- Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.
My STEP Signature Project took place in Bozeman, Montana from May 5th until May 12th. During this time, I participated in the National Outdoor Leadership School’s (NOLS) two-day Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course. From the class, I learned and practiced preparing for and responding to injured individuals in nature when medical services are not immediately available.
- What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.
One transformational aspect of my STEP Signature Project was how it personally helped me develop and practice being a leader in a medical scenario, specifically an emergency one. I have always had an interest in becoming an Emergency Medicine physician, and the WFA course aided in my better understanding of what it takes to be such a professional. I was always under the assumption that it took a plethora of knowledge to be successful; however, the WFA course taught me that such knowledge is useless unless used with composure. I learned that to best aid an individual in need, I must approach the situation calm and collected as well as follow a set, unchanging plan of procedure so that I may assess and best treat the patient. The course transformed how I view and approach medical situations and certainly gave me a deeper understanding of how they occur.
The WFA course furthermore showed me the importance of medical training and having multiple people trained in it. I initially thought that this course would be beneficial solely to me and others who wanted to pursue a medical career and/or explore the wonders of nature more. However, after practicing many different scenarios, I was shown how injury can strike anywhere at any moment and having individuals who are prepared to treat patients until medical professionals can arrive can sometimes be all the difference. Whether it be minutes or hours, in the middle of nowhere or in a busy city, medical training is an exceptionally useful and helpful skill to have. I now believe that medical training is something that should be expanded and practiced by more individuals to help make our world a safer place.
- What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.
My perception of providing medical care and how to approach patient care was completely altered due to the hands-on structure of the NOLS WFA course. While some of our time was spent learning about the different conditions we might treat and how to administer first aid for them, much of the course was spent doing actual practice of administering medical care to each other. During this time, we rotated between various roles, sometimes being the patient, other times being the primary care administer, and yet other times being the secondary care administer. This system allowed me to see the emergency medical scenario from all perspectives, providing me the chance to understand how best to approach and be a leader in such situations. Sometimes, that is taking charge and being the person who organizes everything and everyone in order to save someone. Other times, however, it is taking the initiative to step back and play a supporting role so that someone can get the correct medical attention they need.
My thoughts on the importance of composition and preparedness in providing wilderness first aid or simply medical care in general was completely changed by the actual practice scenarios that we participated in. Going into my first practice scenario, I thought it would be a breeze; I knew the steps we had to take, I had just spent time reviewing them with the instructor, and we were even given the scenario ahead of time. However, once I actual reached the patient and began to assess, my mind went blank, I started to panic and forget, and I did not provide the best care I potentially could have. I learned that it is incredibly important to practice and review the training necessary for providing first aid until the steps become second nature, because you absolutely must be ready for when a real situation might arise. This allows you to be calm and ready for when a situation arises. Furthermore, I was taught from this the importance of collaborating with others because sometimes a secondary helper can remember something the primary care provider may have forgotten.
Finally, the practice situations and medical conditions covered in the course also showed me how more people should be trained in first aid, as any sort of situation can arise anywhere at any time. In one scenario, I played the role of a collapsed, unresponsive hiker found on a trail. In character, I was a diabetic in need of insulin, but the first aid provider did not know this ahead of time and had to figure it out without speaking to me. In my situation, the attendant was not able to correctly assess my condition, causing me to immediately think of my diabetic cousin and if I would be able to help her if she were in such a situation. Injury and harm can happen anytime and anywhere; the difference between and injury being addressed or an injury resulting in severe trauma or even death can sometimes be in the hands of random individuals, maybe even in your hands. This course made me an advocate for medical training, someone who encourages all to take it in some form or fashion. I want to be a rehearsed and trained first aid provider because I know if I were in the situation of a patient, I would want the person helping me to be as knowledgeable as possible too.
- Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.
The transformation I experienced from this STEP Project was significant to my life in a variety of ways. First, I believe it helped me figure out more what I would want to pursue as a career following my graduation with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. I had initially thought about attending medical school to practice medicine and working with patients; however, following this experience, I have found that my passions lie closer to developing medical techniques and devices to help injured/sick people rather than treating the patients themselves. My STEP Signature Project also provided me with valuable training and knowledge as I try to explore the world and nature more. This fact was even proven immediately following my completion of the WFA class, where some of my friends and I had to practice administering first aid for mild hypothermia while backcountry camping in Yellowstone National Park. Thanks to the WFA class, I now feel more confident, safe, and secure knowing that I can help and treat myself or anyone else in need of medical care as I embark on future travels. Finally, my STEP Project helped me to grow as a leader because sometimes the best thing a leader can do is support and collaborate with another leader.
