Wilderness First Aid for Field Services
- Minimum Duration
- 24 Hours
- Minimum Age
- 16
- Minimum Cost
- $300+
- Skill Level
- Any
Description
This first aid course provides customized training for the medical needs of industry, technical, research, and field support employees in remote areas. This primarily includes workers involved in mining, forestry, oil drilling, construction, and field-based scientific data collection.
Curriculum
Emphasis is placed on motorized vehicles as mechanisms for injury as well as means of evacuation, and treatment of acute injuries and illnesses.
Requirements
Course hosts must provide specific gear relevant to their employees when in remote and low resource environments.
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.
Evaluation
This course is pass/fail. 100% attendance is mandatory. Evaluation is based on practical patient simulations, hands-on activities, and a written test. WMA International is committed to making reasonable accommodation for any student with special needs.
Recertification
Certifications are valid for three years. Graduates of this course should repeat this course, take another WFA course, or consider upgrading to the Wilderness Advanced First Aid or Wilderness First Responder.
Course Topics
This course covers the scope of a Wilderness First Aid course with emphasis on:
- Students will understand the benefits and limitations of CPR and AED use in urban, rural, and remote environments.
- Critical thinking is required to manage the treatment and evacuation of patients in remote and low resource settings.
- Lifting, moving, and extrication of patients focuses on remote industrial contexts including confined spaces (such as mines, structures, construction areas) and vehicles.
- Focus on commercial methods of Spine Stabilization and management are included if these tools exist in the workplace. Improvised techniques are taught on request.
- Splinting instruction will focus on concepts and comfort of stabilization. Attention will be given to appropriate splinting materials most likely available to the group.
- We will review the use of rescue equipment in the workplace (traction splints and rescue baskets), including their pros and cons in the wilderness context.
- Students will become familiar with the patient SOAP note format as well as communication of patient assessments via various technological means.
- We will address medical/legal considerations such as specific workplace safety regulations, Good Samaritan laws, and when providers have a Duty to Act.
Course Topics
This course covers the scope of a Wilderness First Aid course with emphasis on:
- Students will understand the benefits and limitations of CPR and AED use in urban, rural, and remote environments.
- Critical thinking is required to manage the treatment and evacuation of patients in remote and low resource settings.
- Lifting, moving, and extrication of patients focuses on remote industrial contexts including confined spaces (such as mines, structures, construction areas) and vehicles.
- Focus on commercial methods of Spine Stabilization and management are included if these tools exist in the workplace. Improvised techniques are taught on request.
- Splinting instruction will focus on concepts and comfort of stabilization. Attention will be given to appropriate splinting materials most likely available to the group.
- We will review the use of rescue equipment in the workplace (traction splints and rescue baskets), including their pros and cons in the wilderness context.
- Students will become familiar with the patient SOAP note format as well as communication of patient assessments via various technological means.
- We will address medical/legal considerations such as specific workplace safety regulations, Good Samaritan laws, and when providers have a Duty to Act.
