Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is the worldwide standard in wilderness medical education and is a great choice for those regularly adventuring or working in remote environments. The WFR certification is a common requirement for outdoor professionals including those working in adventure guiding, ecotourism, search & rescue and more. Certification is offered through Wilderness Medical Associates International (WMA). Do you already have your WFR and need re-certification? Learn about upcoming WFR Recertification courses.
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This 5-day hybrid option (as opposed to the traditional 7-10 day WFR) is best for those who can commit to intensive pre-course study which introduces all the general concepts needed before the 5-days of on-site review and hands-on practice in class. The 5 days in class involve intensive patient assessment drills, practice scenarios, simulated events with extensive debriefs and case studies. There is increased emphasis on prolonged patient care/monitoring, critical thinking and evacuation decisions. It is recommended that students register two to three weeks prior to the course to ensure adequate time to complete the e-learning section.
Open to students 18 years of age and older.
Specific topics include:
- Critical body systems
- System for assessing a patient
- Recognizing emergencies and calling for help
- Stopping a bleed, CPR
- Moving a patient
- Musculoskeletal and spine injuries and splinting
- Wound management
- Recognizing and treating anaphylaxis
- Environmental topics such as lightening, cold and heat related injuries, water immersion and toxins
- Addressing common medical conditions in the backcountry setting
- Documentation
- Medical legal considerations
Pre-course Work Technology Requirements
- High speed Internet Access and a computer with:
- PDF Reader o Anti-Virus Software
- Internet Browser (latest version of Chrome, Firefox, or Edge). Note- the system is NOT compatible with Safari.
Certification is valid for 3 years and includes Adult, child and infant CPR following AHA/ILCOR standards. To re-certify take the WFR Recert course or a repeat WFR course before your cert expires. Class includes 30+ hours online pre-class study and testing + 45 hours on-site.