>> "The course was great. The
skills learned this weekend I feel are necessary for not only
wilderness but today's world, especially after the recent events in
Georgia and now Missouri, it is not beyond reason to find a neighbor in
distress much like the scenarios in the course after a weather event."
-Jaimi Jackson, 5/23/2011
>> "Matt, thanks for an
awesome weekend!! I'm sure I'll be putting a lot of this training to use
during my disaster relief efforts. Thanks again!" -Anna
Mooney, 4/18/2011
>> "With more than 40 years
of extensive backpacking and wilderness canoeing experience, I questioned
myself about why I would take this course. In the end, I reflected
on the several times I had helped others out of bad situations, and the
personal rewards that has given me. Always in the back of my mind,
was the 'What if it was a really bad injury' question. So far it had
been weather, lost hikers, and injuries I could deal with. Could I
rely on common sense and some book knowledge to turn things around?
The SOLO course was perfectly taught and always a lot of fun learning
by encountering almost-real-life situations, which prepared me in a way
nothing ever could. The SOLO course book made
sometimes-confusing signs and symptoms [be] easily understandable, and
again the instructor was fantastic -- something I had heard about
other SOLO instructors as well. This was one of the best things I
have ever done, and worth missing a mountain weekend for, many times
over."
- email from John Holden,
Manager of Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, Charlottesville, VA,
7/30/2007
>> "I learned even more
taking it this second time."
- John Holden, 10/25/2009
>> "You are a great teacher.
I really enjoyed the class. Thanks so much." - email from Julie
Connelly, M.D., Physician of 28 years at UVa, 1/29/2011
>> “I highly
recommend the MEDIC SOLO Wilderness First Aid program instructed by Matt
Rosefsky.
As a complete novice in this area, I was astonished at how much we all
learned over the intensive weekend. This is in large part attributed to
Matt’s considerable experience and teaching skills. Of course the
curriculum and excellent materials are time tested.
Our WFA instruction was held at Old Dominion University
and coordinated with ODU’s Outdoor Adventure Program (OAP) which is
passionately lead by Bridget Nemeth and her grad assistant, Andy. Very
impressive program! Thanks also to Blue Ridge Mountain Sports for helping
sponsor the instruction.
Among the students included in our class were a retired
radiologist, an adventurer pharmacist, an accomplished
nurse who also has mentored Scouts for years, other Scout leaders
and mentors, a number of serious outdoor enthusiasts, trained
professionals seeking continuing education, and, of course, the very
enthusiastic and fun group of ODU OAP leaders and apprentices.
As a father, husband, and major partner in a local
business I sought out this program with the goal of learning how in a
medical emergency to protect my family and colleagues during and after
the critical “Golden Hour” until the professionals can arrive. I now have
a much better foundation and structure for meaningful action.
Matt Rosefsky was simply outstanding in his ability to
interact and instruct such a diverse group of students. ODU’s Outdoor
Adventure Program deserves much praise for their program and leadership.
There is no doubt in my mind that students of this class will be able to
make a difference.
A great educator is humble, knowledgeable and genuinely
loves working with students. In my opinion, Matt Rosefsky is a great
educator. THANKS.
Ralph M. Courage, CPWA, CIMA, CFP, CLU
Courage Miller Partners, LLC
Institutional and Private Family Portfolio Management”
4/4/2011
“Your knowledge of wilderness medicine and obvious passion for the topic
combined with your engaging teaching style went a long way in providing an
excellent learning environment. You take very complex concepts and
chunk them down into smaller learning nuggets for students to ingest
making the concept easier to understand. Following up with very skillfully
designed mock accident scenarios helps to reinforce and, therefore, better
retain the concepts you teach. Being an outdoor educator myself,
I understand the importance of blending hypothetical and experiential
teaching styles to help students obtain and retain knowledge. My learning
expectations for this course were certainly met and, in many cases,
exceeded. I would highly recommend this course to anyone seeking
knowledge about managing medical emergencies in the backcountry.
