Wilderness First Responder Courses
The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is the ideal medical training for outdoor educators, wilderness guides, members of the military, professional search and rescue teams, wildland firefighters, researchers, and those involved in disaster relief. The course provides essential training in wilderness medicine, leadership, and critical thinking for professionals and leaders working and traveling in outdoor, low-resource, austere and other remote environments.
Wilderness First Responder Courses (WFR)
7-10 Day Courses Offered | 5 day Hybrid Options Available | Private Group Courses Available
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The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is the ideal medical training for outdoor educators, wilderness guides, members of the military, professional search and rescue teams, wildland firefighters, researchers, and those involved in disaster relief. The course provides essential training in wilderness medicine, leadership, and critical thinking for professionals and leaders working and traveling in outdoor, low-resource, and remote environments. The WFR curriculum is both comprehensive and practical and involves a minimum of 70 hours of instruction when taught in the United States (hours vary slightly in other countries). During the course, students learn the essential principles and skills required to assess and manage medical problems in isolated and extreme environments for days and weeks if necessary. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive a Wilderness First Responder certification and certification of CPR taught to an equivalent health care provider level.
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The Wilderness First Responder curriculum is written in-house 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. This is the most current and cutting-edge course of any first response medical training (urban or remote) in the world.
The general principles of wilderness and rescue medicine with an emphasis on the prevention and identification of medical emergencies, appropriate technology, and risk management.
Patient assessment and emergency care including CPR, basic life support, and the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis and asthma.
Environmental medicine including altitude illness, hypothermia and heat illness, frostbite and cold injury, lightning, submersion, and environmental toxins.
Backcountry medicine including the assessment and treatment of common medical problems.
Musculoskeletal problems including unstable and stable injuries, overuse syndromes, and dislocations.
Wound management including open fractures, lacerations, burns and blisters.
Practical skills including splinting, bandaging, litter packaging and medical kit preparation.
WMA wilderness protocols including wound cleaning and exploration, spine injury assessment, dislocation reduction, CPR in the remote setting, and anaphylaxis and asthma.
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Upon successful completion, students will receive a Wilderness First Responder certification and certification of CPR taught to an equivalent health care provider level. Certifications are valid for three years. The course is registered for 70 hours of continuing education credit through the CAPCE.
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$895 / person
Students must be at least 16 years old to participate in this course. Those under 18 years of age require the written consent of a parent or guardian.
Register for a Wilderness First Responder Course
HYBRID - Wilderness First Responder
The hybrid wilderness first responder is suited for those new to wilderness medicine as well as those with some previous medical experience. The online learning modules are designed with multiple learning preferences in mind. Interactive videos, readings, self-practice assignments, quizzes, and case studies prepare students to apply the curriculum during in-person drills and scenarios.
February 15-19 2024
Hybrid
Riverton, WY
$895 per person
Custom Dates, 2024
Hybrid | Full Inperson
Your Location
$895 per person
Recertification: Wilderness First Responder Courses (WFR-Recert)
3 Day Courses Offered | 2 day Hybrid Available | Private Group Courses Available
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This WFR Recertification course is designed to recertify and refresh current Wilderness First Responders. WMA International invites eligible WFR graduates from other wilderness medical schools to recertify with us. Students will review essential skills and wilderness protocols and will discuss relevant updates in wilderness medicine. The course focuses heavily on hands-on learning through patient assessment drills and guided discussion. To earn certification, students must meet the criteria set forth in our Functional Position Description as well as the minimum performance and testing standards by the last day of course.
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Hybrid Course Requirements
(when available)
This is a hybrid course, with online review to be completed before the in-person course start date.
Technology Requirements
• High speed Internet Access
• A computer with:
• a PDF Reader
• Anti-Virus Software
• Internet Browser (latest version of Chrome, Firefox, or Edge). Note- the system is NOT compatible with Safari.
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The Wilderness First Responder curriculum is written in-house 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. This is the most current and cutting-edge course of any first response medical training (urban or remote) in the world.
The general principles of wilderness and rescue medicine with an emphasis on the prevention and identification of medical emergencies, appropriate technology, and risk management.
Patient assessment and emergency care including CPR, basic life support, and the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis and asthma.
Environmental medicine including altitude illness, hypothermia and heat illness, frostbite and cold injury, lightning, submersion, and environmental toxins.
Backcountry medicine including the assessment and treatment of common medical problems.
Musculoskeletal problems including unstable and stable injuries, overuse syndromes, and dislocations.
Wound management including open fractures, lacerations, burns and blisters.
Practical skills including splinting, bandaging, litter packaging and medical kit preparation.
WMA wilderness protocols including wound cleaning and exploration, spine injury assessment, dislocation reduction, CPR in the remote setting, and anaphylaxis and asthma.
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Upon successful completion, students will receive a Wilderness First Responder certification as well as a CPR certification equivalent to the American Heart Association's BLS CPR standard. These certifications remain valid for three years. Note: WMA WEMS graduates with a current EMS license may also recertify the wilderness portion of their WEMS certification with this course.
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$325 / person
Students must be at least 16 years old to participate in this course. Those under 18 years of age require the written consent of a parent or guardian.
Wilderness First Responder - RECERTIFICATION
This WFR Recert is designed to recertify and refresh current Wilderness First Responders. WMA International invites eligible WFR graduates from other wilderness medical schools to recertify with us. OEC holders can also rectify with us and receive a WFR certification
Register for a Wilderness First Responder Course - RECERT
Custom Dates, 2024
Your location
$325 per person
Soap Notes
Hybrid or In-Person WFR?
Wounded Bear Medicine teaches both a fully in person and a hybrid online/in person Wilderness First Responder. We often get questions about which one to take. Both courses cover the same material in the same amount of total time and we find that each student needs to determine which course type and schedule works best for them.