Sport Fitness and Health Program

Wilderness First Responder

KNSFHP 1140.11 (3 credits)

Description:

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) has long been recognized as the standard in wilderness medical training for guides, trip leaders and outdoor professionals. The 70-hour WFR course provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to respond to backcountry medical and trauma situations. Students will learn patient stabilization, treatment, and evacuation with special attention to extended patient care. Upon successful completion students will receive a SOLO WFR completion card valid for 3 years.

Pre-requisite:

  • None

Equipment:

  • Appropriate clothing to be outdoors in all environments
  • Watch that provides seconds on its display

What you will learn:

  • Use standard EMS patient assessment progressions to deal with and treat traumatic injuries including bleeding and burn wounds, orthopedic injuries, head and neck injuries, abdominal injuries; medical emergencies including cardiac and respiratory issues, allergies, diabetes; and environmental emergencies: thermoregulation, lightening, high altitude, water accidents, bites and stings.
  • Reduce the dangers of disease transmission when providing care in an emergency
  • Use industry standards to document assessment and care.

What to expect:

  • WFA typically occurs over a weekend (Sat and Sun) and involves eight hours of meeting time per day.
  • The course will have a mixed delivery method, approximately 75% (11 hours) being didactic in classroom lecture and 25% (4 hours) being hands-on, practical scenarios.  Scenarios occur outside regardless of weather.
  • WFR certification presented upon successful completion of the class, including passing a written and practical exam.
  • WFR is ranked Difficulty Level: 2 out of 5 For details & tips for preparing for the trip please reference OAC Physical Challenge Scale. Accommodations can be made for all abilities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to contact the instructor for specific opportunities to participate.

Potential Benefits:

  • Be able to help care for people in emergency situations, possibly saving lives.
  • Certification requirement met for certain professional settings.
  • Confidence in your abilities to respond to emergencies.

Fun Facts:

  • The first of classes to specifically grant Wilderness First Responder certification was taught in 1985 by Frank Hubbell of SOLO and Peter Goth of Wilderness Medical Associates in the Florida Everglades basecamp of NC Outward Bound School.[3] The purpose of creating the course was to provide rangers, outdoor leaders, and guides the necessary knowledge to provide care in crisis situations in the wilderness. (Source:  Hawkins, Seth (2018). Wilderness EMS. Philadelphia PA: Wolters Kluwer. p. 37].)