Wilderness First Aid

Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

Partnering with Pacific Wilds & NOLS Wilderness Medicine 

Prepare for the unexpected with this fun, hands-on introduction to wilderness medicine. If you like to take short trips relatively close to medical resources, enjoy weekend family outdoor activities, or recreate outdoors, this 2-day course is for you! Students will learn the Patient Assessment System, how to provide effective first aid treatments for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors, how to manage environmental emergencies, and how to make appropriate evacuation decisions. Students will spend half time the time practicing skills and participating in realistic scenarios. 

NOLS Wilderness Medicine's WFA course is approved by such organizations as the American Camp Association, the United States Coast Guard, as well as other state and federal agencies.

Successful course completion will earn the following NOLS Wilderness Medicine certifications:

  • Wilderness First Aid

  • Epinephrine Auto-injector

Class Format

  • The class format involves lectures integrated with practical scenarios, case studies, and skills practice sessions. Attendance is required at all classes.

  • Scenarios and practice sessions will take place both inside and outside. Stage (moulage) blood and make-up are used to enhance the realism of a scenario.

Curriculum

Our curriculum has been developed and has evolved over decades by medical professionals and experts in outdoor education. Our instructors are expert educators with years of medical and wilderness leadership experience. Please see the WFA Course Outline for an overview and schedule of topics covered during your course. You can read more about our curriculum on the NOLS website as well as viewother curriculum resources here.

Dates: December 16th & 17th, 2023
Time: 8am-5pm both days
Location: Mazamas Mountaineering Center : 527 SE 43rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97215

When completing an application, please fill out both waivers below (blue buttons):

Applications closed.

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