Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is the standard level of medical training for professional outdoor recreation industry field staff that work multi-day, overnight trips in remote environments, military, technical rescue personnel, and those working in disaster relief. Our comprehensive, contextual and practical curriculum has gained popularity among outdoor enthusiasts, endurance athletes, and adventure travelers who push their boundaries in remote areas with limited resources, unreliable communication, and the potential for delayed or self rescue. 

Course participants will develop strong patient assessment skills, adopt treatment tools to stabilize life-threatening conditions, and learn how to provide extended patient care in austere environments. Most importantly, this training will prepare individuals to prevent many environmental illnesses and proactively manage pre-existing conditions in the field. Individuals will also develop the confidence to professionally call in a rescue in the event of a backcountry emergency and manage the evacuation of a medical or trauma patient.

Our 80-hour course curriculum is robust and comprehensive encompassing all Core topics and several Elective topics set forth by the Wilderness Medicine Education Collaborative‘s (WMEC) Scope of Practice (SOP) document for the Wilderness First Responder.  We offer our Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course in two different formats; Standard 8-Day and Hybrid 5-Day courses. Our Hybrid WFR format meets the WMEC’s minimum requirement of 45 hours delivered in person and devoted to hands-on, practical skills and simulations. The learning outcomes of both WFR curriculum delivery methods are the same.

HYBRID WFR

 

DMM’s hybrid wilderness first responder (WFR) course format consists of a 30 hour self-paced, online instructional component, followed by a 50-hour in-person, practical component which takes place over five consecutive days.

The online section is hosted on CANVAS®, a cloud-based classroom and powerful learning management system that allows individual students to work at a their own pace. An instructor team assigned to each course supports participants with navigation of the online material and facilitates interactive elements and skill-based learning. The online material consists of reading assignments, case studies, videos, photos, animations, quizzes, and discussions, culminating in a comprehensive midterm exam. The online section is available to course participants approximately 1 month before the practical section is to begin.

The hybrid format works best for self-motivated individuals with good time management skills that have access to a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop and high-speed internet. This instructional format provides the opportunity for course participants to learn at their own speed, in their own space, at their own schedule.

Participants then apply knowledge and skills learned from their online WFR training to the 50 hour in-person section, which takes place mainly outdoors . This practical section consists of drills, skill stations, scenarios, and discussions with the same instructor team that supports the online section.

Important Information Regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic:

Registration for the Hybrid WFR course includes both the online and practical section. In the event that an individual is unable to meet in-person, or a practical section is canceled, course participants have the flexibility to transfer to another 5-day practical section as long as it is within 1-year of completing the online component. In addition to our COVID-19 Safety Guidelines we will deliver our course curriculum 100% outdoors (weather permitting) when we meet in-person.

Hours: 80

Length: Self-paced online component + 5 days in person

Training: WFR, WAT, CPR

Prerequisite: None

Credit: College credits are available when registering for a course sponsored by an institution of higher education.

CEU: Continuing education credits may be available through your organization or employer. Reach out to learn more.

TRADITIONAL WFR

The traditional WFR course format offers in-person instruction in a classroom-style setting over eight or nine days. Course participants quickly integrate into the WFR curriculum with a balance of lecture and hands-on learning. The days are full of targeted lectures, skills stations, scenarios, drills, simulations, and discussions. The intensity of this course allows for camaraderie and strong teamwork to develop quickly throughout the group. In turn, this simulates the dynamics of a true backcountry expedition and reveals how individual group members would utilize their knowledge and skills in the event of an emergency.

Hours: 80

Length: 8 Days

Training: WFR, WAT, CPR

Prerequisite: None

Credits: College credits are available when registering for a course sponsored by an institution of higher education.

CEU: Continuing education credits may be available through your organization or employer. Reach out to learn more.

