Wilderness First Aid

Service Description

Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid (WFA) prepares you for emergencies in true backcountry environments where weather, terrain, distance, and limited gear demand a higher level of skill and self-reliance. You’ll learn advanced patient assessment, prolonged field care, trauma and medical management, environmental emergencies, and decision-making for complex evacuations in challenging conditions. This course goes well beyond basic first aid. You will practise stabilising injuries over long durations, managing changing symptoms, improvising equipment, coordinating group safety, and planning multi-hour or multi-day evacuations. Training is immersive and scenario-heavy, designed to build calm, competent responders who can adapt when conditions deteriorate or help is uncertain. Ideal for guides, backcountry leaders, expedition staff, SAR volunteers, outdoor professionals, and experienced recreators operating in remote or high-risk wilderness terrain. Certification: Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Duration: 40 hours, in-person Prerequisites: Learners must be at least 16 years of age. This class take place outside, regardless of the weather or season. Learners must come appropriately prepared to complete day hikes on easy to moderate terrain. Some form of previous first aid training experience is strongly recommended, but not required.