SouthBay OEC 2021 Venue Announcement!

We are pleased to have Putnam Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Burlingame as our class location for 2021. 

Address: 3 California Dr, Burlingame, CA 94010  Info & GoogleMap on the Location tab above.

Mid-Peninsula.  Just off Caltrain (Burlingame Station), so easily accessible to candidates & patrollers up & down the Peninsula.

Big thanks to the Marty, Kent and their team for hosting us!  And thanks as well to NetApp & Novo Construction for hosting past year's classes as well.  We truly appreciate the support.

Fall 2021 Class Update

Candidates - 

Things are coming together more slowly this year for a number of reasons, but we're making progress.  Syllabus, dates, etc. are in good shape.  However, the key stumbling block this year is that we're struggling to find a venue.  We have several initiatives underway to secure a place.  I hope we can close on this in the next couple weeks.

As such, we've hesitated in opening up the registration.  Our plan at the moment is to see what the next week or so brings in terms of venue.  If we don't yet have a place, we'll likely open up registration with the caveat that if the venue is inconvenient for a candidate, he/she can back out, no problem.  

So, at the moment, hang tight.  I'll send another email out early next week with progress report and plan forward.

In the meantime, you can peruse the blogsite to get a picture of the preliminary syllabus, class prep, etc.  See: https://oecsouthbay.blogspot.com/

We'll speak soon,

Bill & the Instructor Team

Class Blog Subscription News

 All - 

The good folks at Google tell me that the tool they use to support email subscriptions to this blog will be changing in the July timeframe, and as such, email subscription may not be available.  

We'll look into alternatives.  FYI for now, and good practice to check the blog periodically for class updates on those often times when your thoughts turn to OEC...

OEC SouthBay 2021 Update & Course Number

Preliminary schedule is posted on the blogsite.  I'll post more details as they are developed.  

Look for registration to start in the late May timeframe.

For candidates & patrollers participating, here's the course number: F066210006

OEC Fall 2021

With improving conditions, we are planning on holding the OEC SouthBay course this Fall (Fall 2021).  

We're looking at the same approach & timeline - class start in late August/early September & end in early November.  Information on this blog is from previous year's classes, but will give you an idea on how we run things.

Check back here in the May timeframe for more details on the upcoming Fall course.

In the meantime, stay safe, and get out and enjoy the skiing!

SouthBay OEC 2020 Cancelled

Candidates & Patrollers - 

Unfortunately, we're going to cancel this year's SouthBay OEC class.  It was a tough decision, but after looking at the guidance, the data, and speaking with many of you, we feel it's the prudent thing to do.  Very unfortunate, and we'll all miss the training/refreshing/reconnecting opportunity this year.

For candidates, there are a few options you have, see below.  For patrollers, as we discussed, we'll look into ways we can stay connected.  Stay tuned.

Details on our thinking/reasoning below.  Happy to answer any questions, just shoot me a note.

Best, Bill

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Class Cancellation Rationale:

1. California State Guidance.  Today guidance - at https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs/ - prohibits "Gatherings".  Specifically, the language states that:

Gatherings are defined as meetings or other events that bring together persons from multiple households at the same time for a shared or group experience in a single room, space, or place such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, or other indoor or outdoor space.

And that, with the exception of faith-base services, essential services, a selection of other services:

All other gatherings are prohibited until further notice  

There is some further county guidance, varying by county, but along the same lines.  Today's guidance for Santa Clara County is quite strong on these points.  Other counties may be different..  These guidelines evolve & change over time, but today, this is where we are.

2A.  NSP OEC Training Guidance.  National, Division, and Region have provided guidance here: https://nspserves.org/covid-19-updates/ as well as some additional guidance to instructors if they conduct classes.  This guidance & protocols for OEC classes call for compliance w/State & Local guidance; social distancing & sanitation; on-line/outdoor only classes; Releases, Self-certification & Temp checks @ each class; Candidates are required to bring person from their household as patient to all hands-on classes; and more.   This guidance makes classes more difficult, but do-able.  However, National's first instruction re: compliance with local regulations brings us back to point 1, above.

2B. NSP Refresher Guidance.  As you all know, National has issued guidance that there will be no live/hands-on refreshers this Fall.   While refreshers represent 50-80 person-days of contact, OEC classes can represent many times that level.  Consistency would indicate a no-go on classes of our size as well.

3. Disease Progression.   Forecasts for the Fall - e.g. https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/california - call for increased infection and death rates.   As such, there is increased risk to all participants and their families, as well as providing further opportunity to exacerbate this unfortunate trend. 

With these factors in mind, and after consulting with many of you over the last months, we're going to make the decision to not hold our OEC class this Fall.   This is unfortunate, but with the above in mind, and with the uncertainties inherent here, it's the prudent thing to do.

Options Forward:

- For candidates, there may be other opportunities for OEC training this year.  EastBay OEC is currently on, and Emmett is preparing for a class via Zoom and weekend hands-on sessions.  More info at: http://eastbay-oec.org/   Sacramento OEC is also on via Zoom with hands-on sessions in El Dorado Hills.  See: http://sacramentooec.blogspot.com/p/outdoor-emergency-care-oec-is-national.html.  (The site says the class is postponed, but I spoke with Brian yesterday and he's proceeding with preparations).  And finally, the Tahoe Intensive class will be open to Northstar paid patrollers this year, but not Nationals.  See: http://nsoecintensive.blogspot.com/

- For Patrollers, you all have refresher materials & plans for your mountain.  In parallel, a group of us, led by David Stepner, is creating a document that clearly outlines the differences in OEC5 to OEC6. There are some substantial differences which will be important to incorporate in our protocols, teachings, and patrolling.  Stay tuned.  

Thanks once again for all your great support over the years.  Let's all do our best to stay healthy in these times.  As for OEC training, we'll all look forward to coming back strong in the Fall of 2021.

- Bill

AHA's Interim BLS & ALS Guidance in COVID-19 Cases

As you may have seen, AHA has announced they have developed new CPR guidance and will publish on Oct. 1, 2020.

In the interim, they published this paper.  Worth a scan to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

As always, your certification agency guidance predominates, and be sure to keep within your scope of practice.

Link to full document here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HWVlAn5KeeABRDaYQwHmDq7eGP5-uluC/view?usp=sharing