OVERVIEW OF COURSE CONTENT

  • Urban Vs Wilderness Medicine
  • Wilderness Medicine Guidelines
  • Wilderness Recreation Law & Liability
  • Wilderness Risk Management
  • Wilderness Anaphylaxis Training
  • Genitourinary Issues
  • Mental Health Illnesses
  • Complex Environmental Medicine
  • Avalanche Burial Resuscitation
  • Patient Assessment
  • Basic Life Support
  • Airway Management & Adjuncts
  • Backcountry Communication Devices
  • Professionally Calling A Rescue
  • Basic Vs Expedition First Aid Kits
  • Improvised Litters
  • Professional Incident Documentation
  • Micromedics
  • Complex Traumatic Injuries
  • Dislocations
  • Spine Injury Management
  • Vacuum Spine Board
  • Complex Backcountry Medical Problems
  • Backcountry Medication Management
  • Incident Management
  • Leadership & Critical Thinking During An Incident
  • Complex Night Scenario Simulation
  • Psychological First Aid
 
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Wilderness First Responder (WFR)   (Course Overview)

DateCourseLocationProviderFormatCostRegister

2023-03-27 08:00:00Mar 27 - Mar 31, 2023

WFR Colorado Springs, COPikes Peak Community CollegeHybrid
$82500Info

2023-03-27 08:00:00Mar 27 - Mar 31, 2023

WFR Salida, COSouthwest Conservation Corps - Los VallesHybrid
$82500Info

2023-03-30 08:00:00Mar 30 - Apr 3, 2023

WFR Steamboat Springs, COColorado Mountain College - Alpine CampusHybrid
$82500Info

2023-04-09 13:00:00Apr 9 - Apr 14, 2023

WFR Indian Creek, UTDesert Mountain Medicine - Indian CreekHybrid
$87500Register

2023-04-12 08:00:00Apr 12 - Apr 16, 2023

WFR Glenwood Springs, COColorado Mountain College – Spring Valley CampusHybrid
$82500Info

2023-04-17 08:00:00Apr 17 - Apr 21, 2023

WFR Leadville, COColorado Mountain College - Timberline CampusHybrid
$71207Info

2023-04-19 08:00:00Apr 19 - Apr 23, 2023

WFR Leadville, CODesert Mountain Medicine- FreightHybrid
$82500Register

2023-04-21 08:00:00Apr 21 - Apr 25, 2023

WFR Rico, COMountain West RescueHybrid
$79900Info

2023-05-01 08:00:00May 1 - May 5, 2023

WFR Leadville, CODesert Mountain Medicine- FreightHybrid
$82500Register

2023-05-08 08:00:00May 8 - May 12, 2023

WFR Tuscaloosa, ALUniversity of AlabamaHybrid
$72500Info

2023-05-15 08:00:00May 15 - May 19, 2023

WFR Leadville, CODesert Mountain Medicine at CMC LeadvilleHybrid
$82500Register

2023-05-15 08:00:00May 15 - May 19, 2023

WFR Tucson, AZUniversity of Arizona - ORHybrid
$85000Info

2023-05-15 08:00:00May 15 - May 19, 2023

WFR Crested Butte, COIntuition ConsultingHybrid
$85000Info

2023-05-15 08:00:00May 15 - May 19, 2023

WFR Moscow, IDUniversity of IdahoHybrid
$78000Info

2023-05-15 08:00:00May 15 - May 19, 2023

WFR Cañon City, COEcho Canyon River ExpeditionsHybrid
$82500Register

2023-05-17 08:00:00May 17 - May 21, 2023

WFR Logan, UTUtah State University - OPHybrid
$75000Info

2023-05-17 08:00:00May 17 - May 21, 2023

WFR Custer, SDCuster Ambulance ServiceHybrid
$79000Info

2023-05-22 08:00:00May 22 - May 26, 2023

WFR Hayden, CORocky Mountain Youth Corps - Steamboat SpringsHybrid
$82500Info

2023-06-01 08:00:00Jun 1 - Jun 5, 2023

WFR Vail, COVail Mountain SchoolHybrid
$82500Register

2023-06-06 08:00:00Jun 6 - Jun 10, 2023

WFR Ogden, UTWeber State UniversityHybrid
$82500Register

2023-06-07 08:00:00Jun 7 - Jun 11, 2023

WFR Leadville, CODesert Mountain Medicine at CMC LeadvilleHybrid
$82500Register

2023-06-07 08:00:00Jun 7 - Jun 11, 2023

WFR Flagstaff, AZAmerican Conservation ExperienceHybrid
$82500Info

2023-06-19 08:00:00Jun 19 - Jun 23, 2023

WFR Aspen, COAspen School DistrictHybrid
$82500Register

2023-07-12 08:00:00Jul 12 - Jul 16, 2023

WFR