Wilderness First Responder

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COURSE OVERVIEW

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is an industry-standard 70+ hour curriculum that is considered the minimum standard for outdoor professionals working as guides, trip leaders, and outdoor educators. For more information about the WFR certification itself see About Wilderness First Responder below.

This is a “hybrid” Wilderness First Responder course with a mix of online and in-person activities including 20-30 hours of self-paced online coursework, five days of in-person hands-on training, and weekly optional Instructor Sessions that provide opportunities for students to ask questions, walk through case studies, and review assignments with instructors.

The course includes a 300-page Course Manual that can be used for reference, additional self study, etc.  Students receive a pdf version of the manual when the online portion of the class begins, and a physical copy on the first day of in-person training.

Instruction is provided by our training partner Remote Medical Training (RMT).  Upon successful completion students will receive Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and CPR (Emergency Safety Care Institute) certificates from RMT.  

This course does not include the NREMT Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification.

Participants must be at least 18 years of age.

As per our contract with RMT, classes with fewer than 15 students may have to be canceled.

Course Format and Schedule

The course consists of a number of activities spread over approximately five weeks between April 14 and May 18.  Except for the final five in-person days of the course, all other activities are done either individually or via Zoom.

Significant Course Dates

• Friday, October 3 at 5:00pm PDT. Course registration closes. 
• Monday, October 13: Mandatory online kickoff meeting with the instructors 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT.  Students receive links to online training.
• Mondays October 20, October 27, November 3, and November 10: Optional weekly Instructor Sessions via Zoom 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT. 
• Wednesday through Sunday, November 12 - 16: In-Person Training.

Certificates and Mountaineers badges are typically issued within about a week after successful course completion.

About The Online Training

Students have about four weeks (Ocotber 13 - November 11) to complete the online training, which typically requires 20 - 30 hours. Adequate progress must be confirmed (through check-ins and quizzes) prior to starting the in-class portion. 

During the online training students are encouraged to take advantage of the weekly Instructor Sessions on Monday evenings.  The Instructor Sessions provide an opportunity for students to ask questions, walk through case studies, and review assignments with instructors.

About The In-Person Training

The in-person part of the class consists of five full days of hands-on training lasting Wednesday through Sunday from 8am - 5pm, plus an evening session on Saturday from 6pm - 10pm.

• Wednesday, Nov 12: 8am - 5pm
• Thursday, Nov 13 8am - 5pm
• Friday, Nov 14: 8am - 5pm
• Saturday, Nov 15: 8am - 5pm and 6pm - 10pm
• Sunday, Nov 16: 8am - 5pm

The in-person training is based out of the Mountaineers Seattle Program Center, and consists of a mix of indoor and outdoor activities in the immediate vicinity (weather permitting).  The  instructors may choose to hold some sessions in other locations as well. If any sessions are held remotely, that decision will be announced in advance and will be made with the input of the students.

This is a non-residential course.  Students are responsible for their own food and lodging.

Cancellations and refunds

This is an expensive class for us to offer, and we are unable to issue refunds after we ourselves had made financial commitments to others.  In order to be as flexible as possible, the class has a staged refund policy as follows:

• September 26 or earlier: 100% refund minus the standard Mountaineers cancellation fee of $10.
• September 27 though  5pm, October 3: 50% refund minus the standard Mountaineers cancellation fee of $10.
• After 5pm, October 3: No refunds.  

All class activities are required and must be successfully completed in order: kickoff meeting, online self-study, and all five days of in-person training. We are unable to provide make ups for any of the class activities.

About Wilderness First Responder

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is an industry-standard curriculum consisting of 70+ hours of training, and is considered the minimum standard for outdoor professionals working as guides, trip leaders, and outdoor educators. The course is also recommended for individual adventurers venturing beyond the realm of quick and easy 911 access.

Key Topics Covered:  WFR covers legal considerations, patient assessment, lifting and moving patients, altitude, immersion, submersion, lightning, and altered mental states. The course curriculum also educates students on how to successfully manage shock, head injuries, wounds, infection, musculoskeletal and spinal injuries, respiratory and cardiac emergencies, abdominal pain, metabolic and allergic reactions, cold and heat emergencies, and more.