Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Course + Refresher
This is a 6-day course for wilderness professionals, guides, group leaders and others including recreational skiers and climbers who want a higher level of training or require WFR certification.
Overview
This is a 7-day course for wilderness professionals, guides, group leaders, and others, including recreational skiers and climbers who want a higher level of training or require WFR certification. More advanced anatomy, physiology, and first aid skills will be taught in the classroom and practiced hands-on in the wilderness environment. Some of the skills and training include how to assess an injured person, improvised bandaging of a wound, splinting a fracture, including traction splints, dealing with head, neck, and back injuries, including immobilization, recognizing altitude sickness, and developing a plan to rescue an injured person.
In addition to learning skills, students are faced with real-life scenarios that require decision-making practice. CPR is included in this course. After successful completion, students are certified for 2 years by the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI), a nationally recognized organization.
Refresher Course: September 26-28, 2026
Skills covered:
- Patient assessment
- Recognizing and treating shock
- Bandaging and bleeding control
- Splinting fractures, sprains, and dislocations
- Assessing head and spinal injuries
- Treating hypothermia
- Recognizing altitude sickness
- Identifying various medical problems
- Using non-standard and improvised equipment
- Evacuation techniques
- CPR
Student Notes
- Students are encouraged to bring their own first aid kit to the class if they have one. See the list of recommended items for a wilderness first aid kit
- American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) WFA Certification card is good for 2 years
- Course includes American Heart Association CPR card good for 2 years