Safety
Statistically, a high school cheerleader is more likely to be injured than a Medicine Wheel student. Medicine Wheel at RedCliff has one of the best safety records in the industry. Our safety policies have been developed through years of experience. These policies include:
- Student to staff ratio of one to three, even lower than that required by law.
- Staff certified in First Aid and CPR. All Head Instructors are certified Wilderness First Responders.
- 67% of our field staff are college graduates.
- All field staff must complete a rigorous one week in-field training camp and a three week internship prior to their employment. Training includes wilderness living skills. Field interns must complete the same curriculum as our students.
- Field staff receive weekly and quarterly clinical training in the Developmental Vacation™ philosophy as well as the language of Ego States.
- All staff are randomly drug tested throughout their employment and must pass a background check prior to hire. Medicine Wheel uses a more accurate and comprehensive urine test for drug screening.
- Prior to intake, each student is drug tested and examined by a physician.
- A registered nurse or emergency medical technician visits students in the field every 7 days. A medical assessment is completed every 14 days to address any health complaints or concerns. Students are weighed, blood pressure taken, and a general health assessment is completed.
- Any medical concerns are related to Medicine Wheel headquarters three times daily.
- Students are provided a 3,000 calorie diet each day which has been developed in consultation with a nutritionist. This diet includes whole grains, dehydrated and fresh vegetables, fruits, and a fruit and nut trail mix. In addition, students eat tuna fish, peanut butter, and cheese. Students are also offered a daily multi-vitamin and electrolytes when applicable.
- Students are required to drink a specific amount of water each day. The amount varies depending upon the time of year and temperature.
- A registered nurse or emergency medical technician tracks each student’s Body Mass Index (BMI) from the day the student enters the program until graduation.
- Our Outpost facility offers field groups emergency shelter and food. The facility covers 160 acres in the center of our field operation. Outpost is always stocked with food, fresh water, blankets, and clothing. An on-site support staff is often just minutes away from responding to field groups.
- Student apparel and sleeping bags are mountaineering quality and appropriate to weather conditions. Sleeping bags are exchanged twice yearly and range in temperature ratings from 20 degrees below zero to 20 degrees above. Students typically dress in several layers of clothing to provide protection from wet and cold. Hats and boots are worn throughout the year.
- Field instructors remain in radio contact with Medicine Wheel base at all times. Staff are required to call into headquarters at least three times each day using two-way radios. Instructors report GPS coordinates, staff or student needs, temperature and weather conditions, and any changes in itinerary. If two consecutive calls are missed a search is automatically initiated.
- All Medicine Wheel clinicians are Ph.D. and Master’s level therapists. They meet weekly with students in the field to assess student behaviors and provide the most effective therapeutic intervention possible.