Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Bridge

Course Details

The WFA to WFR Bridge course upgrades the Wilderness Advanced First Aid to a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) in 4 days.

This course must be taken within 3 years of receiving the WMA International WAFA certification or an equivalent from another provider. This course may be used as a recertification for those holding a current WFR certification or equivalent from another provider whose original WFR training was at least 64 hours in length. Current WMA International Wilderness EMS Upgrade students may also use this course to recertify the wilderness portion of their certification.

**If you are using this course to recertify a WMA WEMS Upgrade certification it is your responsibility to let the sponsor know when registering, and to inform the instructor on the first day of class.**

Price: $699.95

Upcoming courses WFR Bridge (40 hours):

Due to lack of early sign ups the April WFR Bridge course is cancelled.

May 19th- 23rd

May 19 : 2pm – 6pm
May 20-21: 830 am – 630pm
May 22-23: 930 am – 6pm (large dinner break) 8pm – 8 am (day 9)

SIGN UP HERE

August 16th- 20th

August 16: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
August 17-18: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
August 19-20: 9:30 am – 6 pm, 8 pm – 8 am

SIGN UP HERE

October 16th- 20th

October 16: 1:30 pm – 6pm (However, we do recommend you come out for this entire day to “refresh any skills”. If you wish to take advantage of that, please come out 8:30 am – 6pm.)
October 17, 18: 8:30 am – 6:30pm
October 19-20: 9:30 am – 6pm, 8pm – 8 am

SIGN UP HERE

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.

Typically, mornings are devoted to lectures, discussions and quizzes, with afternoons devoted to outdoor practical skills and scenarios. Evenings are reserved for study and assignments. Expect rescue scenarios with made-up victims and simulated wounds to prepare you for backcountry emergencies. Sessions may be videotaped for enhanced learning.

Day 1: Registration/Introduction; Review Pre-course Study Packet; Patient Assessment System; Circulatory/Respiratory Systems; PAS Drills; Basic Life Support (Healthcare Provider-level CPR)

Day 2: Quiz/Case Studies Review; Nervous System; Spine Management; Musculoskeletal; PAS Drill; Dislocations; Patient Immobilization; Litter Carries and Belays; PAS Drills

Day 3: Quiz/Case Studies Review; Emergency Childbirth; Allergy & Anaphylaxis; Altitude or Diving; Frostbite; Near Drowning; Search and Rescue; Traction Splints; Improvised Litters; Simulation and Debrief

Day 4: Case Study Review; Backcountry Medicine; Toxins; Medical Kits; PAS Drills; Written Test; Skills Testing; Conclusion

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.

Wilderness Medical Associates International is committed to making reasonable accommodation to any student with special needs.

All eligible students who successfully complete the WAFA to WFR Bridge course will receive WMA International’s Wilderness First Responder certification including anaphylaxis, and BLS/Healthcare Provider-Level CPR or equivalent. This certification can be used to challenge the DOT First Responder Exam, which is at the discretion of the local or state EMS authorities. The course is registered for 36 hours of continuing education credit through the CAPCE.

Please click here for the Course Participation Standards.

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

Pre-requisites: Pre-reading (see below). Aged 16+. Parental consent is required if you are under 18 years old. A good level of fitness.
Previous experience: Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA)

Pre-reading is required before you attend the course. We strongly encourage you to start the pre-reading 2-4 weeks before the course start date. Click here to start the pre-reading.

BOOK WITH OUR LINK IN THE COURSE DESCRIPTION!

Activity Season

All Year

Location

Revelstoke Campground

Group Size

10-16

Duration

Frequently Asked Questions

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 Advanced First Aid Class Notes Description

Pre-reading is ONLY required for those registered on the Bridge/Recert courses. Click here to access the material.

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.

You can obtain a PDF of your Certificate on our website at https://wmacanada.com/reprint-your-certification/. Once you fill in the requested information a PDF Cert will be generated.

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, bringing snacks and helping with admin, payments, logistics of the course questions.

You will receive all books on the first day of the class.

Please bring a water bottle and lunch each day
Notepad and pen
A watch with a second hand for taking vitals (recommended)
Please leave your brand new Gore-tex jackets at home! Wear comfortable clothing that you can get dirty and move around in.
The class is a little indoors and a lot outdoors, so prepare for the elements, which around Revelstoke can be sun, snow, rain, smoke, cloud, wet, dry, windy, cold, warm and everything else in between! In winter, bring warm gloves and a hat. In summer, sun block, hat, sunglasses etc.
Optional: bring something to sit on whilst doing outside simulations to keep you warm and dry, such as a sleeping mat.
Optional: if you have any items you would like to contribute to use in the simulations and scenarios, like old clothes, extra layers, blankets, thermarests, foam pads, extra padding, ropes, etc please put your name on it and label it and bring it along!

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 WAFA, 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.