Wilderness First Aid Course

Wilderness First Aid (WFA) & Adult CPR Course

Accidents happen. People get hurt, sick, or lost. The temperature drops, the wind picks up, and it starts to rain. Would you know what to do? Many backcountry emergencies are preventable, and even when bad things happen, sometimes the wrong care can make things worse. By learning a few basic skills, you can make the difference between a good outcome and a bad one-and maybe even save a life.

(Satisfies the Sierra Club’s Angeles Chapter ‘O’ rated leader requirement!)

This WFA/CPR course is the national standard for anyone seeking employment as an outdoor guide or volunteering as a trip leader, and is the perfect course for ANY OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST who ventures out on trails or rivers, in mountains, deserts, forests, canyons or oceans; front-country or back-country; back-packing or car-camping.  Whether you’re taking a short trip with family and friends or leading an outdoor group, this course teaches the universal skills to provide basic medical attention in a non-urban environment … where a rescue isn’t immediate … or guaranteed.

The WFA is 16 hours long (two days) + 2 hours for the AHA Adult CPR, and focuses on the basic skills of: Response and Assessment, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Environmental Emergencies, Survival Skills, Soft Tissue Injuries, and Medical Emergencies.

• Identify and manage backcountry emergencies   
• Recognize and provide care for life-threatening injuries  
• Evaluate logistics of long-term patient care
• Learn basic backcountry leadership and survival

PATIENT ASSESSMENT SYSTEM:  Introduction to Wilderness Medicine, Medical and Legal Issues, Determining Evacuation Plans, Scene Size-up, Anatomy and Cardiovascular Systems, Infectious Disease Control, Airway Management, SOAP note

TRAUMATIC INJURIES:  Soft Tissue Injuries, Bleeding and Wound Management, Shock, Musculoskeletal and Athletic Injuries, Fracture Management and Splinting, Dislocations, Central Nervous System, Head Injuries, Spinal Cord Injuries

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES:  Stroke, Respiratory and Cardiovascular Issues, Diabetic Emergencies, Poisons and Substance Abuse, Heat Injuries and Emergencies, Hypothermia and Cold Injuries, Drowning, Altitude Sickness, Lightning, Bites and Stings, Anaphylaxis, and CPR

The course is offered over 2 days, totaling 16 hours + CPR Certification.  Each day consists of lecture, hands-on skills training and realistic rescue scenarios.  Day 1 will be entirely in the Uber Adventures classroom in Chatsworth, CA from 9am-6pm; and Day 2 will be primarily on location at Stoney Point Park in Chatsworth, CA from 8am-5:30pm.  Be prepared to spend time outside, regardless of the weather.

Upon successful completion of the course and passing the practical and written exams, participants receive their nationally recognized SOLO Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification and AHA CPR Card, both good for 2 years.