The Wilderness First Aid course is a 16+ hour introduction to general first aid/CPR concepts and skills. It is targeted to the outdoor enthusiast, who enjoy day trips or short adventures that are close to the trailhead. Learners come away with a basic understanding of how to identify common backcountry problems as serious or not serious as well as the skills needed to help higher levels of care (i.e. Wilderness First Responder). This course aims to build confidence to make decisions and take action in an emergency.

Best Suited For:

  • Any outdoor enthusiast that stays close to trailheads.
  • Seasonal outdoor staff that works with others who have higher medical training.
  • Great for members of the Eastern Sierra community.

Time Commitment:

  • In-Person Learning (~16+ Hours)
    • Learners participate in two days of in-person training.
  • E-Learning
    • Mandatory (~ 1.5 Hours): All learners will need to register on Wilderness Medical Associates International’s Learning Management System to complete pre-course paperwork (i.e. waiver forms) and pre-course preparation activities.
    • Optional (up to 9+ Hours): Registering in the LMS also gives students access to optional online e-learning activities to enhance comprehension of the material. Many students have found that completing the online activities better prepared them for hands-on practice during the class.

Certifications Offered:
To earn certification, students must meet the criteria set forth in WMA International’s  Functional Position Description as well as the minimum WFA performance and testing standards by the last day of course.

  • “Wilderness First Aid & Adult CPR/AED” valid for 3 years (Wilderness Medical Associates)
  • California Courses (available upon request at no additional cost):
    • Pediatric CPR/AED addition to certification above (valid for 3 years)
    • California State Epinephrine Auto-Injector Training Certificate valid for 2 years (Wilderness Medical Associates; eligible for state certification)

Included Materials:

  • Wilderness First Aid Field Guide
  • SOAP Notebook
  • Wilderness and Rescue Medicine Textbook

  • Start to build a foundation for distinguishing between serious problems and those that are not.
  • Develop a basic understanding of situations that can be managed without help and when it is necessary to call for assistance.
  • Prevention of the most common backcountry emergencies.

  • Risk-management and decision-making in the backcountry.
  • How to support responders with higher levels of medical training.
  • How to communicate clearly in an emergency to get the help you need.

  • WMA International’s conceptual approach to assessing a patient is one of the best in the industry.
  • Learner’s will come away with clear and simple steps for assessing a patient.
  • How to communicate with patients in a manner that makes them feel comfortable, respected, and listened to.

  • Airway Management (including choking).
  • Adult CPR.
  • Child/Infant CPR (upon request).
  • How to use an AED.
  • How to stop a life-threatening bleed.
  • How to treat an opioid overdose.

  • An introduction to common medical problems and how to manage them in remote settings.

  • Identify a concussion.
  • Distinguish between stable and unstable injuries.
  • Supporting stable injuries.
  • Splinting low-risk unstable injuries.

  • How the body maintains its temperature.
  • Identify and treat heat challenge problems.
  • Identify and treat cold challenge problems.
  • Drowning and lightning prevention.

The majority of tools students will come away with can be used anywhere. Wilderness protocols are ones that apply in a delayed care context only.

  • Identify, clean, and care for wounds.
  • How to perform a tourniquet conversion.
  • How to administer epinephrine to someone suffering from anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) using an auto-injector.
    • Withdrawal of medication from a vial or ampule training is available upon request for private groups.

  • Rolling patients in a manner that protects the spine.
  • Moving patients out of harm’s way.

  • Must be at least 16 years old. Younger ages considered for private groups.
  • Must be able to meet minimum requirements outlined in the WMA International  Functional Position Description.

Wilderness First Aid

May 31, 2025 - June 1, 2025

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