Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

This wilderness first aid training prepares you to:

• make decisions on whether injuries are serious or not
• improvise equipment
• provide life-saving treatments
• assist those with more training

• Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification
• CPR A (CPR for adults, includes AED training) certification

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

Included materials: Text book*, SOAP note booklet, waterproof WMA pocket guide

*As soon as you register we’ll ship you the text book. Shipping is included in the course price.

This fun, hands-on course covers a lot in 2 days:

• CPR, AED, and basic life support skills
• Major problems with critical body systems such as shock, respiratory problems, and brain injuries
• Assessing and splinting bone, muscle, and joint injuries
• Spine injury management
• Allergies and anaphylaxis
• Medical emergencies such as heart problems, asthma, and diabetes
• Wound and burn management
• Environmental problems such as hypothermia, heat illnesses, lightning, and drowning
• And more…

Daily schedule

After registering, participants will receive a Student Information Package by email with specific meeting times for their course. Typically classes are from 8:30am – 5:30pm.

Typical day

A typical day on a WFA course includes a mix of indoor and outdoor time. You’ll learn from a combination of demonstrations, practical drills, small group simulations, short lectures, discussions, and review exercises.

Prerequisites and pre-course prep

You need to be 16 years of age to participate. 16 and 17 year olds must have written proof of parental consent.

There is required pre-course work for Wilderness First Aid (WFA): reading and answering questions in a Study Guide. Doing the 12+ hours of prep work will pave the way for a successful learning experience for you.

Once you register, we’ll ship you the course text book—The Outward Bound Wilderness First Aid Handbook, by Jeff Isaac—and we’ll email you the Study Guide.

Assessment and evaluation for certification

Your professional and friendly instructors will be assessing your knowledge and practical skills on an ongoing basis throughout the course. 

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 for the sake and safety of the other students.

We try to spend as much time as possible outside. Please bring appropriate clothing to be comfortable outdoors for prolonged periods.

Checklist

• Comfortable footwear for indoors
• Comfortable clothing for indoors
• Warm clothing for outdoors. Multiple layers, top and bottom
• Waterproof rain/snow jacket and pants
• Warm socks
• Shoes or boots appropriate for weather and rough terrain
• Gloves
• A set of clothing that can be stained and cut during simulations (expect to throw these away)
• Watch (for taking vital signs). This is MANDATORY. You can’t use a smartphone for this. If you don’t have a watch, get a waterproof digital watch (it need not be fancy!) and keep it in your first aid kit.
• Sunglasses (optional)
• Water bottle or thermos
• Snack food (lots!)
• Something to sit or lie on outside such a foam camping mattress or ‘crazy creek’ chair
• Small backpack for carrying your belongings during the course