Experience: Dr. Burmeister is the Executive Secretary of the NAGT-USGS Cooperative Field Training Program, Director of the Wasatch-Uinta Field Camp (WUFC), Assistant Professor of Field Geology at Sacramento State University (CSUS), Member of the CSUS Executive Safety Committee, and has more than two decades of experience leading field-based activities. In addition to teaching courses in Geologic Field Methods and field-intensive Introductory Geology, Kurt routinely leads extended, multi-state & international field trips for a wide range of group sizes and levels of experience. Kurt has been on the faculty of the WUFC since 2003 and served as the program’s Director since 2007. The WUFC program won the 2013 Geological Society of America–ExxonMobil Field Camp Excellence Award for the health & safety protocols he implemented.

Training & Certifications: Kurt is a certified Wilderness First Responder (NOLS); Instructor for First Aid, CPR, AED, and Wilderness & Remote First Aid (American Red Cross), and certified in Mental Health First Aid (ALGEE - NCMW).

Traveling Field Safety Leadership Workshops

I occasionally travel to campuses to offer professional development workshops in Field Safety Leadership for faculty, staff, and students, departments (e.g., geology, biology, geography), and administrators (e.g., deans, risk management officers, & public safety representatives). These workshops are excellent opportunities for programs develop comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emergency response plans (ERPs) that are tailored to fit their specific spectrums of liability. Recent workshop locations include, Albion College, University of Minnesota, Dartmouth, Colorado School of Mines, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Geneseo, San Francisco State, and CSU Chico. Please contact me if you have questions or would like more information on scheduling a workshop at your institution.

Wilderness & Remote First Aid for Field Trip Leaders & Research Scientists

I also offer courses in Wilderness & Remote First Aid. WRFA is a fast paced, two-day (18 hour) advanced skill course that covers a range of medical emergencies that one could expect in wilderness or remote environments. The course consists of lecture, practical exercises, and outdoor scenarios that require participants to both demonstrate a mastery of first aid skills and exercise leadership and sound judgment in simulated wilderness emergency environments. Please contact me if you have questions or would like to schedule a course at your institution.

Field Safety Resources

My colleagues, Kevin Bohacs and Greer Barriault, and I are currently putting the finishing touches on the second edition of AAPG’s best selling text on Field Safety, Field Safety in Uncontrolled Environments: A Process-Based Guidebook. The scope of the second edition is being expanded to include resources tailored for academic environments. When published, I will make many of these resources available here. Please contact me if you are looking for resources.

SOAP Note (downloadable PDF): SOAP (acronym for subjective, objective, assessment, & plan) notes are forms used by emergency responders to organize and communicate critical patient information to followup medical care providers.

Patient Assessment Checklist (downloadable PDF): Use this checklist to make sure you don’t miss something during a complete patient assessment

Patient Assessment Triangle Worksheet (downloadable PDF): Based on the excellent NOLS PAS Triangle, this blank worksheet is handy for those learning the patient assessment

List of Common Medical Abbreviations (downloadable PDF): Medical jargon can be overwhelming. This-non exhaustive list of common abbreviations for first responders will help avoid confusion