Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

Course Details

An entry-level course designed for professionals working in significantly remote settings for days or weeks. Wilderness First Aid is comprehensive medical training designed for remote professionals or wilderness leaders who venture into remote and challenging environments. Wilderness Medicine differs significantly from standard first aid courses and other training that are oriented toward urban environments.

This course teaches how to manage medical emergencies when hospitals and rescue services may not be available for an extensive time period. We prepare students for emergency situations that involve prolonged patient care, severe environments, and improvised equipment.

WFA (40 hours):

WFA (40 hours):

April 23- 27th

April 23: 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm

April 24-27: 8:30 am – 6:30 pm

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July 31st – August 4th

July 31st-August 3rd: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm every day.

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October 12 – 16th

October 12-15: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm

October 16 8:30 am – 3:00 pm

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Price: $599.95

WFA Recert (20 hours):

WFA Recert (20 hours):

April 25th- 27th

April 25: 4:30 – 6:30 pm

April 26-27: 8:30 am – 6:30 pm

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August 2nd-4th

August 2: 1:00 – 5:00 pm

August 3-4: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

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Price: $399.95

Remote First Aid (20 hours):

July 31- August 1st:

July 31st-August 1st: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

August 2nd: 8:30 am – 1:30 PM

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Price: $399.95

The course is held at the Revelstoke snowmobile club on 4177 Westside Rd, Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0

This course is brought to you by Ridge Wilderness Adventures and hosted by Flexpeditions.

Prerequisites:

Participants must be 16 years of age and in good health and physical condition.

COVID-19 Protocols

Click here to read the COVID-19 protocols that students must follow.

Participants will learn comprehensive first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills, as well as skills required to plan, prevent injury and promote safety for themselves and peers while in a wilderness or remote workplace or community.

Instruction will focus on developing leadership skills, assessment, decision-making skills, and strategies for providing extended care for up to 24 hours.

Prevention, health and wellness of the group is a key focus. The course is taught in an outdoor setting and requires greater physical activity and endurance than typical first aid training.

We also add basic shelter construction that is not part of the certificate.

Criteria:

Ability to comprehend and successfully demonstrate the skills
Ability to complete a written, closed book knowledge evaluation with a minimum mark of 75%
Participants must attend and participate in 100% of the course

Certification:

Upon successful completion students will receive certification in Wilderness First Aid and Adult CPR. Certification is valid for three years. The course is registered for 40 hours of continuing education credit through the CAPCE.

For more detailed information (including recertification), please visit Ridge Wilderness Adventures’ website.

Designed for individuals who work in a wilderness setting (3 or more hours from organized health care) with challenging environments and/or varied risk levels and require skills to promote safety for themselves and peers (leading groups in a professional capacity).

Suitable for those who wish to become professional guides, parks officials and/or work in fields such as recreation and ecotourism.

Activity Season

All Year

Location

Revelstoke

Group Size

Varies

Duration

4 Days

Frequently Asked Questions

Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) is $599 + 5% GST & online booking fee.

Each day the course will run from 8:30am – 5:30pm. Amy Flexman and the Flexpeditions team will be your course sponsor/host, helping with the logistics of the course, and helping with admin, payments, logistics of the course questions.

– Weather appropriate clothing and extra layers

Please leave your brand new Gore-tex jackets at home! Wear comfortable clothing that you can get dirty and move around in.

Additionally, most of our courses take place up to 100% outdoors (though we do provide cover) so it’ important that you show up prepared for the elements! (In winter, bring warm gloves and a hat. In summer, sun block, hat, sunglasses etc.)

-Packed lunch, snacks and water

-Personal cup or travel mug (coffee, tea and hot chocolate are provided)

-Notepad and pen

-Watch with a second hand for taking vitals, or phone that can get wet (or is in a protective case)

-Headlamp (for courses between October and April)

-Camp chair or stool

-Helmet (full face)

-Stove, pot, water, and fuel

-Multitool/ knife/ folding saw (if skilled at using)

RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL GEAR (If you have and want to bring, these are NOT mandatory)

-Thermarests or yoga mat (prepare for it to get dirty)

-Tarp + 4 ropes (8×10 or larger – no tarps over 20×20)

-2 items of spare clothing (ie. t-shirts and pants, padding for splinting and slings)

-Sleeping bag (we do provide fleece blankets and sleeping bags for scenarios, but extras are always welcome)

You can expect full, interesting, and intense days. The course is taught through interactive discussions, case studies, presentations, and real life, hands on drills to prepare you for the stress of emergencies you may face in the field.

Plan on arriving at the course well rested and prepared to focus completely on the material. The WFA, WFR & WFR Recert/Bridge are levels of medical certification that carry substantial responsibility.

To fully prepare you, we use realistic simulations requiring patient examination and treatment employing simulated wounds and blood. While we recognize that this can be uncomfortable for some people, it is important to developing the confidence and competence that you would expect of a medical professional.

This course is challenge by choice, it’s YOUR course, so do what is comfortable for you. Please don’t push yourself too hard in simulations and please let the group or at least the instructors know if there is some pre-existing condition, situation, etc. that might not allow you to fully participate in the hands on portion so they can give alternative evaluation opportunities.

Contact Ridge Wilderness Adventures.

Please ensure that you have completed our online waiver before the course begins. Click here to complete the waiver.

Students must be at least 16 years old to participate in this course. Those under 18 years of age will require the written consent of a parent or guardian. No previous first aid experience is necessary. There is no pre-reading.

All teaching materials will be at no additional cost. Students will receive the following books on this course:

The Field Guide of Wilderness Medicine & Rescue
SOAP Notebook
The Outward Bound Wilderness First-Aid Handbook
Wilderness First Aid Class Notes Description

This course is scheduled for 4-days or 40 hours of instructional and practice time.

Upon successful completion students will receive certification in Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and Adult CPR.

Your certification is valid for three years. The course is registered for 40 hours of continuing education credit through the CAPCE.

Recertification: If you wish to recert you WFA it’s your responsibility to let the sponsor know when registering, and to inform the instructor on the first day of class. To be able to recert WFA (20 hours) you need proof of current recognized Wilderness First Aid or Advanced Wilderness First Aid certification (or as legislation dictates) required. You also must have access to the most current CRC Wilderness First Aid participant materials.

Successful completion with certification is based on 100% attendance, satisfactory performance on homework assignments and written quizzes, demonstrated proficiency with practical skills, and a successful grade on a final written exam.

Ridge Wilderness Adventures is committed to making reasonable accommodation to any student with special needs.

Please book and pay through this link: https://ridgefirstaid.com/events/wilderness-first-aid-revelstoke

Please click here for our cancellation policy.

Accommodation is not provided, but please check out the SeeRevelstoke.com website for recommendations on where to stay.

There are plenty of options from camping, hostels, to high end hotels.

Please bring a water bottle and lunch each day.

Please visit the Ridge First Aid for full information. For general questions, please call Amy on +1 (866) 929-3539 or e-mail info@flexpeditions.com.