We had the opportunity to attend a First Aid (EA-1) course here in Inari, and I signed up for it. The course included professional fishermen from Lake Inari, as well as other tourism staff who were updating their first aid skills. I had previously received good first aid training in the military, but a refresher never hurts. It was enlightening to hear the experiences of other tourism professionals about their own encounters with guests, and especially about how cold weather is something to be prepared for here in the north. Learning to recognize the early signs of frostbite and how to treat it properly is crucial. As first aid skills improve, so does confidence in one’s own actions and guidance, and the ability to apply the necessary knowledge in more challenging first aid situations increases.
