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Wilderness First Aid

Duration

16 hours

Age

16+ yrs

Tuition

$200 to $510

See Dates

Prepare for the unexpected with this engaging, hands-on introduction to wilderness medicine, taught over two or two and a half days. If you like to take short trips relatively close to medical resources, work at wilderness camps, enjoy weekend family outdoor activities, or recreate outdoors, this course is for you.

This course is great for people of all experience levels, and is best suited for those who recreate outdoors where EMS response can be expected in a timely manner (fewer than eight hours). You'll learn the Patient Assessment System, how to provide effective first aid treatments for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors, and how to make appropriate evacuation decisions.

You'll learn both in the classroom and in outdoor settings regardless of weather, so come prepared for wet, muddy, cold or hot environments!

Course Policies
Please review our policies including cancellation policies, attendance requirements, minimum age requirements, and more. 

Links/Downloads

WFA Course Outline

COVID-19 Disclosure

COVID-19 Video

WFA Couse Overview

Additional Details

Academic Credit (Learn more)
This course is approved for 1 college credit through the University of Utah and 0.5 college credit through Western Colorado University.
 

Course Approval
This course meets the American Camp Association 2012 Standards and the Boy Scouts of America Wilderness First Aid training requirements. Additionally, the Wilderness First Aid course (WILDMI-554), and when included the CPR/AED course (WILDMI-134), are approved by the United States Coast Guard to meet the first aid and CPR training requirements of 46 CFR 11.201(i)(1)(ii) and 46 CFR 11.201(i)(2)(iiI) for a merchant mariner credential.

Course Dates

63 courses

Dates

Geolocation

Färgelanda, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Sep 28, 2020 –
Sep 30, 2020

TBA

Enroll Now

Roswell, GA
REI Outdoor School

Oct 3, 2020 –
Oct 4, 2020

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Boise, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Oct 3, 2020 –
Oct 4, 2020

$250

Enroll Now

Stöllet, Klarälvdalen Folkhögskola, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 6, 2020 –
Oct 9, 2020

TBA

Enroll Now

Ames, IA
Iowa State University

Oct 10, 2020 –
Oct 11, 2020

$220 to $250

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Oct 17, 2020 –
Oct 18, 2020

$250

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Portland, OR
REI Outdoor School

Oct 17, 2020 –
Oct 18, 2020

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Kandersteg, Switzerland
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 23, 2020 –
Oct 25, 2020

$500

Enroll Now

Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah

Oct 24, 2020 –
Oct 25, 2020

$280

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Parkton, MD
REI Outdoor School

Oct 24, 2020 –
Oct 25, 2020

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Syöte, Finland
Crossing Latitudes

Oct 30, 2020 –
Nov 1, 2020

$440

Enroll Now

Nelson/Richmond, New Zealand
NOLS New Zealand

Oct 30, 2020 –
Nov 1, 2020

$275

Enroll Now

Roanoke, VA
Roanoke Parks And Recreation

Oct 31, 2020 –
Nov 1, 2020

TBA

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
REI Outdoor School

Nov 7, 2020 –
Nov 8, 2020

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Banner Elk, NC
Lees McRae College

Nov 7, 2020 –
Nov 8, 2020

$200 to $275

Enroll Now

Värmdö, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Nov 13, 2020 –
Nov 15, 2020

TBA

Enroll Now

Triangle, VA
REI Outdoor School

Nov 14, 2020 –
Nov 15, 2020

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Cullowhee, NC
Landmark Learning

Nov 14, 2020 –
Nov 15, 2020

$250 to $280

Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Outdoor School

Nov 14, 2020 –
Nov 15, 2020

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Johnson, VT
Northern Vermont University

Nov 14, 2020 –
Nov 15, 2020

$245

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Lindholmen, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Nov 20, 2020 –
Nov 22, 2020

TBA

Enroll Now

Parkton, MD
REI Outdoor School

Nov 21, 2020 –
Nov 22, 2020

$245 to $275

2 spaces Enroll Now

Portland, OR
REI Outdoor School

Dec 5, 2020 –
Dec 6, 2020

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Dec 5, 2020 –
Dec 6, 2020

$245

4 spaces Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Dec 5, 2020 –
Dec 6, 2020

