Wilderness & Remote First Aid Course (WRFA)
The Wilderness & Remote First Aid Course is specifically designed for outdoor and wilderness educational instructors who organize, manage, and lead day and overnight trips so in the unlikely event of an emergency, they can provide appropriate first aid to those in their care. But it is perfectly suitable for anyone who spends time in the outdoors and simply wants to advance their skills.
Overview
Wilderness & Remote First Aid (WRFA) is the assessment and treatment of individuals who’ve become ill or injured in a remote area, where definitive care or traditional EMS transportation is not immediately available. It is designed for non-medical professionals. The course is eighteen hours (18) long, and usually conducted over a weekend, but can be schedule upon request for workdays or spread out over evening. A typical schedule is:
- Saturday: 0800-1830
- Sunday: 0800-1730
Purpose
The often remote nature of adventure travel and outdoor activities, combined with physical activity, increases the likelihood or potential for injuries. As an organization dedicated to and experienced with deploying qualified medical personnel all over the world, especially after major disasters, we’re acutely aware of the importance of being properly trained should a medical emergency arise during an organized outdoor activity. The purpose therefore is to prepare individuals to handle medical emergencies within the scope of the training provided.
Standards & Protocols
The WRFA Course meets or exceeds accepted standards and protocols published by leading industry organizations including the Wilderness Medical Society, the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies, and the Boy Scouts of America pertaining to “Wilderness” first aid programs or courses.This course offers enhanced content and topics to meet OSHA’s Best Practices for Workplace First Aid Training Programs. The curriculum also meets or exceeds performance standards published by ISO 11.160 (et al), the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
Course Outline
The course is hybrid in nature and covers both academic and practical training. Our educational and presentation model is socratic in nature, with a heavy emphasis placed on student participation, “do-as-I-do”, and “teach to learn” during practical exercises and scenarios.
Some of the topics include, but are not limited to:
- Medical, Legal, & Ethical Issues
- Wilderness & Remote Risk Management
- Rescue Planning & Execution
- Scene Safety & Secondary Victim Prevention
- Airway Mangement & Rescuer CPR
- Patient Assessment & Surveys
- Bleeding, Shock, & Soft-Tissue Injuries
- Musculoskeletal Injuries
- Environmental Injuries
- Asthma and Anaphylaxis
- Lifting and Moving Patients
Special Considerations
Students must be at least 18 years old. CPR certification is not required to attend.
This is an incredibly demanding, high-paced course. You’ll want to show up well-rested and prepared to get to work. Please be early, not late. Bring your own lunch, snacks, and drinks; we do not provide these during the course. While this course takes place almost entirely in the classroom, please bring everything you’d normally carry with you on an outdoor activity, such as your ruck sack, sleeping bag, etc. Everything packed, as you normally would.
Cost of Participation
We believe First aid is a humanitarian act that should be accessible to all. In line with our mission to provide free or low cost medical training to the general public, any individual may apply for (space is limited) and attend (if accepted) any scheduled WRFA course for free. Yes, free. We do not charge individuals for attendance or certification. There are no hidden costs. All materials and supplies will be provided to participants.
We do graciously accept non-earmarked donations to support our organization, but it is in no way required for attendance. If you wish to donate, the value of this course is $275 per participant. You may give less or more, as you see fit.
Government agencies and for-profit corporations sending employees to attend this course as part of their employment responsibilities will be invoiced $275 per participant. We will consider discounts for larger classes. You may submit a purchase order in advance.
Non-profit (NGO/Churches/Ministries) organizations should contact us to discuss costs based on their need and goals.
Bespoke, requested, or custom courses will incur actual charges to cover supplies, transportation, venue, etc.
Competency Based Certification
Yes, we issue certificates for your records. Some employers accept our course for CE credits. Participants who pass both the required written and practical examinations will receive certification, which expires at the end of the month two-years from the date it was issued.
Students must demonstrate competency; we do not issue certificates based upon attendance only, under any circumstances. While we do everything we can to prepare students, we cannot (nor will we) guarantee that everyone will pass.
If a student fails the written test (Exam A), they may resit the exam (Exam B) one time. If they fail a practical examination (such as demonstrating the treatment of shock, or the use of an EpiPen), they may resit that portion one time. 100% attendance is required to pass.
Certification vs. Licensure
The federal government has defined “certification” as the process by which a non-governmental organization (such as Boots on the Ground, the American Red Cross, the National Registry of Emergency Technicians) grants recognition to an individual who has met predetermined qualifications specified by that organization. Licensure, on the other hand, is the state’s grant of legal authority, pursuant to the state’s police powers, to practice a profession within a designated scope of practice. Under the licensure system, states define, by statute, the scope of practice and it prohibits anyone from practicing the profession who is not licensed regardless of the organization who issued a given certification.
The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) published a white paper on Wilderness Medical Certifications through the Wilderness Incident Emergency Medical Subcommittee (IEMS), under the auspices of the Risk Management Committee (RMC) in 2013, noting that while most states require persons operating at the EMR or EMT levels to be licensed, few if any states recognize Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness EMT, or Outdoor Emergency Care type courses. Nor, in most cases, do holders of such training or certification fall under (or enjoy the legal protection conferred by licensure) the National EMS Scope of Practice Model. Each state will have it’s own requirements and legislation that you must adhere to. Therefore, we highly encourage all participants to contact their State’s agency charged with oversight and enforcement of this area, and to seriously consider medical direction and oversight to avoid any potential legal situations.
Please contact us for more information or to schedule in-house training.