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WILDERNESS
MEDICINE

Overview: What are Wilderness Medicine courses?

Wilderness Medicine courses use hands-on scenarios, interactive activities, real world examples and experienced instructors to prepare participants to assess, treat, and prevent common outdoor injuries and illnesses. The courses are divided into both Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) options.

 

WFA courses are designed for all experience levels and are a good introductory-level fit for those who recreate in outdoor spaces where EMS response can be expected in a timely manner or for those who work at wilderness camps. 

  • Delivered in a hybrid format, participants of this course can expect 4-8 hours of self-paced, online instruction, followed by a practical hands-on training component at Gearhouse, and a final assessment. 

 

WFR courses teach participants how to provide emergency care and make crucial evacuation decisions in the wilderness. They are a good fit for those who work or recreate in outdoor spaces where access to medical care is delayed or communication is unreliable. 

  • WFR courses prepare students for the unexpected in a fun, hands-on way.  They are the industry standard for professional guides, trip leaders, search and rescue team members, and outdoor recreationists. 

  • Delivered in a hybrid format, participants of this course can expect 40 hours of self-paced, online instruction, followed by a practical hands-on training component at Gearhouse, and a final assessment.

Deciding between WFA and WFR?

WFA provides the skills to treat basic injuries and to assess more serious injuries, while a WFR provides the ability to mitigate more serious injuries and evacuation decisions in wilderness environments. 

 

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training is a great choice for those that can spare the cost and time. We have designed our WFR offering we ensure that our courses are significantly cheaper and more convenient than other offerings by pricing them at $375 for members (normally $1000 and often far away) and by splitting them across
two weekends.

It's also common for people to take WFA one year and then WFR the next. Both courses will leave you better prepared and safer in the outdoors.

Wilderness First Aid

This Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification course is delivered in a hybrid format, with 4-8 hours of self paced, online instruction, a practical hands-on training component at Gearhouse, and a final assessment.

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Wilderness First Aid (WFA) is the assessment of and basic treatment given to an ill or injured person in an area where advanced help and access to definitive care is not easily accessible.

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A Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course is recommended for:

Non-medical recreational users in outdoor areas where advanced help, evacuation, and access to definitive care is generally available.​

Course Details

Objectives
Upon completion of a Wilderness First Aid course, an individual is expected to:

  1. Be able to complete a patient assessment to identify potentially life threatening problems. (Apply)

  2. Complete the necessary first aid, non-invasive interventions to prevent medical problems and injuries from occurring or progressing. (Apply)

  3. Identify the need for additional resources and higher level care for patients with life threatening problems. (Analyze)

  4. Identify the need for and urgency of evacuation for ill or injured patients. (Analyze)

WFA Sign Up