Why a Wilderness First Aid Course Is Worth Your Time
He shivers uncontrollably huddled under a thin, reflective emergency blanket that one of the Scout leaders took out of their wilderness first aid kit. But he knows it's too late. He ignored the classic signs, and now he's blue as a Smurf.
He could just hear what his dad was going to say when he got home.
"You should know better. Outdoor safety. Wilderness first aid. What do you think I've been teaching you all these years?"
Yep, he was in for a lecture alright. And what made it all the more frustrating was that his dad was right.
Here he was: 17 years old and an Eagle Scout. He was supposed to be leading the Tenderfoots on their first big trek. He'd even hiked this part of the Appalachian Trail before.
But this time it was different.
This time he was wet. He had no sleeping bag. And no tent. The only food he brought was light rations of Ramen noodles – it was only supposed to be a three-day hike after all. Why get bogged down with comforts? Whatever discomfort came he would only have to endure for two nights.
But in opting for less gear, he neglected what scoutmasters have been teaching young scouts for generations.
The first rule of outdoor safety is: be prepared.
What's the Difference between Wilderness First Aid and Basic First Aid Skills?
The difference between Wilderness First Aid and Basic First Aid skills is stark.
Basic First Aid teaches...
Check your surroundings for danger: If the victim is in danger or in a harm inducing environment, move them to a safe location.
Determine if it's an emergency situation: Talk to the victim. See what hurts. What are their symptoms? Based on their responses, make a decision to call 911 or not.
Call 911: This is the easy. The operator will tell you what to do from here.
Wait for help: Treat the patient until help arrives.
Okay, that may be a slight oversimplification, but the main crux is this.
Help is coming. You don't have to know how to distinguish between a fracture and a bad sprain because the paramedics are on their way. You just have to keep the patient safe and comfortable.
Well, if Wilderness Survival and Basic First Aid had a baby, it would be Wilderness First Aid.
Wilderness First Aid teaches...
Check your surroundings: Yep, it's the same first step as before.
Assess your patient: That's right. This is your problem. You're more than a day from any help reaching you possibly longer. If that bone is broken, then you may have to set it.
Treat your patient: Your companion is hurt, you're stuck in the backcountry, and you have to know how to make seriously, life or death decisions in a timely manner.
That's a big responsibility. Are you prepared for that?
How to Get Wilderness First Aid Certified?
Taking a Wilderness First Aid course prepares you for situations you're likely to run into if you spend any time in the backcountry.
Now, you've been thinking about taking a Wilderness First Aid course for a long time. I mean, you've been through wilderness survival stuff, and you know basic first aid. How is a Wilderness First Aid course any different?
There are two ways to get Wilderness First Aid certified: In-person or online. Both are 16-hour courses. Let's see which is best for you.
In-Person Wilderness First Aid Certification
Outdoor sports shops and Clubs like REI offer in-person training. These events usually include:
Course material: A reference book and quick reference guide that you can take with on the trail if you choose. I don't know about you, but if I don't use a skill regularly my memory gets fuzzy. Having a resource to reference in an emergency, gives me confidence in my decisions. (National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) also sells a good one here.)
An in-person instructor: It's invaluable to be able to talk through scenarios and have your questions answered by a professional.
Hands-on application: Yep, get ready to handle some bloody scalps and split broken bones because this is where you walk through your decision-making process and apply what you've learned in the course.
A certificate: Your Wilderness First Aid certificate is good for two years.
Expect your in-person training to take 2-3 days depending on your facilitator.
Online Wilderness First Aid Certification
You can also get certified online through a number of different online course companies and organizations such as the Red Cross or NOLS.
Buyer Beware: Not all online courses offer a certificate. Many of them are Wilderness First Aid overviews, which leave out the practical parts of the course. The full course will have you print out a certificate at the end.
If you're getting your Wilderness First Aid certification to fulfill a requirement for a certain trip or as a leader of a youth group like the Scouts, be sure to check your organization's specific requirements.
The full online certifications include:
Course material: You receive PDFs that you can print out at home to have on hand.
Instruction videos: You have unlimited access to these videos, so you can watch them at your leisure. How long your access lasts depends on your provider.
A printable certificate: You can print this out to have on file in case anyone asks for your credentials. It's still good for two years.
Your online course can take as little as a day, if you decide to binge watch videos. But for proper knowledge retention, try to stretch it out to a few days or even a week.
You may have noticed that somethings missing. No practical scenarios.
Oh, they show you the practical application of what you go over in the modules, but you don't have to work through the process yourself. The learning experience is vastly different when you see someone bleeding and in pain on a screen while someone else helps them versus when they're right in front of you, and it's your responsibility to help.
