First Responder Courses – Wilderness First Aid – EMT Continuing Education
Select a course below
- Wilderness First Aid
Wilderness First Aid is a two day introduction to general medical concepts and Basic Life Support skills. It’s targeted to the outdoor enthusiast on day trips or short adventures.
Taught by professional instructors with significant patient care and backcountry experience. Course materials include the Outward Bound Wilderness First Aid text written by our curriculum director Jeff Isaac, WMA fold-out field guide, and WMA patient SOAP notes.
- Wilderness Advanced First Aid
Wilderness Advanced First Aid is a comprehensive medical training course designed for outdoor recreationalists or wilderness trip leaders who venture into moderately remote and challenging environments. The content is significantly more detailed than the Wilderness First Aid course, including emphasis on common critical body system problems and environmental topics.
- Bridge (WAFA to WFR)
The WAFA to WFR Bridge course upgrades the WMA Wilderness Advanced First Aid to a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) in 4 days. This course must be taken within three years of receiving the Wilderness Medical Associates' WAFA certificate. The WFR is the definitive medical training course for all outdoor professionals and enthusiasts.
- Wilderness First Responder
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is the ideal medical training for outdoor educators, guides, SAR team members, and others who work or play in remote areas. The curriculum is comprehensive and practical, including the essential principles and skills required to assess and manage medical problems in isolated and extreme environments. This course is offered in several formats.
- Wilderness First Responder 5-Day
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is the definitive course in medical training for outdoor educators, guides, SAR team members, and others who work or play in remote areas. The curriculum is comprehensive and practical, including all of the essential principles and skills required to assess and manage medical problems in isolated and extreme environments. This 5-day format is for individuals and sponsors with less time available for on-site training and requires 25 hours of pre-course preparation.
- Offshore Emergency Medicine
Offshore Emergency Medicine offers relevant and practical training for the largest and most remote wilderness on earth. As with all of our courses, we emphasize the understanding of body systems and principles of care to best prepare the medical officer to improvise and adapt to the infinite variety of challenges that the open sea can present. It is designed for voyaging sailors as well as professional mariners. Classroom instruction is tied to the student’s own experience through the liberal use of case studies, scenarios, and hands-on assessment problems in a marine context. Upon completion, students will earn a Wilderness First Aid certification. Previous medical training is not required.
36 Hours - EMT + W
This is a full DOT Emergency Medical Technician program followed by a WEMT Upgrade course. The training will satisfy eligibility requirements for the National Registry, State and WEMT certification. Training will take place daily, Monday through Friday, for four weeks.
- Wilderness Advanced Life Support™
The Wilderness Advanced Life Support (WALS®) is Wilderness Medical Associates’ most advanced level course. Our 4.5 day (36 hr) course is open to certified or licensed advanced level medical practitioners involved in rescue, mass casualty, and remote outdoor environments or urban areas in crisis. This constantly-evolving course is highlighted by discussions of new and controversial ideas and the appropriate application of technologies; and we test some of these in the field. The learning environment is challenging, stimulating and fun. Category 1 CME credits for physicians and physician assistants, CEUs for paramedics and Contact Hours for nurses are available. This activity is also eligible for credits toward Fellowship in the Wilderness Medical Society’s Academy of Wilderness Medicine.
- Wilderness EMT-I
This is a full DOT Emergency Medical Technician I-85 (EMT-I/85) program followed by a WEMT-I/85 course. The training will satisfy eligibility requirements for the National Registry, State and WEMT-I certification. Training will take place daily, including weekends for two weeks.
- Wilderness EMT Upgrade
The WEMT Upgrade course builds on the EMS professional’s training and expertise to meet the special challenges of unconventional settings. It is designed for EMS personnel working in search and rescue, disaster response, remote job posts, and on wilderness expeditions. The curriculum emphasizes wilderness medical protocols, appropriate technology, prolonged patient care and the leadership role in managing medical emergencies in the field. This 5-day (45 hour) course will upgrade state EMT certification to Wilderness EMT. Current certification at or above the basic level is a prerequisite for admission. 45 hours of CEHs are available from Maine EMS and 45 Advanced Level CEUs from CECBEMS.
- Open Recertification
The Open Recertification course is open to graduates of ALL wilderness medical training courses of 64 hours or longer with a current Wilderness First Responder certification. Successful graduates of this course will receive Wilderness Medical Associates’ Wilderness First Responder, Anaphylaxis, and BLS/Healthcare Provider-level CPR certifications. WMA WEMT graduates with a current EMT-B or Paramedic certificate may also recertify the wilderness portion of their WEMT with this course.
