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Wilderness First Aid Course
The best and most comprehensive course of its kind to offer relevant and realistic first-aid training for seasonal outdoor activities or short term wilderness endeavors and pursuits.
Wilderness First Aid is a two-day (16 hour; 20 hours in Canada) introduction to general medical concepts and basic life support skills. It is targeted to the outdoor enthusiast on day trips or short adventures. The course is taught by professional instructors with significant patient care and backcountry experience.
Prior to enrolling in a course, please review our Functional Position Description. The criteria set forth in this document allows learners to self-assess their ability to meet the demands of both a Viristar course as well as the demands of a certified wilderness medical provider in the field.
Curriculum and certification for Viristar’s Wilderness First Aid course is provided by Wilderness Medical Associates International. Viristar is proud to be a Licensed Training Company of WMAI.
Course Content
The Wilderness First Aid curriculum is written by a team of remote medical rescue researchers and professionals. Ongoing evidence based research and review contributes to a unique and innovative approach to patient care in backcountry and austere settings. The curriculum is comprehensive, complete, and kept current on an annual basis.
- General Principles of Wilderness and Rescue Medicine with an emphasis on the prevention and identification of medical emergencies, appropriate technology, and risk management.
- Basic life support: circulatory system, nervous system, respiratory system.
- Patient assessment and emergency care including CPR and the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis.
- Environmental Medicine including hypothermia and heat illness, lightning, and submersion.
- Backcountry Medicine including the assessment and treatment of common medical problems, and improvised patient carries.
- Musculoskeletal Problems including unstable and stable injuries.
- Wound management including open fractures, lacerations, burns and blisters.
- Practical skills including splinting and bandaging.
- Wilderness Protocols including wound cleaning and exploration, and anaphylaxis.
Certifications
Upon successful course completion, learners will receive certification in Wilderness First Aid and Adult CPR (based on ILCOR/AHA standards).
Certifications are valid for three years.
Materials Provided
Learners will receive the following books on this course:
- Wilderness First Aid Guide
- SOAP Notebook
- Wilderness and Rescue Medicine textbook
