Greetings SOLO community and friends,
We hope that this message finds you in good health and ever eager to create and engage in new experiences.
Because the SOLO experience trains us with an eye cast for ‘emergency’, we never know when we may be called upon or in what capacity to be in service to others. With the current “Occupy” events that have been sweeping the nation and globe, there is a rising opportunity for those with SOLO wilderness medicine training to be put to use. There are calls out in many cities across the US for on-site medical volunteers at these venues, so there may be good opportunity to strengthen your skills in a location near you. Mind you – this post is NOT about politics. It is about patient care an opportunity to respond to needed help to put our skills to work. ‘Street medics’ in this context are volunteers with varying levels of first aid or professional certification who may or may not agree with the reason for protest but want to help others.
We often restrict our potential with the thought that our training in a ‘wilderness’ context limits us to that environment. As events of natural disaster and mass casualty incidents teach us, urban environments can quickly present ‘wilderness’ challenges in access to definitive medical care and how care is administered. Environmental obstacles can be diverse in an urban setting especially when it involves a mass of people. Scene safety in an urban context presents itself much differently than in the back-country! Experience and learn if your will and time allows.
If you want to see if there is an opportunity near you, you can click this map link and see the list of sites below the map and click again on a link for local information or try the Occupy Together website.
Some sites are more organized than others and may take time to assess the need - so patience with communication may be necessary. Take time to to tap into the local social media network to gauge the current ‘climate’ at the scene. Things happen on the protest grounds organically, much as they do in developing countries or disaster situations I have experienced.
A few points to keep in mind if you pursue:
- Keep politics out of medicine. Expectation is that of a good Samaritan and a good provider will create bridges of security / safety.
- Though the protests here in the US have been largely peaceful, there is always the potential for on-scene police or protester violence. Be aware and prepared for a potential change in scene safety. Take precautions. Do not incite violence but diffuse it if opportunity presents. Scene safety first! Nonviolent action is best action.
- Go prepared to take care of yourself above all. You cannot treat patients if you put yourself at risk.
Let me know if you have had any experiences worth relaying back to us. We’d love to hear them.
Best wishes of health and safety!
–
Nickie Sekera
Assistant Director
SOLO
Funny. I just enrolled in a SOLO WFA course because I was at the scene of two protests in NYC and realized that the rudimentary first aid I’d gotten as a massage therapist needs a serious refresher! Indeed, the street medic wiki lists WFR as the preferred first aid training for street medics: ( http://medic.wikia.com/wiki/Wilderness_first_responder ). I also remember the SOLO WFA training I’d gotten as a camp counselor years ago was really thorough. Good job SOLO!
Thank you Hope for understanding the value of SOLO’s training and the foresight in how the knowledge can be put to use. Though our WFA is our most popular course, the WFR level of training does indeed go broader and deeper into topics which allows the caregiver to approach situations with greater confidence and skill. Capacity building knowledge can empower us to accomplish great things! Thank you for sharing.
Just landed on this SOLO site looking for a good “wilderness” grade stethoscope to ask Santa for, and wanted to share a quick bit about my experience volunteering as a medic with Occupy Portland. I’m fairly a-political but saw the medical tent in the downtown encampment as a good opportunity to get some patient experience with my brand new WFR cert. When I first approached the medics on duty to offer help, I said something like “but I’m only a Wilderness First Responder” their reply: “this IS the wilderness. you’re qualified.” Since then in the past few weeks I’ve been embraced by this awesome medic community which consists of retired MDs, DMDs, RN, NDs, NPs, EMTs, and WFRs! We all learn from each other and have an amazing collaborative environment that supports the movement while trying to avoid being directly involved. Lately at big marches I’ve been a roving medic (always with a buddy), or a “bike medic,” ready with a basic first aid kid, and a solution to help patients who’ve been pepper sprayed. For more info there check out http://www.blackcrosscollective.org/page10.html Someone with higher creds than me is always ready with the “oh #&$@ bag” of more intensive resuscitation equipment.
I’m finding out that there are underground medic coalitions that specialize and train in “street medicine” and you’ll undoubtedly be put in contact with people who can help you get that type of training. (check out the above link for Black Cross Health Collective I posted). I can help you get involved if you happen to be in the Portland area, but in any of the national movements there will be a medical team. They’re usually a very well-respected and well-known part of the movement and if you poke around on your area’s Occupy website you’ll find either a “volunteer” section or info for who to contact.. and it might take a few tries to get in touch, but keep asking for the medical coalition.
In the camp, my experiences with patients were largely basic first aid, colds, and a few gnarly infections. The medic tent did deal with some more intense injuries, but none that I saw. On marches, we generally organize before- communicated via text and google group, and are identifiable during the marches by a red tape cross on our backpacks, bike helmets, arms, etc. The police in general are grateful we’re there, and protesters are happy to know that trained personnel are on their side, and in the middle of the crowd. The recent marches and bank sit ins at N17 felt like I was in a combat zone, and in addition to flushing patients who’d been pepper sprayed, we also assisted getting one person who broke his leg in a small stampede as the result of the pepper spray charge, a woman having a panic-induced asthma attack, and several small injuries. Really, it’s been a lot of fun and a great way to meet some like-minded medics from across the spectrum of credentials.
Thanks so much for posting this, and I echo the author’s encouragement to get involved in a local Occupy movement. You don’t have to be the one leading the chants or risk arrest to be a “neutral support” and provide care for your fellow citizens. It’s a great, low-key way to get experience and an adrenaline rush at the same time
Thank you ‘Wings’ for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and informative response. Your opportunity certainly has granted you great experiences! If you email me at nickie@soloschools.com I have something that may be of good use to you. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.