Wilderness first responder

Wilderness first aid, especially wilderness first responder training, is our favored first aid training for two reasons.

Short of E.M.T. certification, it is the only rigorous first aid training outside the military. There are many opportunities to practice your skills in a realistic scenario environment. The course is about 100 hours long and takes about 9 days. It stresses patient assessment, calm decision-making, and improvisation, three essential skills for action medics.

There are times when the police prevent paramedics from picking up patients during protests by declaring an area "unsafe" or "unsecured." This means that if you have a seriously injured or ill patient, he might be more than an hour from definitive care, even if you are in the middle of a bustling city. And that is the definition of wilderness care.

The disadvantage of the wfr course is that is requires a substantial investment of both time and money, putting it beyond the reach of some people.

If you have the time and money, consider a month long wilderness emergency medical technician (wemt) course.