MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
JEFF GOALEN
Wilderness Medicine Instructor
The Woodsrunner Medic
Helping people stay calm, think clearly, and provide care when every minute matters.
Jeff Goalen has dedicated his life to serving others through emergency medicine, the fire service, and wilderness medical education.
From serving in the United States Navy to more than two decades in Fire and EMS, Jeff has built a career around helping people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. That same commitment now drives his work at Woodsrunner School, where he teaches students the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to respond when emergencies happen far from immediate help.
A LIFE OF SERVICE
Prepared Before the Call Comes
Some careers are built around responding after something goes wrong.
Jeff's has been built around preparing for it before it ever happens.
Following his service in the United States Navy, Jeff entered the fire service, earning his Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician certifications before volunteering with the Riverside County Fire Department.
In the early 2000s, he joined Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services, where he currently serves as a Firefighter Paramedic and Lieutenant.
Years of responding to medical emergencies, traumatic injuries, and critical incidents have reinforced one simple truth:
Preparation, training, and calm decision-making save lives.
Those experiences continue to shape every class he teaches.
WHY HE TEACHES
Confidence to Act When It Matters
Jeff believes wilderness medicine is about much more than treating injuries.
It's about recognizing problems early, remaining calm under pressure, making sound decisions, and providing effective care until help arrives.
Whether someone is miles into the backcountry or helping a family member at home, those same principles apply.
His goal is simple: help ordinary people become confident enough to act when someone needs them most.
WHAT HE BELIEVES
Principles That Guide His Instruction
Calm minds make better decisions.
Preparation saves lives.
Confidence comes through realistic practice.
Medical training should be clear and understandable.
Great instructors never stop learning.
Every student is capable of more than they realize.
Knowledge is most valuable when it is shared.
A LIFETIME OF LEARNING
Every Patient. Every Class. Every Experience.
Jeff believes learning never stops.
Throughout his career, he has continued developing his knowledge through fire service leadership, emergency medicine, wilderness medical education, and instructor development.
As co-owner of Redline959 Training & Development, he teaches CPR, AED, First Aid, and Wilderness Medicine while continuing to expand his own education and professional training.
Every patient, every class, and every experience becomes another opportunity to learn and improve.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Training That Reflects Real Life
Jeff believes students learn best when training reflects real life.
His courses combine clear classroom instruction with realistic hands-on scenarios that build confidence before emergencies occur.
Rather than teaching students to memorize steps, he helps them understand how to assess situations, prioritize problems, and make sound decisions when conditions become stressful.
Because when people understand why they're doing something, they're better prepared to respond when it matters most.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Experience That Shapes the Work
Additional professional qualifications and certifications are available separately.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Service, Family, and Time Outdoors
When Jeff isn't serving his community or teaching, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, Sylvia, and their three children.
Whether biking, canoeing, primitive camping, hunting, or exploring the outdoors with family, he believes time outside creates opportunities to build confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop skills that last a lifetime.
LOOKING AHEAD
Everyone Can Make a Difference
Jeff believes everyone has the ability to make a difference during an emergency.
His hope is that every Woodsrunner student leaves with more than new medical knowledge.
He wants them to leave with the confidence to remain calm, think clearly, and help others when every minute counts.
UNTIL OUR PATHS CROSS
Medical Emergencies Don't Wait for the Perfect Moment
Preparation begins long before help is needed.
Knowledge builds confidence.
Practice develops competence.
I look forward to meeting you in the woods.
— Jeff Goalen