$245

Enroll Now

Vernon Hills, IL
REI Outdoor School

Dec 12, 2020 –
Dec 13, 2020

$245 to $275

Enroll Now

Phoenix, AZ
REI Outdoor School

Dec 12, 2020 –
Dec 13, 2020

$245 to $275

Full, Waitlist Available Enroll Now

Terlingua , TX
Far Flung Outdoor Center

Jan 11, 2021 –
Jan 12, 2021

$259

Enroll Now

RealGymnasiet, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Jan 13, 2021 –
Jan 15, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

RealGymnasiet, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Jan 20, 2021 –
Jan 22, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Anchorage, AK
Alaska Avalanche School

Jan 23, 2021 –
Jan 24, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

RealGymnasiet, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Jan 27, 2021 –
Jan 29, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Rapid City, SD
Black Hills State University Outdoor Program

Feb 13, 2021 –
Feb 15, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

RealGymnasiet, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Feb 15, 2021 –
Feb 17, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Ashville, NC
Landmark Learning

Feb 27, 2021 –
Feb 28, 2021

$240

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Mar 6, 2021 –
Mar 7, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Arcata, CA
Humboldt State University

Mar 6, 2021 –
Mar 7, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Airway Heights, WA
Spokane County Fire District 10

Mar 20, 2021 –
Mar 21, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Värmdö, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Mar 26, 2021 –
Mar 28, 2021

$510

Enroll Now

Sausalito, CA
Ready SF

Apr 3, 2021 –
Apr 4, 2021

$245

Enroll Now

Phillipsburg, PA
Brett Simpson

Apr 10, 2021 –
Apr 11, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Denver, CO
Regis University

Apr 10, 2021 –
Apr 11, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Fort Collins, CO
CSU Outdoor Program

Apr 10, 2021 –
Apr 11, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Golden, CO
Bondi Outdoor Leadership

Apr 15, 2021 –
Apr 16, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Friluftsfrämjandet Veberöd, Sweden
Crossing Latitudes

Apr 16, 2021 –
Apr 18, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Moscow, TN
Pinecrest Camp

Apr 24, 2021 –
Apr 25, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Flåm, Norway
Crossing Latitudes

Apr 30, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

$245

Enroll Now

Portland, OR
Post 58

May 1, 2021 –
May 2, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Bozeman, MT
Crossing Latitudes

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$270

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Berkeley, CA
Cal Adventures

May 15, 2021 –
May 16, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Dubois, WY
SOAR

May 20, 2021 –
May 21, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Granby, CO
Camp Chief Ouray

May 25, 2021 –
May 26, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah

May 29, 2021 –
May 30, 2021

$280

Enroll Now

Golden, CO
Bondi Outdoor Leadership

Jun 3, 2021 –
Jun 4, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Bend, OR
Bend Park & Recreation District

Jun 5, 2021 –
Jun 6, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Jun 12, 2021 –
Jun 13, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Austin, TX
University of Texas at Austin

Jun 23, 2021 –
Jun 25, 2021

$325

Enroll Now

Kamas, UT
Idaho Rescue Training

Jun 26, 2021 –
Jun 27, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Boise, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Aug 14, 2021 –
Aug 15, 2021

$250

Enroll Now

Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff Field Institute

Sep 25, 2021 –
Sep 26, 2021

$245

Enroll Now

Hailey, ID
Idaho Rescue Training

Dec 4, 2021 –
Dec 5, 2021

TBA

Enroll Now

Topics Covered

  • Patient Assessment System
  • Evacuation Plans and Emergency Procedures
  • CPR (on some courses)
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Shock
  • Head Injuries
  • Wilderness Wound Management
  • Athletic Injuries
  • Fracture Management
  • Dislocations
  • Cold Injuries
  • Heat Illness
  • Altitude Illness
  • Lightning
  • The Medical Patient
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Wilderness First Aid Kits
Curriculum details

Financial aid & Scholarships

NOLS supports a variety of outside financial aid options:

  • AmeriCorps
  • 529 College Savings Plans
  • Veteran's Benefits (In Wyoming only)

If you are fluent in American Sign Language or Signed Exact English, you may be eligible to receive a full scholarship to your wilderness medicine course. 

 

"The staff was excellent, very knowledgeable, professional, and personable...with good communication skills. Handled and answered our questions well. The course gave real life examples of how to handle injuries in the wilderness."

Keep Your Certification Current

To keep up on your WFA certification, retake the course after two years.

 

Recertifying Other Certifications

The WFA may also be used to recertify your Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Wilderness First Responder and the wilderness portion of your Wilderness EMT certification. If you're using the WFA to recertify, you'll need to pass both a written and a practical examination.