| Full Course Length | Upgrade Course Length | Pre-requisites | Certification Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65 Hours | 34 Hours | AWFA (Upgrade Course) | 3 Years |
The Wilderness First Responder Course is an intensive 34 hours of training designed to prepare those that lead groups in the wilderness, operate outside of the normal EMS system scope, members/medics on a Mountain Rescue Team, or other individuals that would gain from additional knowledge.
The WFR Course greatly expands upon the concepts and skills taught in WFA and AWFA.The course is designed to be conducted over 3-4 days of intensive study and outdoor practice.
At course completion, students are awarded a certificate of completion by CDS Outdoor.In order to receive a completion certificate, students must hold a current AWFA Certificate, attend all class sessions, meet the course skill objectives, and pass the written test with a score of 80% or better.The certificate will be recognized for three years.
The introduction reviews the wilderness triad with the students. In addition, students will receive an overview of the course.
Students will learn the anatomy and physiology of all major body systems, muscle groups, bones, and vessels.
Students will build upon their previous knowledge to complete a complete and thorough history and physical. Students will learn how to complete a detailed neurological, ear, nose and throat, chest and lung, and abdominal assessment.
The airway management section teaches students how to use a variety of airway adjuncts including oral and nasal airways, bag-valve-mask, suction, and oxygen delivery systems. Students will review clearing an airway and will learn when and how to perform a chest needle thoracostomy.
Students will learn how to recognize and treat an variety of traumatic injuries. These include closed head injuries, chest trauma, wounds and bleeding, burn management, and lightning injuries. Students will also learn a great deal about spinal cord injuries and clinically clearing the c-spine.
Medical problems are on of the most common medical problems/emergencies presented to the wilderness first responder. This section details a variety of medical problems and their treatments. These problems include stroke recognition, breathing disorders, cardiac emergencies, acute abdomen, fecal impaction, GI bleeds, food poisoning, urinary tract infections/problems, infectious and inflammatory diseases, fungal infections, wound healing, and mental illnesses.
Students will receive an overview of basic pharmacology to include drug interactions, side effects, allergies, and review of common medications.
Students will receive instruction in basic wilderness survival to include water collection, shelter, and fire building. These skills will be practiced as part of the mock exercise.
The SAR class will expand the basic skills taught in AWFA. Students will practice stokes packaging and evacuation, basic rigging and knots, anchors and belays. Land Navigation and communications are also discussed. All of these skills are practiced as part of the mock exercise.
The final skills practice is an 7-8 hour mock exercise to test all of the outdoor, search, rescue, and medical skills of the students.