Borrego Sun - Since 1949

Thanks to a grant from the Borrego Valley Endowment Fund the Borrego Village Association supported three local “outdoor” guides, Joe Raffetto, Wade Bean and Gray Brandt, to be certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR.

The course, led by Colin MacDonald from Kit Fox Outfitters in Ramona, was held Saturday November 18 and Sunday November 19 at the Broken Oak Ranch in Warner Springs.

The skills learned in this training will help our local guides and outfitters be prepared for health-related emergencies or accidents that might come up while leading trips into the more remote areas in and around Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Said Joe Raffetto, owner / operator of Borrego Springs based California Overland Desert Excursions, “While we hope it never happens this class gives us the skills and confidence to manage any contingency that may arise in remote areas so we can keep our clients safe and secure, and indeed also give aid to anyone in need we may come upon.”

The curriculum and course materials are provided by Sierra Rescue International and American CPR Training and the information as well as techniques are in line with the practice guidelines established by the Wilderness Medical Society. The CPR certification is done through American CPR Training and are equivalent to that of the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross (ARC). In addition, the curriculum is consistent with International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR); Emergency Cardiovascular Care /ECC and OSHA/Department of Labor standards.

If you are interested in taking a course like this, please contact Jim Dion at the Borrego Village Association borregovillage@gmail.com for more information.

The Borrego Valley Endowment Fund is a 501(C)(3) public benefit corporation dedicated to facilitating philanthropy in Borrego Springs and the surrounding areas. It currently manages a multi-million dollar portfolio