Saturday

Goal: Provide foundational knowledge and skills to assess, stabilize, and manage medical emergencies until professional help arrives.

• Topics:
• Welcome, course objectives, and importance of basic medical skills in adventure settings.
• Overview of the “Primary Survey” (ABCDE: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure) as a guiding framework.
• Legal considerations (e.g., Good Samaritan laws, consent basics).
• Activities: Instructor-led discussion, brief Q&A

Bleeding Control and Wound Management

• Topics:
• Types of bleeding (external: minor cuts, severe arterial bleeds).
• Direct pressure, wound packing, and tourniquet use.
• Basic wound cleaning and bandaging.
• Activities:
• Demonstration: Applying pressure, using a tourniquet (commercial or improvised).
• Hands-on practice: Participants pair up to practice bandaging and tourniquet application on mock wounds.

Fractures, Sprains, and Immobilization

• Topics:
• Recognizing fractures vs. sprains.
• Basic splinting techniques (e.g., using sticks, clothing, or SAM splints).
• Importance of reducing movement and pain management (non-medicated approaches).
• Activities:
• Demonstration: Splinting an arm or leg.
• Hands-on practice: Participants create splints using provided materials.

Environmental Emergencies

• Topics:
• Heat exhaustion/heat stroke: Signs, cooling methods.
• Hypothermia: Signs, warming techniques (e.g., blankets, body heat).
• Dehydration: Prevention and recognition.
• Activities:
• Case studies: Discuss real-world scenarios (e.g., rider collapses in heat).
• Practice: Wrapping a “hypothermic” volunteer in blankets.

CPR and Choking Basics

• Topics:
• Hands-only CPR (chest compressions for adults).
• Recognizing cardiac arrest.
• Heimlich maneuver for choking (basic overview).
• Activities:
• Demonstration: CPR on a manikin, Heimlich technique.
• Hands-on practice: Participants perform CPR and simulate Heimlich (safely, on manikins or with guidance).

Head Injuries and Shock

• Topics:
• Recognizing concussions and severe head trauma (e.g., confusion, vomiting).
• What is shock? Signs (e.g., pale, clammy skin) and basic management (e.g., elevate legs, keep warm).
• When to suspect spinal injury and how to minimize movement.
• Activities:
• Role-play: Assess a “patient” with a mock head injury or shock.
• Discussion: Decision-making (e.g., when to call for help).

Scenario-Based Practice and Wrap-Up

• Topics:
• Putting it all together: Full emergency response simulation.
• Review key takeaways and resources for further learning.
• Q&A and certificate distribution (optional).
• Activities:
• Group scenario: e.g., “A rider crashes, is bleeding, and disoriented.” Participants work in teams to assess and treat.
• Debrief: Discuss what went well and areas for improvement.

Sunday

Goal: Equip riders with foundational mechanical skills for basic maintenance and trailside repairs in adventure settings.

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM: Introduction and Motorcycle Overview

• Topics:
  • Welcome, course objectives, and safety briefing (e.g., gloves, eye protection).
  • Key mechanical differences between BMW R1250GS (boxer engine, shaft drive), Harley-Davidson Pan America (V-twin, chain drive), and other various adventure motorcycles.
  • Tools overview: What’s in a basic kit vs. adventure-specific additions.
• Activities: Instructor-led discussion, brief Q&A.

Basic Service – Oil Check, Tire Inspection, and Pre-Trip Safety Check

• Topics:
  • Checking and topping off engine oil (BMW: boxer engine dipstick; HD: V-twin dipstick).
  • Tire pressure and tread inspection (BMW TPMS vs. HD manual check).
  • Importance of pre-ride checks for adventure riding.
• Activities:
  • Demonstration: Oil check on both bikes, tire pressure reading.
  • Hands-on practice: Participants check oil and tires on demo bikes.

Flat Tire Repair – Tubes and Tubeless

• Topics:
  • Identifying tire types (BMW: often tubeless; HD: tubeless on cast/spoke wheels, tubes on optional spoked).
  • Fixing a flat: Patch kits for tubes, plug kits for tubeless.
  • Removing/reinstalling a wheel (BMW front wheel vs. HD rear chain drive).
• Activities:
  • Demonstration: Plugging a tubeless tire, patching a tube.
  • Hands-on practice: Participants plug a pre-punctured tire and remove/reinstall a wheel.

Broken Levers – Replacement and Improvisation

• Topics:
  • Common causes of lever damage (e.g., drops on trails).
  • Replacing clutch/brake levers (BMW: adjustable levers; HD: standard levers).
  • Improvised fixes: Using zip ties or tape for temporary function.
• Activities:
  • Demonstration: Removing and replacing a broken lever on both bikes.
  • Hands-on practice: Participants replace a lever and rig a temporary fix.

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM: Broken Shifters & Rear Brake Pedals – Repair and Workarounds

• Topics:
  • Diagnosing shifter and brake pedal issues (BMW: foot peg linkage; HD: similar linkage).
  • Replacing or tightening a shifter or brake pedal (tools and torque specs).
  • Temporary fix: Adjusting linkage or using a vice grip as a shifter. Improvisation techniques with broken brake pedal.
• Activities:
  • Demonstration: Replacing a shifter and improvising with tools on hand or what nature may provide.
  • Hands-on practice: Participants adjust or replace a shifter, rig a workaround.

Chain and Shaft Drive Basics

• Topics:
  • BMW R1250GS: Inspecting shaft drive (visual check, no adjustment needed).
  • HD Pan America: Chain cleaning, lubrication, and tension adjustment.
  • Troubleshooting chain issues (e.g., loose chain, broken link).
• Activities:
  • Demonstration: Chain tension adjustment on HD, shaft inspection on BMW.
  • Hands-on practice: Participants adjust chain tension and inspect shaft drive.

Other Common Backcountry Repairs

• Topics:
  • Broken kickstand switch/sensor, broken windscreen,

Scenario-Based Practice and Wrap-Up

• Topics:
  • Full repair simulation: e.g., “You’ve crashed on a trail—fix a flat tire and broken lever.”
  • Review key skills, tools to carry, and resources (e.g., owner’s manual).
  • Q&A and certificate distribution (optional).
• Activities:
  • Group scenario: Participants work in teams to diagnose and fix a mock breakdown.
  • Debrief: Discuss successes and challenges.