The Red Cross Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course is designed to provide individuals a foundation of first aid principles and skills to be able to respond to emergencies and give critical care in areas that do not have immediate emergency medical services (EMS) response, such as wilderness and remote environments, including urban disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires.

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The Red Cross WFA course is a ~16-hour, 2-day course comprised of both classroom-style lecture and hands-on scenario-based skills assessments. This course covers the following topics:

• Primary and Secondary Assessments

• Shock and Cardiac Emergencies

• Chest Injuries

• Head, Neck, and Back Injuries

• Wounds and Infection

• Bone and Joint Injuries

• Burns

• Abdominal Illnesses

• Hypothermia

• Heat-Related Illnesses

• Lightning

• Altitude Illnesses

• Submersion Incidents

• Allergies and Anaphylaxis

• Psychological First Aid

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The Red Cross WFA course prerequisites include a current adult CPR/AED certification prior to course start date.

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To successfully complete the Wilderness First Aid course and receive a certificate valid for two years, the participant must:

• attend all class sessions

• participate in all skill sessions and activities

• demonstrate competency in all observable skills

• complete all scenarios

• pass the final written exam with a minimum grade of 80%