Wilderness and Remote First Aid

Traditional First Aid is founded upon the assumption you have easy access to 911 and short term management of illness and injury. The ramification of time and distance on an injury in the backcountry clearly prompts the responsible wilderness provider to understand these differences.

The Wilderness and Remote First Aid Program, of the Canadian Red Cross, is an enhancement of Standard First Aid concepts to meet the demands of remote-recreational pursuits. Participants in the course will experientially have an opportunity to learn how WRFAid applies a higher level of care through applicable scenarios. Beyond the explanation of differences in practice between WRFAid vs. Traditional First Aid, participants will explore through experiential applications the realities of providing First Aid in a wilderness and remote environment, and the need for a principled approach.

WRFAid engages in the realities of backcountry patient-care. The need for outdoor leadership when confronted with the possibility of a first aid crisis, and the management of environmental threats become apparent. 

Course Topics

• Wilderness and Remote First Aid vs. Urban First Aid

• The Outdoor Leader’s Role and Responsibilities

• Principle Body Systems - Homeostasis

• Shock & Backcountry Management of Shock

• Check, Call, Care - Emergency Action Principles  

• Accessing E.M.S.  

• Primary Survey

• Secondary Survey ( Complete Assessment & SOAP NOTE )

• Obstructed Airways (Adult, Child, Infant)

• CPR (Adult, Child, Infant)

• Backcountry Realities of CPR

• Wilderness First Aid kits and Supplies

• Backcountry water disinfecting

• Soft Tissue Injuries ( Wounds & Cleaning, Burns and Blisters)

• Head and Spinal Cord Injury Management (Immobilization and Evacuation Issues)

• Minor Head Injuries (Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth, Dental )

• Musculoskeletal Injuries (Sprains, Strains, Fractures, Reduction and Improvised Splinting)

• Medical Conditions (Poisoning, Allergic Reactions, Seizures, Diabetes, Stroke, Gastrointestinal vs. Acute Abdominal)

• Environmental Emergencies (Thermoregulation - Hypothermia and Hyperthermia, Cold Related Injuries, Water Related Injuries, Lightning) 

• Second Aid and Evacuation (ground / water / helicopter)  

• Nova Scotia Trip and Safety Issues

• Course Debriefing and Exam

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