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First Aid Course

Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

Wilderness First Aid at Tacoma Program Center

The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course is taught by Remote Medical Training. It is a 16-hour training course [may vary based on COVID19 restrictions of Washington State] designed to provide you with basic skills for medical care in remote areas. The WFA curriculum focuses on making sound decisions regarding patient evacuation, as well as skills for extended care. WFA is ideal for climbers, scramblers and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts who either work or play away from definitive medical facilities and support. For more information on Remote Medical Training, see their website.  Note: This is not the same course curriculum as the Mountaineers' MOFA course, which is based on the Red Cross curriculum. However, either course will fulfill the first aid requirement for Mountaineers' courses that have a first aid component.

UPDATE: Course agenda is in 4 parts

First is a CPR/Basic Life support class. This is online, done on your own time, and results in a BLS certification.

Then there are two virtual sessions with an instructor. These are on Weekdays 6-9pm online. 

The last day of the course is live at the Tacoma Mountaineers Program Center, and is all day with an instructor from Remote Medical Training. Please bring your gear, and food for the day.

There will be two concurrent groups taking classes in a week. One is scheduled Monday, Wednesday, Saturday. The second class is scheduled Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday.

Course Requirements

Step I: Basic life support. Online course, including CPR. At your own pace, but prior to further instruction

Step II: 2 Weekday sessions. The Wilderness First Aid class is typically fast-paced guided by your instructor with your group. The course is based on short lectures, labs and realistic practice scenarios. Students are provided ample opportunities to master the central concepts and skills of wilderness medicine along with the confidence to use it in a real setting.

Step III: This year RMT will coordinate live instruction at the Tacoma Mountaineers Club house. You do not need to sign up for "live scenarios" separately. Live interaction may vary depending on COVID19 restriction in Washington State.

In order to complete the course, participants must complete both requirements. This course will suffice for both requirements.

This Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course is approved by the Tacoma Climbing committees as a means for Basic/Intermediate Climbing and Alpine Scrambles to meet their wilderness first aid requirements as an alternative to Mountaineering Oriented First Aid (MOFA). Basic Climbing and Alpine Scramble students are encouraged to register for, and complete, the WFA course as soon as their schedule allows.

The course certification by Remote Medical Training is valid for 2 years and is recognized world-wide by the American Mountain Guides Association, the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, the US Government, as well as other major outdoor programs.

Equivalency Note:

Partial or full equivalency may be available to individuals who have current backcountry medical certifications or extensive experience in providing medical care in remote or austere environments. Contact the course leader if you think you may meet these requirements. You will have to provide proof of your certification and/or experience and, depending on the certification, may still be required to complete the Scenarios portion of the class to receive credit (not available 2021). Urban and front-country medical training alone is not sufficient to meet this requirement, even with advanced education and experience. Candidates who have a Wilderness First Aid certification from another organization have to complete a scenario session to receive equivalency (not available 2021). 

If you have any questions about the course, please contact the leader.

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Roster
Required Equipment

Course manual, first aid materials and lecture notes will be provided by RMT.  This course is a mixture of inside and outside experiences. You may be asked to sit or lay on the ground as part of a practice scenario.  Additionally, stage make-up (moulage) is used to represent injuries.  Please wear comfortable clothing that can get dirty!  Below is a list of items recommended for this course:

Pen/Pencil and notepad

Layered clothing in preparation for varying weather

Water bottle, snacks, lunch, coffee mug, etc.

sit pad, closed-cell foam pad. 

Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.