Best Regards,
Ron Fandetti
AMC Mountain Leadership School Co-Director”
>> "FANTASTIC CLASS! I feel that because of
the training I could handle most wilderness emergencies with a logical
order of triage and care.
- email from Dan R.,
7/22/2008
>> "Shortly after receiving
my WFA cert … while waiting at a red light at a 4-way intersection, I
observed an SUV lose control on the wet road while taking a turn a bit too
fast and roll over. I keep stocked trauma kits in my vehicles and grabbed
one …
I was one of the first to arrive at the rolled SUV
and assessed the scene. Most of the emergent volunteers were milling
around the SUV, wondering what to do and not sure how to handle
treating the female driver. I observed through the windshield that she
was alert, although a little disoriented and had a cut left hand due to
the broken driver's window; the air bags didn't deploy. I guess since I
was talking the loudest to the woman, I took control to treat her. While
still physically separated by the vehicle, I asked her if she had any
other injuries/pain and began the initial assessment the best I could ...
Police and fire/rescue had not yet arrived, although plenty of 911 calls
went out.
With the help of another man, we were able to push up
and open the passenger door, the driver's side was on the ground. While he
held the door open, I was able to interact with my 'patient.' I received
permission to treat her ... While gloved up, I applied several 4x4 pads
and had her raise her arm above her head and hold the gauze. There was no
way we could get her out and I didn't want to try without proper rescue
cribbing gear to prevent the vehicle shifting around ... I talked with her
to calm her down. Once FX Fire/Rescue was on site, I passed care of my
'patient' to them. She was subsequently extracted from the SUV and
transported to Inova Fair Oaks Hospital.
Thanks again for letting me take your WFA class and
I credit being able to successfully treat my 'patient' to your WFA
training.
Best regards.
Ian K." 6/5/2008
>> "Great course, I
learned much more than I thought possible in a weekend." - email from
Mark O., 1/31/2011
>> "WFA definitely came
in handy Friday - we were having a picnic (out by a lake with a
bunch of people) and had someone fall playing volleyball and end up
with a distal radial/ulnar fracture (clearly displaced) ... and
(thanks to having experience in the class) was able to easily make a
splint and brace the arm so we could get her to the hospital as painlessly
as possible - so ... thanks!" - email from
Matt N., 7/2/2011
Course & Instructor anonymous student
survey responses
See also:
Just the Course ~ Just the Instructor
~ Emails & Facebook Reviews
Comparisons to
Other Orgs' Courses & Instructors
>>
anonymous feedback every student in September 10-11, 2011 class
>>
anonymous feedback every student in September 17-18, 2011 class
>> "Take the class, Save a
life!" July 2008
>> "Perhaps the best 2
days I have ever spent learning indispensable information."
October 2010
>> "Beyond expectations.
It was an extremely well-taught course using experiential learning that
will transfer to actual use if ever needed." April 2011
>> "Tremendous
amount of information provided with an intelligent curriculum and
outstanding teaching."
April 2011
>> "I was astonished at
how much I learned & how quickly." February 2011
>> "Anybody who hikes /
backpacks / camps or anything far away from help needs to take this
course." October 2009
>> "Excellent
knowledge, great presentation skills, nice mix of classroom & practical
application / hands-on." March 2011
>> "I feel incredibly
empowered by just 2 days of instruction, and I am aware of new practices
I'll institute in the wilderness. ... Matt, the teacher, was extremely
knowledgeable and professional as well as approachable and kind. I
loved the location (Ivy Creek [Natural Area]) as well as the integration
of classroom and scenarios." October 2007
>> "I actually learned
more than I thought I would ... I appreciated the depth of physiological
mechanisms that were taught as to help think logically through problems
... Matt was a great instructor ... If you do anything outdoors, this is a
great course to have. " January 2008
>> "We had ample practical
experience running scenarios that incorporated the classroom lecture /
notes well. ... Above all, Matt's sense of timing / humor &
flexibility when working with such breadth of curriculum & limited time is
exemplary. ... Enjoyed not only the content & instructor of the WFA
class, but [also] our extracurricular learning & the opportunity to meet
amazing, like-minded" people. July 2007
>> Did the course meet
your expectations? "Better than expected, actually ... I
loved the scenarios ... Matt was awesome! -- presented info in an
interesting & manageable way, told stories, let group tell stories too ...
