Wilderness First Aid

Abbotsford, BC

604-477-4663

Wilderness First Aid

The Wilderness First Aid Course is designed to prepare you to deal with someone for more than 24 hours. We teach a minimum of 75% of the course outside to create a realistic learning environment. This course has Standard First Aid and CPR C with AED built into the course. Similar to the 20 hour RFA course, we add basic shelter construction as an add on that is not part of the certificate.

This course is available in one of two ways:

  1. Four Consecutive Days – 40 hours (typically Friday – Monday)
  2. Two Weekends (Weekend 1: 20 hour RFA + Weekend 2: 20 hour WFA Bridging Upgrade)

Both options will ultimately provide you with a FULL 40 hour Wilderness First Aid Certificate, including CPR C and AED. If you are interested in taking the full course over two weekends, please contact our office for registration at (604)477-4663 to ensure you receive the full course discount!  

Please note: If you are not taking this course over four consecutive days, the 20 hour Remote First Aid is a prerequisite to take the Remote to Wilderness First Aid Bridging Course, which you will have ONE YEAR from the first 20 hour RFA course to upgrade to your final 20 hour Wilderness First Aid. We do recommend taking the two weekends within a maximum of three months for retention purposes, as the 20 hour RFA content will not be reviewed during the 20 hour WFA upgrade.

Details:

Course Length: 
4 full days (40 hours)
2 weekends (40 hours)

Cost:
$499.95 – $559.95 + tax  (Full 4 days (40 hours))
$299.95 – $359.95 + tax (Upgrade/Recert 20 hours)

*Prices vary by location. Recertification’s can only be obtained by successfully completing a specific recertification course which is a separate offering from the public RFA + WFA courses. Please check our calendar for upcoming recertification courses or email our office for more details.

Pre-requisite(s): Participants must be at least 16 years of age and in good health and physical
condition.

Completion Criteria:
• Ability to comprehend and successfully demonstrate the skills
• Ability to complete a written, closed book knowledge evaluation with a minimum mark of 75%
• Participants must attend and participate in 100% of the course

Click Here for Course Content

FULL WFA (40 HOUR) COURSE CONTENT:

*scroll down to view RFA to WFA Bridge course content.

Preparation and Planning

  • Trip plans and their importance
  • Group dynamics

Your Health

  • Legalities of First Aid?
  • Lowering the risk of infection?

Priority Level based on Accessibility and Need (P.L.A.N.)

  • Learn how to formulate your evacuation and prioritize your action plan

Airway Emergencies

  • Choking-Mild and Severe, Unconscious Adult
  • Choking-conscious and unconscious Child

Breathing and Circulation Emergencies

  • Respiratory Distress
  • Asthma
  • Allergic Reactions
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Smoke Inhalation
  • Stroke
  • Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

First Aid for Respiratory and Cardiac Arrest

  • Learn about Angina and Heart Attacks
  • CPR and AED (Automatic External Defibrillator)

Wound Care

  • External Bleeding (Deadly Bleeds)
  • Tourniquets
  • Internal bleeding
  • Flail Chest
  • General wounds (Lacerations, Scrapes, Punctures and Skin Flap)

Bone, Muscle, and Joint Injuries

  • Splints and Slings

Head and Spine Injuries

  • Spinal Precautions
  • Spinal Rolls
  • Head alignment

Environmental Situations

  • Hyperthermia
  • Hypothermia

Poisons/Wildlife

  • Stings, bites and anything else that would harm you in the woods

Evacuation and Transportation

  • Considerations
  • Tarp carries

Extended Care

  • Psychological care for the First Aider
Building and becoming more confident in First Aid Skills 
 
 
Head, Neck and Spinal Injuries
  • Discontinue Spinal Precautions
  • Helmet Removal
Evacuation
  • Stretcher Building
  • Moving Patients
Triage
  • Multiple-casualty incidents
Wound Care
  • Removing an Impaled Object
  • Abscess Draining
  • Avulsion
Bone, Muscle and Joint Injuries
  • Dislocation Reduction
  • Realigning  Fractures
Extended Care
  • Pneumonia
Extremes in Atmospheric Pressure-Related Illnesses:
  • High-Altitude Illnesses
  • Acute Mountain Sickness
  • High-Altitude Cerebral Edema
  • High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema
  • Decompression Sickness
 
