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Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

Course Overview

The 16-20 hour Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course is a beginner-friendly, foundational training in wilderness medicine and basic life support. Designed for outdoor enthusiasts, camp staff, trip leaders, and anyone who recreates in areas where medical care may be delayed.

WFA participants will learn practical skills for assessing and managing common backcountry injuries and illnesses through hands-on practice and realistic scenario training. The course emphasizes the unique challenges of providing care in remote environments with limited resources.

Who Should Take This Course:

  • Outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds
  • Hikers, backpackers, and climbers
  • Camp counselors and outdoor trip leaders
  • Paddlers, mountain bikers, and trail runners
  • Anyone looking to gain greater confidence in an emergency

Upcoming Courses

What You'll Learn

Patient Assessment
Learn systematic approaches for evaluating injuries and illnesses, identifying life-threatening conditions, and monitoring patients in the field.

Emergency Medical Skills
Develop practical skills in wound care, traumatic injury management, medical assessment and intervention, and environmental emergency response; as well as basic life support skills including CPR, AED use, and Wilderness Epinephrine use protocols.

Decision Making
Understand when and how to evacuate, how to communicate with rescue services, and how to manage care for yourself, your group, and your patient while awaiting help.

Curriculum

Introduction to Wilderness Medicine

Understanding the differences between urban and wilderness medical care, legal considerations, and risk management principles.

Patient Assessment & Basic Life Support
  • Scene safety and size-up
  • Primary and secondary patient assessments
  • CPR and AED training  for Adults, children, and infants (Adapted for wilderness from the American Heart Association guidelines)
  • Airway management and choking response
  • Wilderness-specific CPR considerations
Spinal Injury Management

Assessment and stabilization techniques, safe patient movement, and decision-making around spinal precautions.

Environmental Emergencies
  • Heat-related illnesses and prevention
  • Hypothermia recognition and treatment
  • Dehydration and hyponatremia
  • Altitude illness basics
  • Lightning injuries and drowning
  • Bites, stings, and toxic plant exposure
Traumatic Injuries
  • Head injuries and concussion assessment
  • Chest and abdominal trauma
  • Wound management and bleeding control
  • Infection prevention and hygiene
  • Burns and their treatment
  • Musculoskeletal injuries: sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations
  • Improvised splinting techniques
Medical Emergencies
  • Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis (Wilderness Anaphylaxis Training included)
  • Common medical problems in the backcountry
  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Recognizing serious conditions requiring evacuation
Emergency Communication & Evacuation

Calling for rescue, helicopter safety, landing zone preparation, evacuation decision-making, and first aid kit essentials.

Scenario-Based Training

Hands-on practice through realistic emergency simulations to build competence and confidence.

What's Included

Unlike other WFA courses that charge separately, registration with WFANYC includes:

✅ Complete wilderness first aid training

✅ CPR/AED certification

✅ Wilderness anaphylaxis training

✅ All course materials and Desert Mountain Medicine student manual

✅ Access to DMM’s extensive alumni network and resources for continued leaning

Certification & Standards

Upon successful completion, you’ll receive three certifications from Desert Mountain Medicine:

🇨🇭 Wilderness First Aid (WFA) – Valid 2 years

🇨🇭 CPR/AED (Adult, Child, Infant) – Valid 2 years

🇨🇭 Wilderness Anaphylaxis Training (WAT) – Valid 2 years

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