Florida Wilderness First Aid

"I have to say this class definitely exceeded my expectations.
I decided to attend because I needed a certification to go on a
Philmont trek with my son. I came away with a whole new
appreciation for the responsibility of outdoor leadership. When
we go into the woods leading a group of other people, it is a
big responsibility. Thank you so much to Byron, Jono, the Griffin
Ranch, and all my fellow students for helping to make this such
a great experience." - Mike H., Attorney / Boy Scout leader

"A thousand thanks to Jono, Byron, and Carl for leading,
organizing, and hosting this fantastic course. I have taken
several first aid certification classes in my lifetime and this
one was by far the best! Jono was an excellent instructor ...
complete with much appreciated knowledge, attention to
detail, and a profound respect for the entire class. The
scenarios were extremely useful in practicing patient care
and gaining confidence in our developing skills as the class
information became more and more cumulative. Thanks
again everyone ... the experience would not have been the
same without all of you!" - Sarah F., Graduate student

"Byron, since first meeting you in the 72-hour survival course I took
last year, I have spent more and more time out in Florida's pine
hammocks, cypress swamps, riverine mangrove forests, oak
hammocks, and jungly 'glades! Kayaking, hiking, backpacking,
geocaching, and camping! And every time, inevitably, on our longer
treks, someone gets ill, no matter if it is a friend who is fairly new to
the wild, or someone who is an old hand out in the backcountry. As
*you* do, I try to keep a close watch over my friends, especially when
we're in the wilderness. But one time, a silent friend essentially ended
our trip becuase of blisters. Then another friend succumbed to
dehydration out of unwillingness to drink purified water (despite my
best efforts). Worst of all, one time, a physically and spiritually
STRONG friend became disoriented, weak, nauseous, and mentally
broken under the trauma of what I now know was a serious
heat-related injury!

Every one of those trips was a survival situation, and every time I did
the right thing. Every time we were deep in the backcountry and --
thank God -- every time I got me and my friends out. We owe that to
you because, luckily, in every one of those situations I had your
model: all of those things had also happened to my fellow survival
school students within my first 24 hours knowing you. Although I don't
believe in luck, in a sense I felt my luck had to run out soon. I've got
Positive Mental Attitude, shelter, firecraft, signaling, water, and food
completely covered when I go out. The skill I lacked was true training
in wilderness first aid, which is the 2nd of the Seven Priorities!

After my course in WFA, I can say that I am prepared. I can't begin to
number the lessons and skills I acquired this past weekend at the WFA
certification course. Suffice it to say that I've been recommending it to
every friend I have who loves the outdoors. Nobody who goes out
adventuring should be without WFA skills. I know more than ever that
my friends are in good hands, and will be safe and will survive at my
side, God willing." - Alicia B-T, Science teacher