Basic Wilderness First Aid (BWFA)

Basic Wilderness First Aid (BWFA) is an essential course designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively respond to medical emergencies and injuries in remote and outdoor settings. This practical 5-hour course explores wilderness hazards and provides comprehensive training on how to treat injuries and manage other emergencies in the wild.


Wilderness environments present unique challenges when it comes to providing medical care. BWFA offers a comprehensive approach to wilderness first aid, emphasizing hands-on training, scenario-based learning, and practical application of first aid principles in challenging outdoor conditions. This course is tailored to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts, adventure guides, wilderness explorers, camp counselors, park rangers, and anyone seeking to enhance their first aid capabilities in the wilderness.

Course Agenda:

Module 1: Assessment and Prioritization

  • Develop skills to assess and prioritize injuries and medical conditions in a wilderness setting.

  • Consider limited resources and challenging conditions in decision-making.

  • Integration of emergency action principles in a wilderness setting.

Module 2: First Aid Techniques

  • Learn essential first aid techniques and interventions.

  • Topics include wound care, splinting, immobilization, bandaging, and managing common outdoor injuries.

  • Performing primary and secondary assessments.

Module 3: Environmental Emergencies

  • Understand and respond to environmental emergencies such as hypothermia, heat-related illnesses, altitude sickness, and snake/insect bites.

  • Hypothermia and heat-related emergencies.

Module 4: Trauma Management

  • Acquire skills to manage trauma injuries like fractures, sprains, strains, dislocations, head injuries, and spinal injuries in a wilderness environment.

  • Head (brain), neck, and spinal injuries.

  • Bone and joint injuries.

Module 5: Medical Emergencies

  • Gain knowledge and proficiency in handling medical emergencies such as allergic reactions, cardiac events, seizures, and diabetic emergencies while in remote locations.

  • Allergies and anaphylaxis.

Module 6: Wilderness Rescue and Evacuation

  • Learn strategies for organizing and executing a safe wilderness rescue and evacuation.

  • Includes improvising stretchers and carrying out a wilderness evacuation plan.

  • Burns and submersion incidents.

Module 7: Communication and Decision-making

  • Develop effective communication and decision-making skills for working in a team.

  • Learn to manage emergencies in isolated and resource-limited settings.

Module 8: Preparedness and Prevention

  • Understand the importance of proper trip planning, safety measures, risk assessment, and preventive strategies.

  • Minimize the occurrence of emergencies in the wilderness through proactive planning.

Module 9: Legal and Ethical Considerations

  • Discuss legal and ethical considerations related to providing first aid in wilderness situations.

  • Topics include informed consent and good Samaritan laws.

Module 10: Integration of Scenario-based Learning

  • Engage in realistic wilderness scenarios to apply acquired knowledge and skills.

  • Reinforce the ability to make sound decisions and respond effectively to emergencies.

  • Bites and stings.

Successful completion of the Basic Wilderness First Aid (BWFA) course will result in participants receiving a Wilderness First Aid certification. This certification demonstrates their proficiency in providing critical medical care in remote and challenging environments, making them valuable assets in outdoor and wilderness settings.