First Aid and CPR Training for NEPL Ecotourism Team
June 9, 2016 – NEPL headquarters

The ecotourism guides of Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area were trained by First Aid Services trainers in first aid and Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).  The emergency response procedures the ecotourism staff were trained in included procedure for approaching the scene of a medical accident/emergency; diagnosing problems in breathing, airway blockage, circulation, shock, severe bleeding, spinal injury, and strokes; performing the Hiemlich maneuver, CPR, dressing wounds, and lifting and moving injured patients; and procedures for poisoning and snake bites.

The training given by David and Viola Hermanson of First Aid Services was fun, interactive, and hands on. The trainer to trainee ratio was 1 to 3, thus each trainee was able to be actively involved and have their questions answered directly by trainers.

As staff of NEPL frequently spend time in remote areas where access to medical services is limited it is important to WCS to develop a certain degree of medical self-reliance for these staff.

For ecotourism staff who guide visitors unfamiliar with the environment of NEPL NPA, the first aid knowledge is especially important. For this reason WCS/NEPL NPA will continue to train and renew training of first aid and CPR to their eco-tourism staff regularly.