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Wayne

Mod
Mod
Dec 7, 2003
3,750
642
51
West Sussex
www.forestknights.co.uk
Wow

What a fantastic few days in the woods with the good people from BCUK.

I had a great time demonstrating a few first aid skills. I cannot remember another course that has had me laughing so hard.

Everyone really mucked in and threw themselves into the casualty simulations.

It may take me sometime to recover from listening to Tony serenading Lithril.

Also I learnt Badgers steal spoons.

A big thank you to all who attended the course for making it a success.

A quick reminder can you pm your addresses to me with your full name so i can get your certs in the post asap.
 
I never did get my spoon back from the badgers even tho the squirrels were meant to be looking for it!

In seriousness I had a truely amazing and educational time learning a lot of skills.
I even learnt a couple of knots from someone that I have been struggling with for some time so many thanks for that.

if anyone is thinking of doing a course with wayne I recommend it completely, lovely campsite, lovely woods and wayne has got a great sense of humour (if a little twisted)

Regards
Sam
 

Barney

Settler
Aug 15, 2008
947
0
Lancashire
Firstly thanks to Tony and Matt for organizing this and giving me and several others the opportunity to be expertly instructed in the finer points of bushcraft and rescue related first aid by the Forest Knights team.

Wayne, the chief instructor, provided a superb woodland location as the base for the course. The natural flora and fauna really surprised me in its abundance and variety.
The course catered for both the complete beginners like myself and other more experienced first aiders who had previously been expedition leaders themselves.

How Wayne managed to get me past that first cry for help in the woods still perplexes me now, even as I write this.
That first cry resulted in a frantic scramble through the undergrowth until I stood ashen faced and stricken with fear, repeating to myself over and over that it was not a real situation but it didn't work, at the prostrate body of the casualty whilst more experienced team members treated the situation with the care and skill that Wayne was going to attempt to teach us all.
I had learned a heck of a lot within the first few hours.

From that very first staged situation Wayne continued over the next four days to saturate us all with every conceivable aspect of accident and injury management theory and then reinforce the theory with hours and hours of hands on instruction until each new technique and reaction process was mastered by everyone. The group covered burns and soft tissue injuries to broken necks and backs, emergency stretcher construction and even helicopter evacuation, phew what a journey. It has to be said that Wayne has a calm and reassuring style, it's suited to instruction, no matter how many times he was sidetracked by the jokes and laughter he always managed to get us expediently back on track and into the learning zone.

By the end of the course the group carried out a twelve man man search and rescue operation for five casualties at night in thick dense undergrowth, where the casualties with broken back , legs, knees and severe abdominal injuries were quickly found, treated and evacuated to safety.

If you ever get the opportunity to get on one the Forest Knights courses then take it with both hands, you will not be disappointed.

If you are particularly fortunate, then you will also get to know a fantastic group of people and have a good laugh along the journey.

Thanks to Aaron, Adrian,Geoff, Jamie, Matt, Matt, Peter, Rob, Sam, Sam, Sian, Tony, and of course Wayne for a memorable experience, A special thank you to Wayne for getting me from that panic stricken novice to the position of team leader when there were so many other talented people around. Cheers Wayne.
 

Tony

White bear (Admin)
Admin
Apr 16, 2003
24,131
1
1,879
53
Wales
www.bushcraftuk.com
Good to meet those of you I didn't know before :D It was a great week with great people that I'd happily spend time in the woods with.
It was a great educational experience mixed with a lot of laughter and I can honestly say that I learned something from everyone.

Thanks Wayne for the opportunity, I'm glad we all made some use of it :D

There will be more :240:
 

Autumn Stone

Member
Jul 16, 2007
15
0
East Sussex
If there was anyone considering in taking part in the explorer first aid course that didnt, then you've got to make sure you get on it next time. The last four days spent in the woods have and will be probably one of the most memorable times I have had.

Thanks to Wayne especially for being an incredable host and teacher. To Tony and Matt for organising the couse with Wayne and being generally great chaps. And to the rest of the students on the course. Sam, Sam, Pete, Erin, Wayne, Geoff, Rob, Adrian, Sian, Jamie. We all met as strangers and left as good mates.

It was such a great time. Everything about it was perfect. The setting, the people, the socialising and cooking round the fire with a few beers and last but not least, the course its self. Every aspect about the course was so interesting.

The best part for me was the hands on practical exercises. This kind of teaching is such an excellent learing process. I have never taken so much information in in one week and retained the majority of whats been learnt.

If you're after a bit of a run down of the course then read Barney's post as it explains the couse details great and I would only be reiterating.

One thing I will say though. If you want to get hands on with first aid, learn about the kit and how to use it. Be knee deep in seemingly real life situations, in the middle of the night deep in a forest with your fellow team mates, to help rescue casulties with multiple injuries while your heart is pounding with Adreneline. Then this course is right up your street

Cheers again everyone. As my SLR ran out of batteries ill post some pics off my phone up soon.

Matt

EDIT by the way, I found all in total 9 ticks.haha Little buggers must like me or something...Anyone else get any?
 

Wayne

Mod
Mod
Dec 7, 2003
3,750
642
51
West Sussex
www.forestknights.co.uk
The am glad that you all found the course helpful.

I will be getting your certs sorted tomorrow when I have an office day.

I will also be talking with Tony about setting some dates for the next BCUK First Aid Course.
 

Wayne

Mod
Mod
Dec 7, 2003
3,750
642
51
West Sussex
www.forestknights.co.uk
Hi Guys.

I have discovered the source of the delay with the certificates.

There is a query with one of the assessors qualifications. I have only discovered this today so will send them a copy of the assessors qualifications by special delivery.

I can only apologise for the delay and reassure you that this matter is in hand and you will get your certs asap.
 

Wayne

Mod
Mod
Dec 7, 2003
3,750
642
51
West Sussex
www.forestknights.co.uk
Hi all.

I drove to the certifying office today to check on progress. The nice lady was away today however I have been promised that the certs will be posted to me tomorrow am.

Therefore I will post by special delivery all certs when I get them.

I am teaching bow making Friday - Sunday so hopefully they will arrive before Friday.

Once again I am sorry for the delay that is partly my fault as I have been in the woods almost constantly since the First aid course.
 

Path Finder

Member
Jan 3, 2008
46
0
Devon
trackingcourses.com
Wayne

I think you need to explain here as to why the certs have not arrived? You have assured me several times that they are on the way and you even said here you drove down there and the nice lady would send them.

They still have not arrived.

What is the problem?

Aye

Geoffrey
 

Wayne

Mod
Mod
Dec 7, 2003
3,750
642
51
West Sussex
www.forestknights.co.uk
Hi Geoff.

As I explained to you via text message. Their was some additional paperwork I needed to clear for one of the assessors that was beyond my control.

I now have the certs and have posted them today.


By way of an apology for the wait. I will hold a free update weekend next year for those wishing to participate.

This will cover the syllabus and possibly additional material.
 

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