Advanced Wilderness First Aid

This 4-day skills based program represents the minimum standard of training for the outdoor leader, instructor, guide or recreational adventurer. It provides a comprehensive and practical perspective on dealing with common wilderness injuries through to life threatening situations.

The program is divided between classroom and practical skills, utilizing scenarios and simulations to enhance learning and develop effective interventions and competent patient care.

Topics Covered

• First Aid and Wilderness Emergency Care
• Leadership & Liability
• Anatomy & Physiology 101
  • Homeostasis
  • Principal Body Systems – ‘The Big 3’
  • Practical Activities – Assessing CNS Function / Evaluating an Airway
  • Respiratory and Circulatory Systems Assessment
• Patient Assessment System
  • Scene Survey
  • Primary Survey – drills & practice
  • Rapid trauma Survey
  • Secondary Survey – scenarios / drills & practice
  • Documentation
• Basic Life Support
  • CPR in the Wilderness
• Traumatic Injuries
  • • Head / Chest / Abdomen / Spine – practical scenarios

• Shock: Recognition & Management
• Patient Stabilization and Evacuation
  • Patient Positioning / Carries – drills & practice
  • Spinal Cord Injury Management – drills & practice
• Musculoskeletal Injuries
  • Sprains / Strains / Fractures / Dislocations
  • Immobilization & Splinting Techniques – scenarios / drills & practice
  • Issues
• Environmental Emergencies
  • Heat Illnesses / Hyperthermia
  • Cold injuries / Hypothermia – practical scenario
  • Drowning / Near Drowning
  • Animal / Reptile Issues
  • Lightning
  • Allergies, Anaphylaxis & Epinephrine – practical scenario
  • AMS / HACE / HAPE
• Acute Abdominal Pain
  • Medical Emergencies
  • Abdominal Assessment & History Gathering
• Wound Management in a Remote Setting
  • Guiding Principles
  • Short Term / Long Term Care
  • Penetrating Injuries
  • Burns / Blisters / Eyes / Teeth
  • Practical Skills / Drills & Scenarios
  • Water Disinfection – What Works / What is Available
• Medical Problems
  • Diabetes
  • Seizures
  • Medications
  • Practical Scenario
• Common Expedition Problems
  • UTI / Blisters / Constipation / Diarrhea / URTI

Recertification Information

A two-day, scenario based recertification program is required to maintain your Advanced Wilderness First Aid certification. This program should be completed within 2 years of the date of your course completion.
Upgrade to Wilderness First Responder may be completed within a year of this training.

Course Notes

This course can be used as the foundation course to upgrade to a Wilderness First Responder (WFR). Upgrade must be completed within 12 months of the original certification.

CWMT does recognize the training standards of other credible wilderness first aid providers and can recertify in accordance with our standards of care.