It's great to learn something so useful in such a fun way!"
January 2008
>> "I really enjoyed the
class and am kind of shocked how much I feel like I've learned just within
those 2 days. I already feel way ahead in my EMT class!" January
2011
>> "Matt is an excellent
instructor. He's laid back, yet eager to give help and offer good
judgment ... It's an excellent course to streamline your first aid kit and
learn new uses for common backpacking equipment. Amazing!"
January 2008
>> "I recommend that WFA
be the minimum course level required by all SAR (Search and Rescue)
personnel ... [Matt] not only knows the subject matter but how to
effectively convey the information and motivate his students."
April 2008
>> "Very hands-on, good
mix of lectures with hands-on scenarios. Matt's a very thorough,
patient teacher." May 2010
>> "Wish I had done this
last year (or 30 years ago!)" October 2009
>> "Excellent instructor.
Good content. Good balance of hands-on & lecture." July
2007
>> "I thought the WFA
course was fantastic and that you were a great teacher." July
2008
>> "Altering
the course of natural selection." April 2011
Just the Course anonymous student survey responses
See also:
Course + Instructor ~ Just the Instructor
~ Emails & Facebook Reviews
Comparisons to
Other Orgs' Courses & Instructors
>> "When I walked in the
door, the idea of being responsible for someone in a backcountry medical
emergency was terrifying. Now I feel confident that I can help."
March 2008
>> "This course goes way
beyond basic first aid. I feel much better prepared to handle
emergencies in the wilderness now." October 2007
>> "If I knew this class
would be so applicable to even a day hike or weekend sail, I would have
taken it sooner." October 2010
>> "This course exceeded
my expectations!" October 2010
>> "Hands-on. Great
simulations to commit procedures to memory." May 2010
>> "After taking this
course, I feel more confident that I'll have the supplies and knowledge to
help someone in a real crisis situation." May 2010
>> "Thorough approach to
topics, excellent information about the 'why's' and 'how's' of injury &
treatment ... which allows the participant to build deep and meaningful
(and applicable!) understanding." March 2009
>> "I learned a lot in a
very short period of time; lessons were clear, and demos / staged events
were great practice and a perfect hands-on learning tool."
October 2007
>> "The numerous examples
of hands-on practice in evaluating, moving and treating patients gave us
lots of practice in applying what we learned." October 2007
>> "The role-playing
really helped cement the concepts when we were actively participating --
both as a patient, and care-giver ... Very useful [course] if you plan on
spending any time outside." January 2008
>> "An
all-around fantastic course that can give one the confidence to handle
tough situations."
June 2009
>> "Perfect balance of
lectures and practical application made enormous increase in my knowledge
and confidence to help in a wilderness emergency." April 2008
>> "I was ... in denial
about what could go wrong in a hike. I feel much more prepared now.
Everyone who hikes should take this course!" March 2008
>> "This will make me feel
more confident when leading scouts on wilderness adventures."
March 2008
>> "Great course, useful
for anybody who wants to be outdoors and not worry about not knowing what
to do in an emergency." October 2007
>> "If you go into the
backcountry without this basic knowledge, you are in danger."
January 2008
>> The course "definitely
meets expectations above & beyond." What could we do to
improve the program? "Don't mess with a good thing!" July
2008
>> "Have fun and acquire
skills that besides being important, are essential for any lifestyle."
July 2007
>> "I hope this fake blood
washes of 'cause there's enough on me that you'd swear these scenarios
were real!" March 2009
>> "This was fun!"
