Advanced Wilderness First Aid

Take your wilderness medical skills to the next level with our Advanced Wilderness First Aid (AWFA) course, offered in partnership with SOLO Wilderness Medicine. This 36-40 hour intensive program is designed for those who want to deepen their understanding of emergency care in remote environments, making it ideal for outdoor leaders, guides, and adventurers looking to be better prepared for longer trips into the backcountry. Through hands-on scenarios and real-world applications, you’ll learn advanced techniques for managing injuries and medical emergencies when professional help is hours or days away. Gain confidence in your ability to handle complex medical situations in the wilderness, and earn a SOLO AWFA certification that reflects your readiness for the challenges of remote care.

Recommended For: WFA-certified individuals looking to advance their skills and any outdoor adventurers

Prerequisites: No Prerequisites Required

Certifications Received: 
• 2-year AWFA Certification
• CPR and AED Certification.

Course Dates
Course Outline
Packing List

AWFA Course Dates

2025 DatesLocationTuitionSign Up
May 2-6TBD$500Book Now

AWFA Course Outline

Course Topics

  • Wilderness vs. Urban First Aid
  • Patient Assessment System
  • Patient Lifting and Moving
  • Litters: Improvised and Commercial
  • Medicolegal Issues
  • Shock
  • Traumatic Issues
    • Musculoskeletal
    • Spinal Cord Injury Management
    • Soft Tissues Injuries
  • Environmental Issues
  • Medical Issues

Course Notes:

This course is extremely hands-on. Students will participate in various scenarios and skill labs. Be prepared for any type of weather conditions.

Packing List

You should plan to wear or have with you clothing that will be appropriate to the season and location where you will be taking your course. Weather permitting, we will be spending a significant portion of the class time out-of-doors. The following list is to SUPPLEMENT the clothing you will be wearing and is to be considered a minimum. You are free to supplement it with anything else you would normally carry. You will be using your equipment to provide care, build splints, and to keep yourself and OTHERS warm. 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:

  • Pack to put everything in (2500 cu in or large) or duffle bag
  • Raingear tops and Bottoms (no ponchos, water proof versus water resistant)
  • 2 Warm Hats (synthetic* or wool)
  • 1 Pair Warm Gloves or Mittens (synthetic* or wool)
  • 2 Pair Warm socks (synthetic* or wool) or wool) 
  • Warm Top and Bottom Layer (synthetic* or wool)
  • 2 Pair Warm socks (synthetic* or wool)
  • 2 Water Bottles (1 liter/quart or larger)
  • Hiking boots or Sturdy Hiking Shoes (no Five Fingers shoes please) 
  • Notebook with Pen/Pencil 
  • Watch with Second Hand (or digital with seconds)

*Polyester or Polypropylene (Capilenetm, Bergelenetm, Dri-Climetm, etc.) We do not recommend cotton which loses its ability to hold heat if wet.

Highly Recommended:

  • Headlamp or Flashlight (don’t forget extra batteries and bulbs)
  • Pocket Knife
  • Insect Repellent (in season) 
  • Sunglasses and Sunscreen
  • 40 feet Small Diameter Cord (parachute cord is fine)
  • Sleeping Pad (Ensolite, Thermarest, Ridgerest, etc.)
  • 10’ X 10’ 4-6 mil Plastic Tarp (for shelter building)
  • Bandanas/Cravats of any kind