing Wilderness First Aid should keep within the scope of their knowledge and ability.

· This document and Slipstream’s training should not be considered definitive. This learning material is in no way a substitute for additional training and other reading of first aid and Wilderness First Aid books and material. Even after completing a Slipstream course or reading this document, it is inappropriate to bring medication or equipment or carry out procedures that you do not have the appropriate knowledge or experience to use/do safely. A first aid certificate or medical license does not guarantee knowledge in any specific area. Pre-trip training, reading and/or gaining of expertise may be necessary to supplement the knowledge and skill base of the person that will be in charge of handling drugs and/or using specialized medical equipment and/or carrying out certain procedures/techniques.

Full policy

RULES AND POLICIES 

I understand and accept that in exchange for my participation in a First Aid Program, I will agree to follow the rules and  policies of Solid Medical and Safety Systems Ltd. (hereinafter the “Training Agency”) as those rules and policies are  promulgated and published from time to time, including but not limited to the following:  

1. My ability to understand English will affect my performance in the course. In addition, I understand that I must be able  to read and write English proficiently to successfully complete the course. 

2. Failure to attend and participate in all components of the course will prevent me from being eligible for examination at  the end of the course.  

3. Consumption of alcohol, marijuana or any other cannabis product, or illegal drugs is not permitted during instructional  time and could lead to my expulsion without compensation from the First Aid Program. 

4. Should a real emergency or a first aid circumstance occur during or subsequent to the course, the Training Agency, its  employees, instructors, agents, and representatives cannot guarantee that I will remember and perform first aid and  accident handling skills at the level demonstrated during the course. The Training Agency cannot guarantee that the  information in my course is either accurate, current, or correct by omission, negligence, poor judgment, or any other way. 

5. It is my responsibility to ensure that I have proper clothing and equipment. 

6. Transportation will not be provided during the course. At times, the First Aid Program will be dismissed at the  classroom and reconvened at the field simulation site. Transportation to and from this site is the responsibility of each  student. The Training Agency or the Training Staff, is in no way responsible for driver conduct, safety, insurance of the  vehicles, even if the vehicle belongs to or is driven by the Training Staff or the Training Agency.