Wilderness First Aid

The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course provides essential medical training designed for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels. WFA covers basic first aid, patient assessment, and emergency response in remote settings. This hands-on course prepares participants with classroom lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on scenarios, instilling students with knowledge to make informed decisions when faced with common backcountry injuries and illnesses where emergency medical is reachable, but up to 8 hours away. Certification is typically valid for two years.

*This course may also be used to recertify NOLS Wilderness Medicine Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and NOLS Wilderness Medicine WEMT (wilderness portion only) certifications.

Course Outcomes

  • ✺ 1 ✺

    Perform a Patient Assessment System (PAS) and make decisions about a patient’s care for common injuries and illnesses in Front-Country outdoor scenarios.

  • ✺ 2 ✺

    Understand Wilderness Medicine Principles to prevent common injuries and illnesses while managing the unique challenges of providing medical care in remote settings.

  • ✺ 3 ✺

    Effectively Apply Risk Management Strategies to proactively identify hazards, assess risks, and promote informed decision making.

✺ Learn More ✺

  • Click here to download the Wilderness First Aid Course Overview (NOLS)

  • This course is designed for the outdoor enthusiast taking short trips, generally in areas we would call the “front country,” where emergency medical is still within reach (<8 hours away).

    We recommend this course for camp counselors, day-trip guides, and anyone who wants to be a bit more knowledge for day-to-day outdoor activities.

  • WFA course duration varies, but typically range from 16 - 20 hours. Each upcoming course will detail the dates, start times, and end times.

  • Successful course completion will earn the following NOLS Wilderness Medicine certifications: 

    • Wilderness First Aid

    • Epinephrine Auto-injector

  • Certifications are valid for 2 years from the date of completion. Recertification after 2 years is advised to ensure students maintain their skills and are up-to-date on best practices.

  • WFA is a basic, introductory course for short trips and quick access to emergency medical services, while WFR is a more comprehensive, in-depth course intended to prepare students for extended backcountry trips and those working in remote environments.