If anyone is planning to do fieldwork in the backcountry or remote areas, the Office of Environment, Health & Safety offers several trainings/courses/workshops and other resources to help mitigate risk. I highly recommend for everyone doing fieldwork in the backcountry to at least have Wilderness First Aid (or even better, Wilderness First Responder), and the DeLorme inReach devices are awesome for working in areas without cell service. See the email below from Sara Souza and feel free to contact her at sarasouza@berkeley.edu with any questions! 

Spring 2019 Training as an example

Space is limited, pre-registration is required for each class:

• 8 Hour Wilderness First Aid with CPR/AED (led by Sierra Rescue, $40.00):  

  • Friday March 8, or 

  • Saturday March 9

• Field Safety Planning Workshop: 

  • March 19, 12:30pm - 2:00pm in 370 University Hall, lunch provided

• Epinephrine Auto-Injector Training: 

  • April 9, 2:00pm - 3:00pm in 370 University Hall

To register, please email fieldsafety@berkeley.edu. 

Other Ongoing Resources

• Garmin inReach SE+ satellite communication devices and first aid kits are available to check out for work in remote areas. Please email your request to fieldsafety@berkeley.edu as early as possible.

• Berkeley’s Field Safety Plan template is available to document your hazard assessment, communication plan, and emergency procedures - and carry with you in the field.

• UC travel insurance and 24/7 emergency assistance: register trips over 100 miles from campus via the web portal UC Away. 

International fieldwork tips

Finally, attach a handout from a 2009 S&E Grad Student Panel related to international fieldwork!