Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

Course Details

The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) program is the definitive medical training for leaders in remote areas including outdoor educators, guides, military, professional search and rescue teams, researchers, and those involved in disaster relief.

The curriculum is comprehensive and practical. It includes the essential principles and skills required to assess and manage medical problems in isolated and extreme environments for days and weeks if necessary.

This page describes three different courses, so we encourage you to read this page thoroughly before making a booking so that you sign up for the correct course.

This course is brought to you by Wilderness Medical Associates and hosted by Flexpeditions.

Upcoming courses:

Apr. 19-27 (with April 23 off)

All courses will be held at the Revelstoke Campground.

COVID-19 Protocols

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

The Wilderness First Responder curriculum is written in-house by a team of remote medical rescue researchers and professionals. Ongoing evidence based research and review contributes to a unique and innovative approach to patient care in backcountry and austere settings. The curriculum is comprehensive, complete, and kept current on an annual basis. This is the most current and cutting edge course of any first response medical training (urban or remote) in the world.

The General Principles of Wilderness and Rescue Medicine with an emphasis on the prevention and identification of medical emergencies, appropriate technology, and risk management.
Patient assessment and emergency care including CPR, basic Life support, and the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis and asthma.
Environmental Medicine including altitude illness, hypothermia and heat illness, frostbite and cold injury, lightning, submersion, and environmental toxins.
Backcountry Medicine including the assessment and treatment of common medical problems.
Musculoskeletal Problems including unstable and stable injuries overuse syndromes, and dislocations.
Wound management including open fractures, lacerations, burns and blisters.
Practical skills including splinting, bandaging, litter packaging and medical kit preparation.
WMA International Wilderness Protocols including wound cleaning and exploration, spine injury assessment, dislocation reduction, CPR in the remote setting, and anaphylaxis and asthma.

Activity Season

All Year

Location

Revelstoke

Group Size

Varies

Duration

8 days (80hrs)

Frequently Asked 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.

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.

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.

Please click here for the Course Participation Standards.

Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

Course Details

Upcoming courses:

COVID-19 Protocols

Brought to you by Wilderness Medical Associates

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