Wilderness First Aid Training

Advanced treatment & diagnosis of common wilderness illnesses and injuries, dealing with serious backcountry emergencies and obtaining the correct help.

Not the standard urban first aid training, the wilderness first aid course teaches participants how to respond to possible life-threatening emergencies and serious medical problems commonly encountered in the wilderness environment including more advanced evacuation techniques and obtaining the correct help.

Along with a basic CPR and First Aid course (such as EFR Primary & Secondary Care) this course covers the requirements for the MDT (South African Mountaineering Development & Training Trust) Advanced Mountain Walking Leader and the Instructor Levels assessment.

Syllabus

• Introduction to Wilderness First Aid
• Scene management and safety
• Infection Control
• CPR Revision
• Patient Assessment
• Circulatory, nervous and respiratory systems
• Spinal injury management
• Head injury management
• Fractures, sprains, strains and dislocations
• Hypothermia & Hyperthermia, cold & heat injuries
• Snake & spider bite and poisonous stings
• Lightning
• Near drowning
• Wounds & burns
• Altitude related conditions - AMS, HAPE & HACE
• Wilderness medicine
• Allergies and allergic reactions
• Patient moving, lifting and extrication
• Medical/Legal Issues in wilderness first aid

Course Structure

The wilderness first aid course runs over four consecutive days for approximately 9 hours per day.

Prerequisites

Students must be at least 16 years of age and hold a valid CPR/First Aid training qualification.

Textbooks and Tests

Participants receive the Wild Medix Wilderness First Aid Course Notes. Successful completion of the course requires 100% attendance and a theory test pass mark of 85%.

Validity and Re-certification

On successful completion of the Wilderness First Aid course students receive a certificate from Wild Medix. The certificate is valid for 3 years providing the student also holds a valid standard CPR and First Aid qualification. Students wishing to re certify after 3 years have to redo the entire course again.