In my personal experience, having that practical exercise of problem solving, and then acting on my decisions was the more valuable part of the course. It was where I learned to...
Trust my knowledge: So I can confidently speak up when I see someone in need.
Stick with my decisions: Because sometimes people argue with you – especially if they have heat stroke.
Not stare at blood: I will get lightheaded and start to pass out.
Stay calm: It’s true. Calm is contagious. If you stay calm, then those around you will feel safe and stay calm.
And those things aren't taught or shown, they're experienced.
So, if you have a choice, I highly recommend doing the in-person course. Because a Wilderness First Aid course is about more than knowing what you should do, it's about using what you've learned.
Are There Free Wilderness First Aid Training Opportunities?
Most of the online course options are, in fact, free. The Red Cross charges you $0 to get certified. So if you’ve already done the in-person training and you just need a refresher or a recertification, then the online option is perfect for you.
If you've never faced a medical emergency or never taken a first aid course before, I highly recommend paying for the in-person training.
Because when you’re responsible for a group of boys hiking the Appalachian Trail, you want to be prepared to make hard decisions that could save a life.
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Outdoor Safety and Wilderness First Aid Saves Lives
He's only getting worse. You gave him some of your dry clothes – your only other set actually. He's huddled together with some other boys to try and generate heat. But what he needs for this drizzling cold rain to stop...and a fire.
Not the little stoves you all brought to boil water, but a real get-me-warm fire.
You've been trying for over an hour and even with those waterproof matches you can't get it to light. Everything is too wet, and there's no way to keep the fire totally out of the rain here. It's time to change tactics.
Help isn't coming to you, but you could still get him to help. It's time to get him moving.
Getting him moving is the last way you know to get him to generate heat.
You talk to the other Scout leaders, and they agree. You and two other older scouts will help get him off the mountain and to some help, while the rest of the boys rest and join you the next day.
You walk over to him, "Alright son, it's time to get up. Pack you gear in my bag. We're heading down the mountain. I've got to get you moving, but I don't want you carrying a full pack on a slippery trail the way you're feeling."
He nods, relieved to be moving.
After repacking and throwing an emergency poncho over the kid, you're hiking off the mountain...in the dark...while it's raining...with a clumsy, hypothermic kid.
But what else could you do?
FAQ: Outdoor Safety Questions
How Often Do You Actually Use Wilderness First Aid?
I've personally used what I’ve learned several times over the years and never regretted getting trained. But really, this is the wrong question to ask.
The "pay-off" in a Wilderness First Aid course is NOT how many times have you used it? I hope you never have to use it!
But, instead, the one time it matters, will you be prepared to cope with the emergency or not?
How Much Does a Wilderness First Aid Course cost?
The Wilderness First Aid Course cost varies. If you choose to do the online course, it's $0.
If you opt for the in-person training, it depends on your provider. REI charges around $330.
If you’re a part of a scout group that wants to get certified, then contact your council. They can put you in touch with an instructor directly. And there’s usually a group rate as well.
What's Some Essential Wilderness First Aid Equipment?
Obviously, your first aid kit should already have most of what you need, so leaving out the basic first aid stuff.
Moleskin / Blister Treatment
Water purification tablets
Anti-Diarrheal Medicine
Electrolyte Packets
Irrigation Syringe
Liquid Bandage
Personal Locator Beacon
Emergency Blanket
A deck of cards (yes, I'm serious. They help keep someone with a head injury awake.)
Tampons (to absorb excessive bleeding from deep wounds.)
Snake bite kit
This is by no means a comprehensive list, and the list should be customized to your needs and climate as medical needs vary from person to person, environment to environment.
And if you're interested in buying one for your next trip NOLS has one already put together for you here.
Conclusion: Be Prepared
The young man in our story isn't fake. He was a friend of mine.
(No, I'm not going to tell you his name because we all do stupid stuff at 17 that we wouldn't do a few years later.)
And yes, his Scoutmaster got him to help in time, and he survived.
But it was a near thing. If his scoutmaster hadn't been wilderness first aid certified, it's likely that...
He wouldn't understand the progression of hypothermia.
He wouldn't understand how close the young man was to the point of no return.
And wouldn't have been willing to take the necessary risk (a night hike on a rainy trial with a clumsy, hypothermic kid) to save his life.
If you plan on spending time in the backcountry, away from the noise of modern life, do it! There's so much to experience and enjoy out there. Hope for the best. Expect it even, but plan for the worst.
Explore safely. Be prepared for when things don't go according to plan, when someone gets hurt, or when you come upon someone outside your group who needs your help.
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