Emergency First Aid Participant Guidelines - Outdoor Search and Rescue - Wilderness Medicine
Student Participation Guidelines
Students frequently ask us if it is okay to miss a portion of their course. We recognize that scheduling conflicts are often unavoidable. We ask our students to recognize that in order to maintain high quality certifications we must set high standards for course participation. This means that even students who have very good reasons for missing a portion of a course may not be certified.
General Requirements
To be certified as a wilderness medicine provider, students must master the material presented in both textbooks and lectures. They must also be physically capable of carrying out the duties expected of a wilderness medicine provider. For detailed information on physical and intellectual requirements see our Requirements for Wilderness Medicine Providers.
Attendance Policy
100% attendance is required. Absence at any time places certification at risk. Students who miss the first lecture will not be allowed to participate in the remaining classes. Refunds will be subject to the cancellation policy of the sponsoring organization.
In general, any student missing more than 2 hours of any course will not be eligible for certification in that course. It is up to the instructor whether the student may continue. If the instructor allows the student to continue, the student will be required to make up the missed material.
Pre-course preparation
Students on courses of four days or longer and recertification courses are urged to read their textbooks before the course. Course sponsors may request textbooks in advance and can distribute them to students who have sent in a deposit.
Daily Time Requirements
At least eleven hours a day, not including meals, are spent on the course. Approximately nine hours (not including meals) will be spent in class. Two hours or more will be devoted to homework each evening. It is not possible to be involved in any significant activity outside of the course.
Credit for CPR Certification in WFR
Students with an existing CPR cetrification must still attend the first day of a WFR course. Much more than CPR is covered, and each course may not arrange topics in the same order.
WMA Recertification Course Requirements
Recertification course students must have a current certification card from Wilderness Medical Associates. To maintain current certification, WMA graduates must recertify in an approved course every three years. There is no grace period. If CPR certification is not part of the course, evidence of a current BLS-CPR (including two rescuer CPR) certification must be prsented to the instructor or the Wilderness Medical Associates office before a recertification card will be issued. WEMT recertification students must hold a current State EMT license.
Graduates from other programs may recertify through the 24 hour Open Recertification (Challenge™) course.
Meal Preparation
Sponsors are told that, with the exception of breakfast, students should not be involved in food preparation. Students may be expected to help with clean up of all meals.
Refunds
Wilderness Medical Associates will not issue refunds to students. Check the sponsor's cancellation policy for refund information.