By Rory Connors, Otago University Tramping Club

In mid-May 2025, 14 members of the Otago University Tramping Club (OUTC) spent their Saturday at an Outdoor First Aid course with Workplace First Aid. The course taught emergency management in situations where support from emergency services is not readily accessible. It was a valuable opportunity to upskill the current and future leaders of the club. Thank you to FMC for the training grant, which allowed this course to be possible.

The OUTC is a student club, based in Dunedin, which supports and advocates for a variety of outdoor activities. Named for tramping, the club is also made up of rock climbers, trail runners, rogainers, mountaineers and cavers. OUTC trips are best characterised by several elements: their relaxed atmosphere, the desire of punters and grunters to ‘touch grass’ and the inevitable need for a bit of first aid.

What every trip needs is some knowledge – and hopefully skill – of first aid! The OUTC acknowledges this. As a student tramping club, the OUTC is often introducing inexperienced or international trampers to the New Zealand outdoors. Mixing hazardous and isolated environments with individuals more liable to hurt themselves (or others) means sometimes accidents happen. 

The OUTC makes sure to send trip leaders on every trip who are experienced in the New Zealand outdoors, in an attempt to try and minimise these accidents, but still things can go wrong. This training grant means that our trip leaders are better equipped to manage these tricky situations.

On the day of the Outdoor First Aid course, smiles were on every face. The joy of learning new skills on a beautiful day and doing it for free meant spirits were high. They would stay this way as we found out how much fun a first aid course can be.

Patient with broken leg safe from hypothermia. Photo credit: Hannah Konnings

Revision of DRS ABCD was followed by spinal immobilisation and carries – this was to be the most emphasised part of our learning. We did log rolls to clear the airway without moving the spine. We coordinated seven-person carries to carefully move a spinal patient away from any imminent danger. As the Club’s Transport Officer, I was very impressed by the efficacy of this movement and the comfort when being carried. But I think we will stick to vans and buses when travelling further than Outram. Throughout everything, we practised, practised, practised. None of us want to be caught needing a pocket-sized manual should the real deal happen.

Students work as a team to carry amputated patient. Photo credit: Hannah Konnings

The afternoon comprised of more practise; however this time, we practised in scenarios complicated by a mixture of injuries, non-compliant actors and environmental factors. These scenarios were invaluable. What we had learnt was necessary to engage with the scenarios, but it was engaging with the scenarios that really let us learn. 

Tourniquet on amputee patient. Photo credit: Hannah Konnings

Our first attempts were disorganised – we mobbed our simulated patients and needed overt hints from our instructors to treat them. With each scenario, we gained more focus and developed a practical understanding of the teamwork needed to effectively manage an emergency.

Makeshift splint. Photo credit: Hannah Konnings

The skills we practised are essential to keeping us out in the bush. The FMC’s There and Back (2016) publication of outdoor incident statistics shows 80% of tramping fatalities occur in the South Island, specifically in Dunedin – our backyard. And with the rate of injury per tramper growing (There and Back, 2016), we must be prepared to manage when our people get hurt. The FMC’s Training Grant has greatly helped us do this.

Rile Smith feeling joyful despite head injury, thanks to first aid support. Photo credit: Hannah Konnings

Thank you to the FMC for their financial support, former Club Patron, Liam Hewson, for his initiative and current Patron, Jasmine Prince, for carrying the course through.

The Otago University Tramping Club was awarded a FMC Training Grant: a cash grant to support the club to access this professional training. To learn more about the Training Grant, or to apply, please visit the FMC website.