Wilderness Advanced First Aid (40hr) Mountain Rescue November 20-23, Nelson
The Wilderness Advanced First Aid is the perfect entry-level course for outdoor adventurers and outdoor professionals who may need to provide patient care when help is delayed for hours to days. The course focuses on basic lifesaving skills, patient assessment, field care for common injuries and illnesses, environmental illnesses, and proper reporting for rescue assistance.
In partnership with Kootenay Backcountry Guides.
The Wilderness Advanced First Aid is the perfect entry-level course for outdoor adventurers and outdoor professionals who may need to provide patient care when help is delayed for hours to days. The course focuses on basic lifesaving skills, patient assessment, field care for common injuries and illnesses, environmental illnesses, and proper reporting for rescue assistance.
In partnership with Kootenay Backcountry Guides.
The Wilderness Advanced First Aid is the perfect entry-level course for outdoor adventurers and outdoor professionals who may need to provide patient care when help is delayed for hours to days. The course focuses on basic lifesaving skills, patient assessment, field care for common injuries and illnesses, environmental illnesses, and proper reporting for rescue assistance.
In partnership with Kootenay Backcountry Guides.
Course Overview
A significant challenge of avalanche rescue is dealing with the issues that arise after the victims are extracted. Physical trauma, hypothermia, and how and where to get help are some challenges you may face. AST courses and traditional companion rescue courses teach you how to find and extract someone from under the snow. However, they rarely go in-depth with teaching you how to deal with injuries and the prospect of spending a night out in the field.
In collaboration with Kootenay Backcountry Guides, we have created a comprehensive 40-hour Wilderness Advanced First Aid course combined with essential backcountry rescue techniques. This course goes beyond traditional first aid, addressing the critical challenges you may face during a backcountry emergency. Emphasizing the aftermath of any backcountry incident. We cover first aid skills and techniques that can be used year round to ensure you are fully prepared for any emergency, any time of the year.
Course Highlights
Wilderness Advanced First Aid Certification: 40 hours of intensive instruction.
CPR Certification: Included.
Backcountry Rescue Skills: A full day with an ACMG Guiding practicing rescue and shelter in place strategies as well as practical training in real-life scenarios.
Why This Course?
While traditional avalanche courses focus on finding and extracting victims, our course teaches you how to handle injuries, communications and the possibility of overnight survival. This training is essential for anyone serious about backcountry safety and rescue.
Course participants will leave with a 40 hour advanced Wilderness First Aid Certificate that can be used as part of a bridging course to a full 80 hour first aid certificate.
Description
The Wilderness Advanced First Aid is the perfect entry-level course for outdoor adventurers and outdoor professionals who may need to provide patient care when help is delayed for hours to days. The course focuses on basic lifesaving skills, patient assessment, field care for common injuries and illnesses, environmental illnesses, and proper reporting for rescue assistance.
Curriculum
The Wilderness Advanced First Aid course is a minimum of 36 hours of instruction when taught in the United States and 40 hours when taught in Canada. Hours vary in other countries. In-class learning involves lecture, discussion, patient assessment drills, simulations, case study review, and skills labs. Students learn to provide care when help is delayed for hours to days.
Requirements
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 take another WAFA course or consider upgrading to a Wilderness First Responder. On a case-by-case basis, WAFA students may re-certify in a Wilderness First Responder Recertification course.
Course Topics
Patient assessment and emergency care including CPR and AED use, basic life support skills, the patient assessment system, patient reporting, and calling for help.
Treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, including splinting and pain management.
Non-technical lifting, moving, and extrication of patients with an emphasis on spinal motion restriction when applicable.
Environmental medicine including illness and injuries related to temperature, lightning, submersion, and environmental toxins.
Backcountry medicine including the assessment and treatment of common medical problems.
Management of wounds such as lacerations, burns, and blisters.
Practical Skills including bleeding control, wound cleaning, bandaging, splinting, spine stable patient packaging, hypothermia management, medical kit preparation.
WMA International wilderness protocols including treatment of anaphylaxis, wound management, CPR in a remote setting and spine injury assessment.