Our Wilderness First Responder course is designed to provide an individual with an in-depth knowledge of wilderness medicine and the basic skills to treat the most common injuries and illnesses encountered in the wilderness. This program is appropriate for professional guides and other non-medical people who want a deeper understanding of wilderness medicine.
This WFR Hybrid course requires approximately 50+ hours of online coursework. Following the completion of the online material, a student will be eligible to attend the 30+ hours of hands-on training. During the in-person course, students will learn the latest wilderness medicine skills for patient assessment, treatment, and evacuation. Our expert instructors employ a wide scope of teaching methods, balancing lectures with practical, hands-on skills and scenarios. Emphasis is placed not just on the materials learned, but the critical decision-making skills surrounding effective backcountry medical management.
Those students that are recertifying will have upwards of 20 hours of online coursework, and will only be required to attend the first two days of the training.
Upon course completion, students will earn the WFR certification, valid for two years (with a one-year grace period), and a CPR/BLS plus AED certification, also valid for two years.
This course has been approved for Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) credits through the Wilderness Medical Society. Actual credits awarded depend on personal credit needs and history.
This course will be held in Anchorage, AK.
The materials below are covered via online and in-person didactic lectures, small group discussions, practical skills sessions, and live scenarios. Each topic will describe pathology, treatment, prevention, and provide evacuation guidelines necessary for high-quality patient care. This curriculum is continually reviewed for best practices and the most up-to-date guidelines.
The WFR curriculum includes, but is not limited to topics such as:
• Patient Assessment Scene Size-up, Primary Survey, Secondary Survey
• CPR/BLS
• Bleeding and Shock
• Wound and Burn Management
• Fractures & Dislocations
• Chest Injuries
• Abdominal Injuries
• Head and Spine Injuries
• Near Drowning
• Lightning
• Heat-Related Illness
• Hypothermia & Cold-Related Illness/Injury
• Genitourinary Emergencies
• Psychology in the Wilderness
• Neurological Emergencies
• Intro to Diving Medicine
• Altitude Illness
• Avalanche Risk and Avoidance
• Law and the Wilderness
• Poisoning Emergencies
• Evacuation Guidelines
• Improvised Litters & Carries
• Skin, Wilderness Dentistry, Illness & Injury of the Eyes
Please review our terms and policies before registering for a course, course registration is an acknowledgment and agreement to all AdventureMed policies.
