KNSFHP 1140.10 (1 credit)

Description:

The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) class acts as an introduction to backcountry medicine and techniques. The WFA course is designed to train and certify people to cope with basic wilderness hazards and medical emergencies and is ideal for the outdoor enthusiast who wants a more wildness specific approach to first aid. The focus of learning will be on recognizing wilderness emergencies and providing basic care until more advanced help arrives.  Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive a WFA certification card valid for 2 years.

Pre-requisites:

• None

Equipment (students must purchase for class):

• 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, 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.
• WFA is ranked Difficulty Level: 1 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:

• Accidents happen. People get hurt, sick, or lost. The temperature drops, the wind picks up, and it starts to rain. Would you know what to do? Many backcountry emergencies are preventable, and even when bad things happen, sometimes the wrong care can make things worse. By learning a few basic skills, you can make the difference between a good outcome and a bad one-and maybe even save a life.

Fun Facts:

• Certification for this course comes from SOLO, the oldest, most innovative, and one of the most respected wilderness medical schools in the United States.
• WFA is a hands-on course and typically fun.