Be wild about first aid! Outdoor and Wilderness first aid training course

Özet, Erasmus+ Project Results platformunda yayımlanan İngilizce metindir.

Amaç

Through the Erasmus+ Outdoor and Wilderness First Aid Training Course project, we aimed to comprehensively strengthen the professional, educational, and social competencies of project participants and to increase safety in local communities.

The project's main goal was to enhance the competencies of 20 youth workers from five countries who utilized outdoor education and outdoor activities in their daily work, in the areas of wilderness and outdoor first aid. At the same time, the project aimed to enhance their competencies in using outdoor first aid classes as an effective educational tool, supporting the development of soft and key skills in young people.

The project's specific objectives included:

Increasing participants' knowledge and skills in providing first aid in outdoor environments and areas remote from professional emergency services;

Developing participants' soft and key skills, particularly teamwork, effective communication in crisis situations, stress management, civic courage, and decision-making in critical situations;

Strengthening participants' educational competencies in conducting first aid classes using games, exercises, simulations, maneuvers, events, and happenings as non-formal education methods;

Improving the competences of young people and local community members in providing first aid through dissemination activities implemented after the mobility;

Contributing to increasing safety in Zărnești and the surrounding area by raising awareness and practical skills in responding to life-threatening and health-threatening situations.

The project's implementation enabled the achievement of its objectives and strengthened the long-term educational and social potential of the organization and its participants.

Uygulama

As part of the Erasmus+ Outdoor and Wilderness First Aid Training Course project, we implemented a comprehensive program of training, educational, and practical activities based on non-formal and outdoor education methods.

The activities included:

international wilderness and outdoor first aid training, conducted in the form of theoretical workshops and intensive practical fieldwork;

activities conducted using active methods, including simulation games, exercises, simulations, rescue maneuvers, educational events, and happenings, enabling participants to learn first aid in stressful situations and crisis situations;

workshops developing soft and key skills for participants, such as teamwork, communication in crisis situations, stress management, decision-making in critical situations, and responsibility for their actions;

the use of VR (virtual reality) technology during training and demonstrations, which allowed for the safe simulation of life-threatening situations and, at the same time, constituted an innovative and engaging element of the educational process, particularly important in the context of the threats posed by COVID-19;

Preparing participants to conduct dissemination and educational activities in their home countries after the mobility period.

Number and profile of project participants:
A total of 20 people participated in the project, with four participants from each partner country. Participants were aged 18–35. Each partner organization guaranteed the participation of four people, maintaining gender balance.

All participants were youth workers with experience in outdoor education or outdoor activities.
The national profile of the participants was as follows:

from Poland – youth workers, including scout instructors and lifeguards conducting activities for youth;

from Turkey – psychologists working with youth and with students at universities, medical students, and students in the health sector;

from Romania – lifeguards and psychologists, athletes, outdoor instructors, youth workers, and facilitators working in hospitals and with oncology children;

from Spain – youth workers specializing in outdoor education, mountain guides and tour guides, and a humanitarian worker

The diverse, interdisciplinary profile of the participants enabled the exchange of experiences, good practices, and the development of innovative educational solutions that could be used in youth work and activities for local communities.

Sonuçlar

The implementation of the Erasmus+ Outdoor and Wilderness First Aid Training Course project yielded a number of positive results, which had both an immediate impact on project participants and a long-term impact on local communities, including the Zărnești area and surrounding areas.

Project Results:

Improved Participant Competencies:

The project participants, a total of 20 youth workers from five countries, significantly improved their wilderness and outdoor first aid skills, enabling them to respond more effectively to life-threatening situations in the field and beyond the reach of professional medical assistance.

The training and practical exercises enabled participants to acquire not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills that they will be able to use in their work with youth and in the outdoor events they organize.

The participants' soft skills, such as teamwork, communication in crisis situations, stress management, decision-making in difficult circumstances, and civic courage, were strengthened. Participants learned how to work under pressure, manage stress, and make responsible decisions, which is a valuable resource both in their professional and personal lives.

Improving the competencies of young people and local communities:

By disseminating the knowledge they gained, project participants became ambassadors for first aid in their countries and local communities. Organized educational activities and workshops attended by young people and local community members contributed to increasing awareness of first aid and its role in everyday life.

New technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), were used in the training, allowing participants to learn in a safe and innovative way. Using VR, participants were able to simulate various rescue scenarios in a controlled environment, increasing their confidence in crisis situations.

Improving safety in Zărnești and the surrounding area:

The project contributed to increasing safety in Zărnești and neighboring towns by educating residents and young people about first aid and responding to emergencies.

The local community gained greater knowledge of first aid in the field, which could improve safety in rural areas where access to emergency services can be limited.

Increased international cooperation and exchange of experiences:

The project allowed participants to exchange experiences and best practices in working with youth, as well as build international cooperation networks that could lead to future educational and social projects.

Thanks to collaboration with organizations from various countries, participants had the opportunity to learn about different approaches to outdoor education and youth work, which enriched their professional skills.

Conclusions:

Improving participants' competencies and their ability to convey knowledge about first aid in crisis situations and teamwork in the context of outdoor education had a long-term impact on the quality of youth work in the five partner countries.

The use of VR technology in teaching and the effective use of active methods, such as simulation games, simulations, and rescue maneuvers, enriched the participants' educational experiences and positively impacted the quality of the activities implemented.

The project also had a significant impact on increasing local safety, which contributed to building a more aware and responsible community, ready to respond to crisis situations.