The first aid exam consists of
two separate tests. Part one is a one hundred question written exam.
The questions on the written exam will be based on "Emergency
Medical Treatment" by Nancy L. Caroline, M.D. , NSP "Outdoor
Emergency Care", and the "OEC " manual. A
passing grade for the exam is 85%.
Part two is a practical exam consisting of
several stations that will be set up on the hill or in a "clinic"
environment. Each candidate can expect to go to some stations with a
partner and some alone. Each pair of candidates will need one sled
with the first aid equipment necessary for treatingvictim(s) at each
of the stations. If you are by yourself, bring a sled and equipment
and a partner will be provided. PSPA reserves the right to
disallow any questionable device. Discussion about the stations between
candidates during the exam will constitute an unquestionable failure.
Bystanders and/or examiners can be instructed to assist in non-critical
maneuvers.
The examiners at each station will be observing your professionalism,
confidence, scene management, first aid, patient loading and transport.
Notification by a hypothetical radio to the appropriate authority should
be made as soon as it is realized that you have a patient that requires
definitive care. Information about the incident will be gathered through
questions asked of the victim or bystander (examiner).
The stations include but are not limited to
the following: long board, long bone fracture, patient assessment, mechanical
aides to breathing, upper and lower extremity injuries, internal injuries
and an interview.
The long board station will test your
ability to determine a need and effectively use a long board. Critical
maneuvers will be: your exam, maintaining cervical traction throughout
(if necessary), application of the cervical collar (if necessary) moving
the patient as a unit on the board and securing the patient to the board
without aggravating the injury.
The
long bone fracture management station will test your ability to
properly assess and manage a suspected femur fracture. Distal circulation,
motor and sensory responses will be checked before and after the application
of a splint. In line traction (if applicable) will be maintained throughout.
The victim will be asked by the examiners after completion if traction
was consistent and of the proper magnitude. The extremity should be
supported proximal and distal to the injury when being loaded into the
sled.
The patient assessment station will
test your ability to efficiently and effectively assess and care for
a critical patient. This station may be on the hill or in a "clinic"
environment. This station is designed to allow you to demonstrate your
skills in taking vital signs, using mechanical aides to breathing, suction,
and your ability to utilize the mountain resources as well as those
of the local EMS and hospital. You are not expected to know local protocol,
but you must demonstrate the ability to improvise and devise a means
for transporting your patient to definitive care.
The
upper and lower extremity station will test your ability to secure
the scene, determine the injury(s) through your patient assessment(s),
prioritize treatment, apply a proper splint, and position your patient(s)
for transport.
An internal injuries station will test
your ability at securing the scene and responding appropriately to patient
assessment yielding signs of an internal injury.