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WAFA - Wilderness Advanced First Aid

Wilderness Advanced First Aid is a four-day comprehensive medical training designed for remote professionals or wilderness leaders who venture into remote and challenging environments. This course teaches how to manage medical emergencies when hospitals and rescue services may not be available for an extensive time period. We prepare students for emergency situations that involve prolonged patient care, severe environments, and improvised equipment.

WFR

COURSE CONTENT

  • Patient assessment and emergency care including CPR and AED use, basic life support skills, the patient assessment system, patient reporting, and calling for help.

  • Treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, including splinting and pain management. 

  • Non-technical lifting, moving, and extrication of patients with an emphasis on spinal motion restriction when applicable. 

  • Environmental medicine including illness and injuries related to temperature, lightning, submersion, and environmental toxins.

  • Backcountry medicine including the assessment and treatment of common medical problems. 

  • Management of wounds such as lacerations, burns, and blisters. 

  • Practical Skills including bleeding control, wound cleaning, bandaging, splinting, spine stable patient packaging, hypothermia management, medical kit preparation. 

  • WMA International wilderness protocols including treatment of anaphylaxis, wound management, CPR in a remote setting and spine injury assessment.

EVALUATION

Successful completion with certification is based on:

  • Attendance (100% attendance is mandatory)

  • Practical patient simulations

  • Hands-on activities

  • Successful grade on a final written exam.

​

Wilderness Medical Associates International is committed to making reasonable accommodation to any student with special needs.

CURRICULUM

The Wilderness Advanced First Aid course is a minimum of 36 hours of instruction. In-class learning involves lecture, discussion, patient assessment drills, simulations, case study review, and skills labs. Students learn to provide care when help is delayed for hours to days.

CERTIFICATION
&
Recertification

  • Wilderness Advanced First Aid Certification

  • Adult CPR Certification (Based on ERC guidelines)

 

Certifications are valid for three years.

​

Recertification

Graduates of this course should take another WAFA course or consider upgrading to a Wilderness First Responder

PREREQUISITES

Prior to enrolling, please review our Functional Position Description.

 The criteria in this policy allow students to self-assess their ability to meet the demands of a WMA International course as well as the demands of a certified wilderness medical provider in the field.

CURRICULUM

The Wilderness Advanced First Aid course is a minimum of 36 hours of instruction. In-class learning involves lecture, discussion, patient assessment drills, simulations, case study review, and skills labs. Students learn to provide care when help is delayed for hours to days.

COURSE CONTENT
  • Patient assessment and emergency care including CPR and AED use, basic life support skills, the patient assessment system, patient reporting, and calling for help.

  • Treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, including splinting and pain management. 

  • Non-technical lifting, moving, and extrication of patients with an emphasis on spinal motion restriction when applicable. 

  • Environmental medicine including illness and injuries related to temperature, lightning, submersion, and environmental toxins.

  • Backcountry medicine including the assessment and treatment of common medical problems. 

  • Management of wounds such as lacerations, burns, and blisters. 

  • Practical Skills including bleeding control, wound cleaning, bandaging, splinting, spine stable patient packaging, hypothermia management, medical kit preparation. 

  • WMA International wilderness protocols including treatment of anaphylaxis, wound management, CPR in a remote setting and spine injury assessment.

Successful completion with certification is based on:

  • Attendance (100% attendance is mandatory)

  • Practical patient simulations

  • Hands-on activities

  • Successful grade on a final written exam.

 

Wilderness Medical Associates International is committed to making reasonable accommodation to any student with special needs.

EVALUATION
(RE)CERTIFICATION
  • Wilderness Advanced First Aid Certification

  • Adult CPR Certification (Based on ERC guidelines)

 

Certifications are valid for three year

 

Recertification

Graduates of this course should take another WAFA course or consider upgrading to a Wilderness First Responder

Prior to enrolling, please review our Functional Position Description.

 The criteria in this policy allow students to self-assess their ability to meet the demands of a WMA International course as well as the demands of a certified wilderness medical provider in the field.

PREREQUISITES
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