Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

Learning Outcomes

• Become competent providing advanced medical treatments and prolonged care in wilderness settings
• Gain skills and knowledge to manage environmental problems and evacuations
• Practice team-rescues, leadership and decision making
• Learn through hands-on training sessions, as well as classroom lecture and discussion
• Prepare for backcountry emergencies through realistic scenarios with stage blood and simulated wounds
• Grow your confidence on one of the best courses you’ll ever experience—delivered by professional, dynamic, and fun instructors.

Topics Covered

• General concepts of wilderness medicine and the Patient Assessment System
• CPR (adult, child, and infant), AED, and basic life support skills
• Anatomy and major problems of the respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems
• Musculoskeletal injury assessment and splinting
• Spine injury assessment and management
• Allergies and anaphylaxis
• Medical emergencies such as stroke and diabetes
• Severe asthma wilderness protocol
• Wound and burn management
• Wilderness protocol for reducing shoulder dislocations
• Environmental problems such as hypothermia, heat illnesses, lightning, and drowning
• Backcountry medicine and toxins, bites, and stings
• Litters, improvised litters and patient carries
• Evacuations, decision making, and leadership
• Medical legal issues
• And more

• Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification
• CPR BLS certification (CPR for adults, children, and infants. Includes AED training)
• Included materials: Textbook, SOAP note booklet, waterproof WMA field guide, notebook (with WMA lecture notes)
• E-learning: You’ll have access to the online learning platform for 3 years after your course

Your certification is valid for 3 years from the date of issue.

Prerequisites and pre-course prep

There are no course prerequisites for Wilderness First Responder (WFR).

8-day format: You must be 16 years to participate in this course. 16 and 17 year olds need parental consent.

Hybrid WFR (5-days onsite and 30+ hours online) format: you must be 18 years or older and willing and able to complete the 30+ hours of pre-course online work. See the technology requirements below.

Daily schedule

After registering, participants will receive a Student Information Package by email with specific meeting times for their course.

On the 8-day WFR, classes are from 8:30am – 5:30pm with one evening session (usually on day 6) going to 8:30pm.

On the Hybrid WFR, classes are from 8:00am to 6:00pm on all 5 days, with the 3rd day going until 8:30pm.

Assessment and evaluation for certification

Practical assessment is ongoing. There is a written test on the last day of the course;  you must receive a grade of 80% or higher.

Instructors will do everything they can to accommodate students with different learning styles and needs. Let us know what we can do to help you succeed.

Attendance is mandatory

Attendance for 100% of class time is mandatory. If you cannot make a session you must get permission from the instructor in advance. Students who miss a section of the course without pre-approval may be asked to leave the course.

Hybrid WFR Format

On the Hybrid WFR, you’ll complete 30+ hours of online e-learning followed by 5-days (45 hours) of in-person learning. 

The e-learning includes interactive modules with videos, readings, self-practice assignments, quizzes, and case studies.

You’re required to register at least 4 weeks before the in-person portion begins and complete all of the e-learning before you arrive. *See the technology requirements below*.

Please note before enrolling that the e-learning is mandatory. It takes at minimum 30 hours but many students take significantly more time than that.

The online learning isn’t meant to be crammed into a few days. You’ll get the most out of this course and have the highest likelihood of achieving the certification if you break it up into 1 to 3-hour learning blocks, spaced over 4 to 6 weeks.

As soon as you register, you’ll automatically receive a Student InfoPack with course outlines, packing lists, and logistical info. Then, 7-weeks before the onsite portion, we’ll send you access to the e-learning platform.

On the in-person portion, we can then focus on practical skills, drills, and rescue simulations, because you’ll arrive having already learned much of the theoretical knowledge.

All of our medical courses are intensive; the onsite portion of the Hybrid WFR is even more so: expect full, fast-paced (and fun!) days.

Hybrid WFR Tech Requirements

For the *Hybrid WFR (30+ hours online plus 5-days in-person) you will need:

- Access to high speed internet throughout the 30+ e-learning hours

- A laptop or desktop computer with:

• A PDF reader
• Anti-virus software
• An internet browser  (latest version of Chrome, Firefox or Edge) Note: the system is not compatible with Safari

*The 8-day WFR (all in-person, non-Hybrid) does not have any mandatory pre-learning, and so there are no technology requirements.

Please bring appropriate clothing and equipment to be comfortable outdoors for the entire day…

…this means (for late fall, winter, and early spring courses) lots of thick, warm layers and extra toques, mitts, socks, and footwear—and lots of snack food.

If you eat well, layer-up, and have extra dry items to change into, you’ll stay functional, get the most out of your training, and have the best chance of achieving certification.

Checklist

EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

• A large backpack so you can carry extra food, water, clothing, and equipment for yourself
• Day pack for storing your clothing and belongings during class
• Drybag or waterproof stuff sack to keep your textbooks and learning materials in throughout the course (to leave in the outdoor ‘classroom’ area)
• A set of clothing that can be stained and cut during simulations (expect to throw these away)
• Eye protection. Please bring any of the following: safety glasses, sun glasses, prescription glasses, or face shield
• Hand sanitizer with 70% alcohol
• Notebook and pens
• Waterproof digital watch (for taking vital signs). This is mandatory, you can’t use a smart phone.
• Water bottle(s) or hydration pack x 2 litres
• Snack foods (lots!)
• Lunch — please bring your lunch for each day: you won’t necessarily have time to go to a store or restaurant.
• Snacks — this isn’t a typo, bring more snacks 🙂
• Sunscreen and lip protection
• Bug repellent and headnet (season dependent)
• Headlamp with extra batteries
• A camping pad to lie on outside such as an Ensolate pad or Ridgerest. A lightweight inflatable mattress can work as well but this will be directly on the ground and it may get damaged and dirty — so make it an old one that you aren’t worried about puncturing.
• A ~10′ x 12′ windproof and waterproof tarp. This can be inexpensive and/or old and/or a big plastic sheet or construction membrane.
• A ~5′ x 8′ tarp or emergency blanket. Preferably something lightweight — a retired tent fly or tent footprint can work well.
• A fleece or wool blanket. For splinting and patient packaging. Retired fleece sweaters can work as well.
• Five (5) x ~2m to 2.5m long pieces of rope, webbing, or straps (these can be anything, no strength rating required)
• Personal medications
• Personal hygiene products
• Optional: Sunglasses
• Optional: Coffee or tea thermos
• Optional: Waterproof paper and pen
• Optional: Skis, snowshoes (for winter courses), bicycle, or hiking gear (for spring, summer, fall)
• Optional: Any gear or medical equipment that you normally have with you in the outdoors that you’d like to try out using for splinting, patient packaging, patient care etc. (example: telescoping hiking / ski poles, straps, p-cord, etc.)

CLOTHING

• Synthetic or wool base layers top and bottom Synthetic or wool insulation layers
• Waterproof jacket and pants
• Warm socks (pack extras)
• *Shoes or boots appropriate for weather and rough terrain – an extra pair in case one get’s wet is a good idea.
• 2 x Toque (warm hat), scarf or neck warmer (winter courses), or sun hat
• 2 or 3 x Liner gloves / mitts and *over mittens (winter courses)

*Note: in cold conditions, roominess in your boots and mitts makes all the difference for warmth. If they’re too tight fitting—your feet and hands will be cold.

LODGING AND CAMPING SUPPLIES (OPTIONAL)

Some courses include lodging or camping options — click on a specific course date and location to see the options.

For courses with lodging, we’ll send you lodging details and packing lists along with your Student InfoPack as soon as you register.