Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
Description
The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Hybrid 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.
Walk Away With:
- Training workbook, with extensive notes, to use during the course and on the job site
- Certification of Completion provided by CSI Workforce Development and Training
- Certification from Desert Mountain Medicine (valid for 3 years anywhere in the United States)
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.
Explore Your Career Options
If you are interested in learning about career opportunities in the Magic Valley take a look below.
If you are interested in learning more about our Work-Based Learning Center resources explore your options below.