Wilderness First Aid

Prepare for the unexpected with this hands-on introduction to wilderness medicine, offered in partnership with SOLO Wilderness Medicine. This 16-20 hour course is for anyone who spends time in the outdoors, whether you work in a wilderness setting, enjoy outdoor recreation, or want to be better prepared for emergencies in remote environments. Instruction will be a mix of classroom learning and outdoor scenarios, held regardless of weather conditions. 

This course may also be used to recertify a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) or the wilderness portion of a Wilderness EMT if your prior certification was through SOLO.

An optional CPR/AED course will occur after the Saturday WFA class ends, lasting about 2 hours. Please sign up for the corresponding CPR/AED course on our store if you are interested.

The WFA certification is valid for 2 years (3 years for WFR/WEMT recertification).

*Please note: If you are a WFR Recert, please notify the sponsoring agency ahead of time. This course will recertify current SOLO certifications. You must bring copies of your current WFR and CPR certification cards. There is an additional $15 recertification fee. 

WFA Course Sign-Up Details
Course Outline
Packing List

WFA Course Sign-Up Details

2024/25 DateLocationTuitionSign-Up
October 26-27TBD$250Book Now
December 28-29TBD$250Book Now
February 22-23TBD$250Book Now
April 26-27TBD$250Book Now

Please note that some WFA courses are 3 days while others are 2 days. The 3 day course will give allow for us to space out some of the information. The remaining days will operate from 8-5pm.

WFA Course Outline

Wilderness First Aid courses will typically run from 8am-6pm with a break from lunch for the duration of the course.

Course Topics:

  • Wilderness vs. Urban First Aid
  • Patient Assessment System
    • Initial Survey
    • Primary Survey
    • Secondary Survey
    • Documentation (SOAP Notes)
  • Patient Lifting and Moving
  • Shock
  • Traumatic Issues
    • Musculoskeletal – Sprains, Strains, & Fractures
    • Spinal Cord Injury Management
    • Soft Tissue Injuries
      • Stopping the Bleed
      • Wound Cleaning
      • Bandaging Skills
      • Infections
      • Burns 
  • Environmental Issues
    • The Human Animal
    • Hypothermia and Frostbite
    • Heat Illness: Dehydration, Heat Exhaustion, & Heat Stroke
    • North American Bites & Stings
    • Lightning
    • Back Country Essentials: Bivouac & Survival Skills
  • Medical Issues
    • Changes in Level of Consciousness
    • Breathing Issues: Asthma, Allergic Reaction, etc.
    • Anaphylaxis
    • Diabetes
    • Chest Pain
  • Written Test and Course Completion

Course Notes:

Please be aware that the following topics and subjects are commonly covered in the Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course. However, the order and progression of topics may vary during the course.

Classes typically run from 8am-6pm with an hour break for lunch.

SOLO courses are highly interactive and focus on hands-on learning, with numerous outdoor scenarios and skills labs. This allows participants to practice and refine their skills in real-life conditions. Please be prepared to spend time outside, regardless of weather conditions—rain, snow, or shine.

CPR and AED training is not included in the WFA course. However, a CPR class is offered separately on the first night after the WFA session. If you’re interested, please sign up for the CPR & AED course in advance.

The WFA certification is not valid without CPR certification. The course can be taken with or without CPR certification (additional fee required for CPR course), depending on whether a student already has current certification at the time of the course.

Requirements

  • Students must be at least 16 years of age to take this course.
  • All minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Packing List

You should plan to have clothing that will be appropriate to the season for where and when you will be taking the class. Weather permitting we will be spending a significant portion of the class time outside. The following list is to SUPPLEMENT the clothing you will be wearing. If you have questions regarding the usual weather where your course will be held, please contact the sponsor.  

Please note, we use moulage throughout the training that can stain some clothing, therefore, you may want to bring older or darker clothing to wear for scenarios.  

Required Items:

The following items should be packed for each class:

  • Backpack to put everything in 
  • Raingear (tops & bottoms – waterproof vs water resistant) 
  • Layers of clothing (to keep yourself regulated by adding on or removing layers) 
  •  (preferably NOT made of cotton, which loses its ability to hold heat if wet) 
  • Water bottles (for drinking water) 
  • Footwear for the environment (closed-toe shoes for outdoors / sandals are OK for inside) 
  • Watch (with a second hand) 
  • Notebook with Pen/Pencil 
  • Items that you would normally take on a day hike or overnight hike 

Helpful Things to Bring:

  • Ground cloth or small tarp 
  • Sleeping pad 
  • Bandanas/Cravats of any kind 
  • Rope