Wilderness Advanced First Aid
Overview
Wilderness medicine training designed for professionals working in significantly remote settings for days or weeks.
Wilderness Advanced First Aid is comprehensive medical training designed for remote professionals or wilderness leaders who venture into remote and challenging environments. The course is an abridged, entry-level version of Viristar’s Wilderness First Responder training.
Wilderness medicine differs significantly from standard first aid courses and other training that are oriented toward urban environments. This course teaches how to manage medical emergencies when hospitals and rescue services may not be available for an extensive time period. We prepare learners for emergency situations that involve prolonged patient care, severe environments, and improvised equipment.
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 Wilderness Advanced 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. This is the most current and cutting edge course of any first response medical training (urban or remote) in the world.
- 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.
- Environmental Medicine including hypothermia and heat illness, lightning, submersion, and environmental toxins.
- 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, bandaging, litter packaging and medical kit preparation.
- Wilderness Protocols including wound cleaning and exploration, spine injury assessment, CPR in the remote setting, and anaphylaxis.
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
This course is scheduled for four days, or 36 to 40 hours of instructional and practice time. Upon successful course completion, learners will receive certification in Wilderness Advanced First Aid and Adult CPR (based on ILCOR/AHA standards).
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
To recertify a current WAFA certification, retake the WAFA course or upgrade to a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) by taking a Bridge (WAFA to WFR) course.
WAFA recertification may also be available (on a case-by-case basis) through attending a Wilderness First Responder Recertification course.
Contact us more information about recertification options.
Prerequisites
Learners must be at least 16 years old to participate in this course. Those under 18 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 at no additional cost. Learners will receive the following books on this course:
- The Field Guide of Wilderness Medicine & Rescue
- SOAP Notebook
- Wilderness and Rescue Medicine textbook
- Wilderness Advanced First Aid Class Notes
Equipment
We ask our course hosts to provide low level outdoor equipment and any specific gear relevant to their employees 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.
