Overview

This is for you if: You want the most comprehensive level of wilderness medical training short of becoming a Wilderness EMT. This certification course is the gold standard for outdoor professionals and serious outdoor enthusiasts.

Wilderness environments create special situations not usually encountered in an urban or suburban environment.  SOLO Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is the perfect course for anyone working in a position of leadership in an outdoor setting and individuals who want a high level of wilderness medical training for backcountry trips or any time advanced care is not close at hand. SOLO WFR, offered in partnership with the Nolichucky Outdoor Learning Institute, is nine days long (72+ hours) and is a comprehensive and in-depth look at the standards and skills dealing with: Prevention, Response and Assessment, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Environmental Emergencies, Survival Skills, Soft Tissue Injuries, and Medical Emergencies. Although these appear to be the same basic topics covered in our two-day WFA course, they are covered far more extensively, and there is much more hands-on practice resulting in greater familiarization and proficiency. Additional topics, such as CPR training and certification, are also included. Training consists of classroom instruction, hands on practice, realistic scenarios and testing in a learning environment that is supportive, empowering, challenging and fun. The WFR course is designed to engage the students in such a way that they truly understand, retain the information, and can predict outcomes. It focuses on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. When medical problems or traumatic injuries occur in the backcountry, the Wilderness First Responder may well be without assistance from EMS for hours. No amount of rote memorization will help a would-be rescuer deal with the various complexities of an ever-evolving problem in the backcountry. Our Team focuses on Experiential Learning in order to break the mold of the traditional classroom. Research indicates that discussions, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and problem-solving scenarios are vastly superior to traditional lectures and/or reading from a textbook alone. Training culminates with a full day and evening dedicated to conducting realistic scenarios by the river, on the trails and in the woods adjacent to our outpost and includes a group campfire dinner, which most participants consider to be the highlight of the course.

SOLO is the oldest, most innovative, and one of the most respected wilderness medical schools in the United States. The SOLO Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is the recognized industry standard for those who work and play in the outdoors including outdoor professionals, backcountry trip leaders, camp counselors, mountain guides, river guides, ski patrollers, medical professionals and outdoor recreationalists. Our WFR instructors, Randy Manuel and Adam Herzog, are highly accomplished medical professionals with decades of experience both as educators and in the field. To learn more about them click here.

Age 16+. No previous experience necessary.

Certification and Recertification:
Upon successful completion participants are awarded a three-year SOLO WFR certification and a two-year ASHI CPR certification. SOLO and ASHI are two of the most recognized wilderness medicine certifying bodies in the U.S. Recertification is completed by attending our Wilderness First Responder Recertification class. To see upcoming WFR Recertification dates and learn more click here.

Continuing Education Credit for Medical Professionals:
The WFR course typically counts as continuing education credits, although it may depend on what certification you have. Street EMTs who take the WFR course may become certified as Wilderness EMTs. 

Highlights

Highlights:

• 9 days of extensive wilderness medicine training that is comprehensive, professional, immersive and fun
• Exposure to a wide range and depth of techniques and skills
• Expanded opportunities to perform patient assessment and provide care in a range of simulated scenarios, including at night 
• A supportive learning environment by highly accomplished instructors with decades of medical experience
• 3-year internationally-renowned SOLO WFR and 2-year ASHI CPR certifications
  
  

Location

USA Raft