Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

Course by the Canadian Red Cross

Course Description: Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course participants will acquire advanced first aid and CPR skills necessary to effectively respond to medical emergencies in remote environments or wilderness settings. Going beyond the essentials taught in our Wilderness First Aid Course, our WFR course will teach you how to provide urgent evacuation and extended care for a period of five or more days until organized healthcare becomes accessible. This course fosters the development of advanced leadership and rescue decision-making skills, proficiency in extrication from isolated and extreme environments, and the utilization of professional tools and resources to manage medical problems in wilderness settings.

Intended Audience: This course is tailored for rescuers specializing in decision-making, evacuation, and transportation within remote or wilderness settings. It is suitable for those who work in positions where knowledge of wilderness medicine is required such as, remote emergency services, remote worksites, ski patrol, search and rescue, etc.

Course Prerequisites: To participate in our Wilderness First Response medical training course, individuals must be at least 16 years old and in strong physical condition. Please note that a significant portion of the course takes place in an outdoor setting, requiring higher levels of physical activity and endurance compared to standard first aid training.

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Course Overview

Course Content

• The Wilderness First Responder
• Planning and responding to the call
• Infection prevention and control
• Anatomy and physiology
• Scene assessment
• Primary, secondary, and ongoing assessments
• Airway management and respiratory emergencies
• Circulatory emergencies
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Shock
• Hemorrhage and soft tissue trauma
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Chest, abdominal, and pelvic injuries
• Head and spine injury assessment
• Acute and chronic illnesses
• Poisoning
• Wildlife and environmental illnesses
• Pregnancy, labour, and delivery
• Special populations
• Mental and emotional health and wellness
• Reaching, lifting, and extricating patients
• Extended care
• Transportation and arranging transfer
• Multiple-casualty incidents
• Pharmacology
• Occupational health and safety and workplace considerations

Completion Criteria

• Ability to comprehend and successfully demonstrate the skills
• Ability to complete a written, closed book knowledge evaluation with a minimum mark of 75%
• Must meet additional legislative requirements, if applicable
• Participants must attend and participate in 100% of the course

Course Duration

80 hours (2 weeks) (25% - 50% of course is taught in a non-urban setting by our outdoor educators)

Certification

3-year certification in Wilderness and Remote First Aid and 1-year certification in Basic Life Support.

Course Materials

Included in the course:

• Wilderness & Remote Field Guide
• Basic Life Support Field Guide
• Canadian Red Cross First Aid App (download)
• Trip Plan
• Canadian Red Cross Emergency Care for Professional Responders Reference Text (eBook)

(Hard copy can be purchased, but it is not included in the course)

It is advised that you read the textbook in its entirety prior to the start of the course.

*Camping gear and food for the weekend is not provided. Students must bring their own.

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Our Wilderness First Responder (WFR) courses are offered at multiple locations, including Ottawa, Kingston, Pembroke, Arnprior, Kemptville, and Smith Falls. Our instructors provide realistic, hands-on training, equipping you with the practical skills and critical thinking necessary to perform emergency treatment in a wilderness or remote setting.

If you have any questions about our course availability or require more information about wilderness first responder curriculum, please don't hesitate to reach out. Our comprehensive offerings span a wide range of courses, including our standard First Aid Course, our Wilderness First Aid Course, our Remote First Aid Training Course, and more. Our commitment is to deliver quality education and products, catering to both medical professionals and individuals looking to undergo medical rescue training.