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Wilderness First Responder Course Syllabus

Wilderness First Responder

Crested Butte Outdoors

(5 or 7 Days Continuous)

 

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) courses have become the standard of medical training for many outdoor schools, camps, guide services, and government agencies. The Wilderness Medical Associates Wilderness First Responder curriculum has proven to be highly adaptable and well understood by a wide variety of professionals operating everywhere from the open ocean to the high mountains. Your WMA certification is readily transferable throughout much of the outdoor industry.

 

Wilderness First Responder courses run at least 72 hours over eight teaching days. Full attendance is required, as is a passing grade on final tests and skills assessments. You should expect to be occupied with training all day, every day, including one night rescue simulation. Our training is intense and comprehensive, but the schedule does include one day off in the middle to allow for a little rest, local exploration, and just to let your brain catch up on all of the information.

 

At least half of your class time will be outdoors. Please bring the appropriate clothing and equipment for the season.   Although we supply most of your training equipment, we encourage you to bring the type of gear and supplies that you would normally have with you in the back country. A major focus of the Wilderness First Responder course will be learning to improvise from what you carry.

 

Although some of our students have previous medical experience, there is no training pre-requisite for the Wilderness First Responder course. Just bring a willingness to learn, a lot of energy, and a love for the outdoors. For full certification, you must be able to meet the functional position description for emergency care providers, and be at least 16 years of age (16 and 17 year old students will require a letter of consent from parents).

 

 

Sue teaches Sherpa Guides, Mount Everest Region

 

Prerequisite
Students must be at least 16 years of age to participate in this course (16 and 17 year olds must have proof of parental consent).

 

Certifications Available
All students who successfully complete the Wilderness First Responder course will receive a certification card from Wilderness Medical Associates. Certification remains valid for three years. Within three years, graduates may recertify by way of a two day course. BLS-CPR certification is also included. There are many different levels of CPR; Wilderness First Responders must maintain a BLS-CPR certification.

Wilderness Medical Associates' Wilderness First Responder course meets or exceeds all requirements in the National First Responder curriculum. Requirements for certification vary from state to state, so students who successfully complete our course may be eligible for certification in their home state. Contact your state's Emergency Medical Services Office for information.

 

Credentials
Wilderness First Responder courses developed by Wilderness Medical Associates are widely considered the most complete medical training for outdoor professionals. Our courses are preferred by such organizations as Outward Bound, The National Park Service, The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, many colleges and universities, and the FBI. As Canoe Magazine stated, "Wilderness Medical Associates has become the de facto standard in wilderness medical training."

 

 

 

Wilderness First Responder Course Syllabus

The following is a sample curriculum and schedule for the Wilderness Medical Associates Wilderness First Responder at Crested Butte Outdoors. You will find all of the major topics in wilderness medicine, as well as time for special interest subjects.
 
Day 1.........5.5 hours
  • 0.5 hours........... A: Registration
  • 1.0 hours........... B: Introduction
  • 3.0 hours........... C: CPR
  • 1.0 hours........... D: Case Studies

 

Day 2......... 9.0 hours
  • 1.0 hours........... A: Anatomy and Physiology
  • 1.5 hours........... B: General concepts
  • 3.5 hours........... C: Patient Assessment System
  • 2.0 hours........... D: ALS/BLS (part 1 )
  • 1.0 hours........... E: Case Studies

 

Day 3......... 9.0 hours
  • 2.0 hours........... A: Circulatory System
  • 1.0 hours........... B: Respiratory System
  • 1.0 hours........... C: Fractures
  • 0.5 hours........... D: Stable Injuries
  • 1.0 hours........... E: Dislocations
  • 2.5 hours........... F: Splints 1 - extremities
  • 1.0 hours........... G: Case Studies

 

Day 4......... 10.0 hours
  • 1.0 hours........... A: Nervous System
  • 1.0 hours........... B: Wounds
  • 0.5 hours........... C: Burns
  • 1.5 hours........... D: General Principles of Trauma
  • 1.0 hours........... E: Emergency childbirth
  • 2.0 hours........... F: Lifting, Moving, and Extrication
  • 2.0 hours........... G: Splints 2 - spine
  • 1.0 hours........... H: Case Studies

 

Day 5......... 9.0 hours
  • 0.5 hours........... A: Quiz
  • 1.5 hours........... B: Toxins, bites and stings
  • 1.0 hours........... C: Altitude or Diving
  • 1.5 hours........... D: Medical Emergencies
  • 0.5 hours........... E: Litter Packaging
  • 1.5 hours........... F: Litter Carries
  • 0.5 hours........... G: Patient Carries
  • 1.0 hours........... H: Small Group Simulations
  • 1.0 hours........... I: Case Studies

 

Day 6.........9.0 hours
  • 1.0 hours........... A: Hypothermia
  • 0.5 hours........... B: ALS/BLS ( part 2 )
  • 1.0 hours........... C: Hyperthermia and Heat Illness
  • 0.5 hours........... D: Near Drowning
  • 1.0 hours........... E: Frostbite and Cold Injury
  • 2.0 hours........... F: Search and Rescue
  • 1.0 hours........... G: Simulation
  • 2.0 hours........... H: Case Studies

 

Day 7.........10.0 hours
  • 0.5 hours........... A: Lightning
  • 1.0 hours........... C: Allergy/Anaphylaxis
  • 2.0 hours........... D: Backcountry Medicine
  • 2.0 hours........... E: Improvised Litters
  • 2.0 hours........... F: Simulation
  • 0.5 hours........... A: Medical and Legal Issues
  • 1.0 hours........... B: Personal Preparedness
  • 1.0 hours........... E: Final Exam

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    Last modified: February 12, 2010