WILDERNESS MEDICINE
Wilderness Medicine differs significantly from standard Red Cross courses and other programs that are oriented toward the urban
environment. This course teaches what to do with a medical emergency when help is miles away and calling 911 isn’t an option.
We prepare students for emergency situations that involve prolonged patient care, severe environments and improvised equipment.
WHY CHOOSE WILDERNESS MEDICAL ASSOCIATES®?
Wilderness Medical Associates® has been setting the highest standard for medical training in wilderness and rescue medicine since 1981.
We are the only company in this field with a practicing emergency room physician as President and Medical Director. Dr. David Johnson’s
nearly 30 years of emergency medical and backcountry experience provide a depth of expertise that translates into a cutting edge curriculum.
Our team of exceptional instructors are medical professionals with significant patient care experience as well as substantial backcountry
resumes. All have been through a rigorous selection and training process. We demand the best, and we get them.
The curriculum is continuously updated and refined. We search the literature and draw from field experience to create the most useful
training possible for medical care in difficult and dangerous places. Our emphasis on understanding body systems and medical principles
gives students the skills and confidence to adapt and respond. Once an individual has taken one of our courses, he or she will remember
and understand what needs to be done.
Our courses are preferred by such organizations as Outward Bound, The National Park Service, and the FBI. As Canoe Magazine stated, “Wilderness Medical Associates has become the de facto standard in wilderness medical training.”
CLASS FORMAT
This course is presented in 16 hours over two days. Typically, mornings are devoted to lectures, discussions and quizzes, with afternoons
devoted to outdoor practical skills and scenarios. Evenings are reserved for study and assignments. Expect rescue scenarios with made-up
victims and simulated wounds to prepare you for backcountry emergencies. Sessions may be videotaped for enhanced learning.
PREREQUISITES
To be eligible for renewal of certification in this course, students must have successfully completed a Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness EMT Upgrade, or Recertification course taught by Wilderness Medical Associates within three years of the end date of the last course taken. WEMT's must have a current EMT license, this course will only recertify the wilderness portion of a WEMT.
Current CPR certification at the level of American Heart Association 'Provider' CPR or American Red Cross 'Professional Rescuer' CPR. If you do not have the correct CPR certification, you may participate in the course, but your WFR certification will not be activated until you have submitted proof of proper CPR certification to the Wildmed office.
Upon receipt of a course roster from the sponsor, pre-course Study Guides will be mailed to students two to four weeks prior to the first day of their course. Students should complete the Study Guide in preparation for the course. It was designed to familiarize
students with the essential points in the curriculum. Instructors will collect it at the beginning of the
course but it will not be figured into the final grade.
Students must be at least sixteen years old to participate in the Two-day Recertification course.
Those under age eighteen will require the written consent of a parent or guardian.
COURSE SPONSORS AND INSTRUCTORS
Wilderness Medical Associates’® courses are offered by a variety of sponsors in the US and abroad. Sponsors may set rules regarding
parking, dogs, the use of alcohol, and other site-specific issues. The course sponsor sets the tuition and provides the classroom and any
housing or meals that may be included. All courses are taught by Wildmed instructors who have been through our rigorous selection and
training process and adhere to our course standards and curriculum.
TEXTBOOKS
All teaching materials are provided by Wilderness Medical Associates® at no additional cost. This includes a book of lecture handouts,
SOAP Notes, and our textbook, Wilderness and Rescue Medicine.
COMPLETION AND GRADES
Successful completion with certification is based on 100% attendance, satisfactory performance on homework assignments and written
quizzes, demonstrated proficiency with practical skills and a grade of 80% or better on final written exam. Wilderness Medical Associates® is committed to making reasonable accomodation to any student with special needs.
CERTIFICATION
All eligible students who complete this course will receive Wilderness Medical Associates’® Wilderness First Responder, Anaphylaxis, and
BLS/Healthcare Provider-level CPR certification. These certifications remain valid for three years. This certification can be used to challenge
the DOT First Responder Exam, which is at the discretion of the local or state EMS authorities.
RECERTIFICATION
The two-day Recertification course may be used as a recertification option for those with a current Wildmed Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, or Wilderness EMT. Contact the Wilderness Medical Associates® office for more details.
WHAT TO BRING
Bring appropriate clothing for the location and time of year. Remember that, rain or shine, much of our time is spent outside. You will
also need pens and a notebook. See our Student Handbook and speak with the sponsor for more information.
TWO-DAY RECERTIFICATION COURSE SCHEDULE
Day 1: 8 hours - Introduction/Registration; General Concepts; Patient Assessment System; Wilderness Protocols; Circulatory System; Respiratory System; Nervous System; Spine Assessment/Backboarding; BLS; PAS Drills
Day 2: 8 hours - Homework Review (Protocols); Musculoskeletal System; Splinting; Wound Management; Anaphylaxis/Biohazards; Environmental; PAS Drills; Exam
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