October 2007
>> Anonymous survey question:
"Did the course meet your expectations?"
24 replies from all 24
students in October 2009:
"Yes, it was a great
experience."
"Yes, the class was
wonderful."
"Yes, I feel like I learned a
lot."
"Yes, it was a fantastic and
thorough review."
"Above my expectations."
"Completely, I feel confident
in the information I learned!"
"Course exceeded my
expectations."
"Exceeded."
"Exceeded."
"Yes. Exceeded."
"Yes!"
"Yes." (this reply given
on the other 12 of the 24 surveys).
Just the Instructor anonymous student survey responses
See also:
Course + Instructor ~
Just the Course ~
Emails & Facebook Reviews
Comparisons to
Other Orgs' Courses & Instructors
>> "I didn't know what to
expect & told friends I might leave early on Sunday. But NO WAY!
Matt is a great teacher & I learned so much! ... Great knowledge &
skill, able to communicate information, great humor & methods of engaging
students." January 2011
>>
"Matt is wonderful.
Extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and professional." June
2011
>>
"Matt ... Obviously you
are in tune with the subject of Wilderness First Aid and your instruction
capabilities are excellent." March 2008
>> "Excellent.
Very knowledgeable & charismatic. Professional at every level."
April 2011
>> "Matt is a great
instructor, knows the subject, very personable and confidence-inspiring --
would definitely take another class of his." March 2008
>> "Listened to each
question & gave thoughtful answers!" January 2012
>> "Rock Star!!!"
October 2010
>> "Matt was great.
His fantastic soft skills were only outweighed by his tremendous knowledge
of the subject matter." March 2009
>> "You did an
outstanding job of being very positive in your feedback and in general
leading the group. An often misplaced piece of the leadership puzzle,
having a strong positive outlook sure makes the atmosphere in any
situation better...... Great class will recommend highly. You did a good
job learning peoples names too." January 2012
>> "Matt was "very
patient and positive. Answered all questions thoroughly.
He was very well-versed in the subjects. Good time management!"
March 2008
>> "The instructor knew
EVERYTHING. Clear, organized, thorough & concise!" May
2009
>> "Your approach nicely
walked that fine line between the fact that this is serious business, and
the humor that was occasionally needed to keep the class motivated."
March 2008
>> "Matt was full of
information, a wonderful presence, easy to be with and extremely helpful /
knowledgeable." October 2007
>> "Matt is excellent.
Good communicator & has experiences that give depth to his knowledge."
November 2008
>> "Excellent instructor
... Very good learning environment ... WFA: don't leave the trail
head without it!" April 2008
>> "Matt did a great job
addressing questions in preparation for the course, while presenting
information, and as follow-up. Highly recommended." July
2008
>> Matt is "very
knowledgeable, with obvious extensive training and experience."
March 2008
>> "Matt was
very competent and engaging." July 2008
>> "Matt is very
knowledgeable, very patient, great instructor!" April 2008
>> "Instructor was very
knowledgeable, presented clearly, personable." July 2007
>> Matt is "very
knowledgeable and gifted in instruction." March 2008
>> "Matt is knowledgeable
and competent. Excellent teacher." March 2008
>> "Matt's easy-going
nature gains respect of students." March 2008
>> "It's nice to see
instructors so enthusiastic about this subject!" March 2008
>> "Matt is a top-notch
WFA instructor." July 2007
>> "Ideal person to run
the course." July 2008
>> "Matt was awesome --
very thorough, but good-humored & patient." July 2008
>> Anonymous survey question:
"What did you think of the instructor?"
24 replies from all 24
students in October 2009:
"Great!"
"Great!"
"Great."
"Great."
"Superb."
"Excellent."
"Excellent."
"Fantastic!"
"Very good."
"He was great."
"He was great!"
"He was great!"
"None could be better."
"Matt is a great teacher."
"Positive, organized,
prepared."
"Very enthusiastic regarding
material."