**RFA TO WFA BRIDGE ONLY (20 HOURS) COURSE CONTENT:
 
 
Building and becoming more confident in First Aid Skills 
 
 
Head, Neck and Spinal Injuries
  • Discontinue Spinal Precautions
  • Helmet Removal
Evacuation
  • Stretcher Building
  • Moving Patients
Triage
  • Multiple-casualty incidents
Wound Care
  • Removing an Impaled Object
  • Abscess Draining
  • Avulsion
Bone, Muscle and Joint Injuries
  • Dislocation Reduction
  • Realigning  Fractures
Extended Care
  • Pneumonia
Extremes in Atmospheric Pressure-Related Illnesses:
  • High-Altitude Illnesses
  • Acute Mountain Sickness
  • High-Altitude Cerebral Edelman
  • High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema
  • Decompression Sickness

upcoming courses

march

FREE First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies - ONLINESelf-Paced Canadian Red Cross Virtual Course

april

FREE First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies - ONLINESelf-Paced Canadian Red Cross Virtual Course

18aprAll Day22Wilderness First Aid - Abbotsford40 HOURS - no first aid prerequisites required

20apr(apr 20)10:13 pm22(apr 22)10:13 pmRemote to Wilderness First Aid Bridge - Abbotsford20 Hours - see prerequisites in course description.

23aprAll Day27Wilderness First Aid - Revelstoke40 HOURS - no first aid prerequisites required

28aprAll Day30Remote to Wilderness Bridging Course - Edmonton20 Hours - see prerequisites in course description.

may

FREE First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies - ONLINESelf-Paced Canadian Red Cross Virtual Course

05mayAll Day07Remote to Wilderness Bridging Course - Nanaimo20 Hours - see prerequisites in course description.

22mayAll Day26Wilderness First Aid - Kelowna40 HOURS - no first aid prerequisites required

24mayAll Day26Remote to Wilderness First Aid Bridging Course - Kelowna20 Hours - see prerequisites in course description.

june

FREE First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies - ONLINESelf-Paced Canadian Red Cross Virtual Course

16junAll Day18Remote to Wilderness Bridging Course - Victoria20 Hours - see prerequisites in course description.

26junAll Day30Wilderness First Aid - Squamish20 HOURS - no first aid prerequisites required

28junAll Day30Remote to Wilderness Bridging Course - Squamish20 Hours - see prerequisites in course description.

july

FREE First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies - ONLINESelf-Paced Canadian Red Cross Virtual Course

08julAll Day12Wilderness First Aid - Calgary40 HOURS - no first aid prerequisites required

31julAll Day04augWilderness First Aid - Revelstoke40 HOURS - no first aid prerequisites required

august

FREE First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies - ONLINESelf-Paced Canadian Red Cross Virtual Course

31julAll Day04augWilderness First Aid - Revelstoke40 HOURS - no first aid prerequisites required

02augAll Day04Remote to Wilderness First Aid Bridging Course - Revelstoke20 Hours - see prerequisites in course description.

september

FREE First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies - ONLINESelf-Paced Canadian Red Cross Virtual Course

october

FREE First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies - ONLINESelf-Paced Canadian Red Cross Virtual Course

12octAll Day16Wilderness First Aid - Revelstoke40 HOURS - no first aid prerequisites required

november

FREE First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies - ONLINESelf-Paced Canadian Red Cross Virtual Course

december

FREE First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies - ONLINESelf-Paced Canadian Red Cross Virtual Course

january

FREE First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies - ONLINESelf-Paced Canadian Red Cross Virtual Course

february

FREE First Aid for Opioid Poisoning Emergencies - ONLINESelf-Paced Canadian Red Cross Virtual Course

FAQ'S - CLICK HERE

First Aid Courses

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What levels of First Aid do you offer?

We offer the following courses publicly:

  • Remote First Aid 
  • Wilderness First Aid
  • Wilderness First Responder
  • Wilderness First Aid Instructor 
  • OFA 1 Equivalency (SFA Certification)

We also offer recertification courses for all of the above.

In addition, we offer the following for private courses:

  • Standard First Aid
  • Emergency First Aid
  • Transportation Endorsement
  • Marine First Aid
  • OFA 1 Equivalency

 

Do you offer Occupational First Aid level 1?

We offer Standard and Emergency First Aid training. These certifications are equivalent and recognized by WorkSafeBC, as Occupational Level 1. These certifications can be added onto any of our Wilderness Courses for an additional fee.

 

I want to take the 40 hour course, but I can only attend on weekends, what are my options?

If you are looking to obtain a 40 hour WFA Certificate, you can opt to take TWO weekend courses. 

  • Weekend 1: Remote First Aid (20 hours)
  • Weekend 2: Remote to Wilderness First Aid Bridge (20 hours)

If you would like to take advantage of our package pricing, and save yourself $100, contact our office and we can give you this discount for pre-purchasing the two weekends at once! 

 

What kind of first aid do I need to lead overnight trips?

We recommend holding a minimum of a 40 hour Wilderness First Aid Certification, when planning to take people out in the wilderness on an overnight journey.

Contact Us

Ready to register, but have a question? Call us!

604-477-4663