Wilderness First Responder (WFR)

The WFR is the standard in the outdoor recreation industry for multi-day trips in remote locations with unreliable communication and where rescue is delayed or unavailable. The WFR course has a focus on extended patient care that could last hours to days. The hybrid WFR includes 30 hours of online and 50 hours in person.

Hours: 80

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

Hybrid Format: 30 hour self-paced, online instructional component, followed by a 50-hour in-person, practical component which takes place over five consecutive days.

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.

• Outdoor professionals (guides, rangers, instructors)

• Search and rescue team members

• Military and law enforcement personnel

• Expedition leaders and members

• Adventure racers and endurance athletes

• Remote area workers (mining, forestry, etc.)

• Serious backcountry enthusiasts and adventurers

• Flexibility: Learn at your own pace with online coursework before diving into hands-on training.

• Time Efficiency: Complete a significant portion of the course online, allowing for more focused in-person skill practice.

• Enhanced Learning: Combine self-paced study with expert-led instruction for a well-rounded education.

• Cost-Effective: Potentially save on travel and lodging expenses by completing a portion of the course online.

• Proven Effectiveness: Delivers the same comprehensive WFR training as the standard in-person format.

None

Training:

• WFR Recertification (3 year certification)

• CPR and AED (3 year certification)

• Wilderness Anaphylaxis Training (WAT) (2 year certification)

WFR courses are eligible for up to 70 EMT continuing education hours with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and the Colorado state EMS office. Review WFR CEU Itemized List for a breakdown of available hours, and reach out to learn more about EMS continuing education with DMM. 

We are proud to teach Desert Mountain Medicine (DMM) courses and believe they are the highest quality wild med has to offer! Here are a few of the reasons:

• Desert Mountain Medicine (DMM) has offered wilderness medicine training for outdoor recreationalists, outdoor professionals, medical professionals, government agency personnel, and industry professionals who operate in remote regions since 1998.

• They are a founding member of the Wilderness Medicine Education Collaborative (WMEC) and take an active role in determining best practice and industry standards in wilderness medicine.

• Their field manual and course curricula are updated regularly to ensure students receive the most up-to-date medical field research and treatment practices.