"Very knowledgeable &
engaging instructor."
"Knowledgeable and friendly.
Two thumbs up."
"Matt did a great job, very
competent and friendly."
"Very very knowledgeable -
brought in stories at the right time. Very friendly."
"Matt was knowledgeable and
great working with the group. He was a great instructor giving a lot
of depth yet keeping the course on track."
"Matt was very knowledgeable
and demonstrated strong teaching ability and experience."
"Awesome job - both in
content presentation and just enough worthwhile tangents to stay
interesting, but on track."
Comparisons to Other Orgs' Courses
& Instructors
See also:
Course + Instructor ~
Just the Course ~
Just the Instructor
Emails
& Facebook Reviews
>> "Lots of great info --
way more than basic first aid courses I've taken." April 2011
>> "Best course
on first aid I have had." May 2011
>> "Matt's knowledge,
demeanor, and teaching skills make the course one of the best I've
taken." January 2012
>> "This is the second
time I have taken WFA, the previous time was with a different instructor
through a different organization. The difference between the two courses
was black and white, bravo Matt." -Peter L., 5/6/2010
>> "This hands-on
class proved to be so much more effective than previous first aid
classes." January 2012
>> "Excellent
class! When I went into the class my first aid training was to stop the
bleeding and call 911. After the class, I am very confident that I could
handle many of the problems that can arrive in the back country. But
what made the class exceptional was the way Matt lead the instruction.
Matt provided the theory, the background behind the theory, an explanation
of why the body was reacting to a certain situation and the symptoms that
it produced. This was great for me because memorization has never been my
strong point, but if I understood the basics I can always figure out the
next step which will stay with me much longer." ~Joseph Sites,
June 9, 2011
>> "I wanted to ensure you
knew how much your preparation, knowledge and professionalism was
appreciated. I heard this from several people I was paired with during
scenarios.
I have done several things like this with work and
outside of work over the last 30 years, and by far your course was the
most professional and well paced and as such my absorption and retention
were very high. I liked the mix between lecture, participation and
scenarios - the mix was near perfect to ensure enthusiastic participation
by all. I liked that we did not screw around with overly long breaks.
I left with a higher degree of confidence that I
need to have when taking 20 to 30 boys out camping.
It is obvious you are serious about what you do and I
have great respect for that. It is obvious you care for people with the
birthday cake for Dan there at the end.
Due to that respect and caring, I look forward to
reaching out to you this summer for some potential high adventure outing
with some of the older boys in the Boy Scout troop here in Harrisonburg
for fall 2011." - email from Brian Naftel, Scoutmaster, Boy Scout Troop
40, Harrisonburg, VA
>> "One of the best
courses I have taken in many years." May 2010
>> The course was "at least
on par with, if not better than, the first SOLO WFA course I took in 2005.
I got more out of the course this time. I don't know if that was due to my
building on prior knowledge or your teaching style...perhaps both. Your
delivery was very good. You have a very relaxed teaching style that
creates a comfortable environment for learning. Your knowledge of the
course content was very evident. The additional information you provided
that was not in the book was very helpful in understanding whatever topic
you were teaching. You provided enough technical information to explain
things, but did not overwhelm us with medical 'tech talk'. The scenarios
and role plays were just great. There is no better way to learn than by
doing. Handling a wilderness medical emergency solo was one of the
better learning experiences for me. Time management was a challenge for
you considering all the content you had to cover, but you did a good job
at getting through it all."
- email from Ron F.,
7/31/2007
>> "Even though I am a
health care provider I was amazed how much I learned in taking Matt's
course. He was enthusiastic and presented in a way that made the
material both relevant and interesting. Two thumbs up!" ~ Vinnie Mascia,
February 17, 2011
>> "Excellent course. Matt's
knowledge, skills and experience contributed to a great course outline.
Even with many years emergency experience, I came away with new tools for
my patient care toolbox. Thank you!" ~Tina Ryner, February 16, 2011
