WAFA to WFR Bridge
Overview
Upgrade a Wilderness Advanced First Aid certification to a full Wilderness First Responder Certification, without having to take a full WFR course
The WAFA to WFR Bridge course upgrades the Wilderness Advanced First Aid to a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) in 36 hours over four days. This course must be taken within three years of receiving a WAFA certification from WMAI or an equivalent from another provider whose original WFR training was at least 64 hours in length.
Individuals who have received a Wilderness EMS Upgrade certification from WMAI may also use this course to recertify the wilderness portion of their certification. If learners wish to use the course to recertify a WEMS Upgrade certification from WMAI, it is the learner’s responsibility to let the course host know when registering, and to inform the instructor on the first day of class.
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.
Description
Course Content
The Bridge 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.
- Patient assessment and emergency care including CPR, basic life support (BLS), 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.
- Wilderness Protocols including wound cleaning and exploration, spine injury assessment, dislocation reduction, CPR in the remote setting, and anaphylaxis and asthma.
Host A Course. Or Enroll in a Course.
There are two ways to engage with Viristar’s wilderness medicine trainings. Host a course in your location, or enroll as an individual in a currently scheduled class.
Host A Course
Viristar offers its wilderness medicine trainings in collaboration with a local course host, or course sponsor. The course host arranges for classroom and practical space, recruits and registers participants, acquires a minimal amount of teaching gear, and handles customer service and logistics duties. The host collects tuition, and sets the course fee. Viristar provides the instruction, textbooks, and certification, and invoices the course host.
To learn more about hosting a course, contact us.
Host A courseEnroll in a Course
Individuals seeking training can register for a currently scheduled open-enrollment (public) course.
To enroll in a wilderness medicine training, use our Course Finder to see what trainings are currently scheduled and available.
find a CourseCertifications
Upon successful completion, learners will receive a Wilderness First Responder certification and certification of CPR (based on ILCOR/AHA standards) at the BLS CPR for healthcare professionals level.
The course is registered for 70 hours of continuing education credit through the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE).
Local EMS authorities may permit this certification to be used to challenge the US DOT First Responder exam.
Certifications are valid for three years.
Information for Learners
Evaluation
Successful completion with certification is based on 100 percent attendance, satisfactory performance on homework assignments and written quizzes, demonstrated proficiency with practical skills and a successful grade on a final written exam. Viristar is committed to making reasonable accommodation to any learner with special needs.
Recertification
Within three years, graduates may recertify by retaking the Bridge (WAFA to WFR) course, or completing the Open Recertification course.
Contact us more information about recertification options.
Prerequisites
Current Wilderness Advanced First Aid certification within three years of the Bridge course. If using this course to recertify, learners must have proof of a valid WFR or WEMS certification from WMAI or a valid WFR certification from another organization, whose original training was at least 64 hours in length. Proof of certification is required.
In order to enroll in this course, the learner must meet at least one of the following three criteria:
- Hold a current WAFA certification, from a course with at least 36 hours of instruction.
- Hold a current WFR certification, from a course with at least 70 hours of instruction, of which 45 must be in-person. (In this case the Bridge course acts as a WFR recertification.)
- Hold a current Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) certification. (In this case, successful Bridge course learners receive a WFR certification.)
Learners will have access to the pre-course assignments two to four weeks prior to course. Learners should complete the study guide in preparation for the course. The guide was designed to familiarize learners with the essential points in the curriculum. Instructors will collect it at the beginning of the course, but it will not be figured in to the final grade.
Learners must be at least sixteen years old to participate in this course. Those under eighteen years of age will require the written consent of a guardian or parent.
Continuing Education Hours
- First Responder: 36
- EMT: 36
- Advanced EMT or Paramedic: 36
- Approved by Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE)
Information for Course Hosts
Materials Provided
All teaching materials will be provided by Viristar at no additional cost. Participants will receive the following books on this course:
- Wilderness and Rescue Medicine: A Practical Guide for the Basic and Advanced Practitioner
- The Field Guide of Wilderness and Rescue Medicine
- Wilderness Medicine Workbook
- Wilderness First Responder Class Notes
- SOAP Notebook
Equipment
We ask our course hosts to provide basic outdoor equipment and any specific gear relevant to their personnel when in remote and austere environments. Viristar will supply a specific equipment list to cover simulation and classroom needs.
Customization
As part of Viristar’s commitment to your medical rescue training, our instructors and management will inquire about your group’s needs and teach according to your group’s backgrounds, environments, and experience. Simulations and hands-on activities will be realistic and relevant. Relevant adult education is incorporated directly into our curriculum to maximize learning of medical theory and development of practical skills.
Recognition
Recognized by the American Camp Association
This course is recognized by the American Camp Association (ACA) to meet specific ACA standards requiring certifications.
