Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
Course overview A 72-hour, field-focused Wilderness First Responder course from the National Wilderness Leadership Institute (NWLI) that prepares outdoor leaders, guides, and remote-care providers to assess and manage medical emergencies when definitive care is delayed. The curriculum emphasizes practical skills, scenario-based decision making, and leadership under stress, blending classroom instruction with extended outdoor simulations. Participants leave with the confidence to stabilize patients, make evacuation decisions, and lead a medical response in austere environments. Learning outcomes • Assess and prioritize injuries and illnesses using structured primary and secondary survey techniques. • Stabilize airway, breathing, circulation, and shock with improvised and standard wilderness techniques. • Manage common wilderness problems including fractures, soft-tissue injuries, environmental illness, and medical emergencies. • Plan and execute safe patient packaging, short- and long-distance evacuations, and multi-patient triage. • Lead a team response, communicate with rescuers and medical services, and document care for handoff. Course modules and format • Foundations of Wilderness Medicine — Scene safety; patient assessment; legal and ethical considerations. • Airway Breathing Circulation — Basic airway maneuvers; oxygen use; hemorrhage control; shock recognition. • Trauma Management — Splinting; wound care; spinal motion restriction; blunt and penetrating trauma. • Medical and Environmental Illness — Cardiac events; respiratory distress; hypothermia; heat illness; altitude sickness. • Evacuation and Improvisation — Litter construction; patient packaging; decision-making for evacuation vs. on-site care. • Leadership and Docum Instruction alternates short lectures, hands-on skills stations, and full-day field scenarios that simulate delayed-evacuation conditions. Skills are practiced until competency is demonstrated. Who should • Who should attend — Guides, trip leaders, search and rescue volunteers, outdoor educators, and remote workers who need advanced first-aid skills for prolonged care. Certification assessment and recertification Certification requires successful completion of written exams, practical skills stations, and participation in field scenarios. Graduates receive a SOLO Wilderness First Responder certificate recognized by outdoor programs and guiding organizations. HOW DO I RE-CERTIFY? You may take either a 2-day WFR Refresher Course or a 2-day WFA course (approved by SOLO WFRs only).
Duration
72 hours
Certification valid
3 years
Available sessions
0 upcoming
Curriculum
What You'll Learn
Prerequisites
• Prerequisites — basic first-aid familiarity recommended.