SOLO Wilderness First Responder is offered at Fox Kits Wilderness Survival School.

Course Description
SOLO’s Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is the recognized industry standard for those who work as backcountry trip leaders, camp counselors, mountain guides, river guides, and ski patrollers.

WHO IS THE WFR COURSE FOR?
The WFR is the perfect course for anyone working in a position of leadership in an outdoor setting or for individuals who want a high level of wilderness medical training for extended personal backcountry trips or expeditions.

WHAT IS TAUGHT?
The WFR is 72-80 hours long (7 to 10 days), and is a comprehensive and in-depth look at the standards and skills of dealing with: Response and Assessment, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Environmental Emergencies and 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 (See below). Additional topics, such as CPR, are also included.

IS THERE AN EXAM?
There is ongoing evaluation of practical skills, and a written test.

DO I GET CERTIFIED?
Yes. Your SOLO WFR certification is good for three years.

HOW DO I RECERTIFY?
You may take either a 2-day WFR Refresher Course or a 2-day WFA course.

DOES THE WFR COUNT AS CONTINUING EDUCATION? The WFR 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. Within the first year of completing a SOLO WFR, students may enroll in a SOLO WEMT Part II Module (the last two weeks of a WEMT course) to get their WEMT certification (they must pass practical and written EMT exams). Contact us for more information.

Course Topics
Section 1: Introduction
Introductions
-Staff, Students & Course Outline
-SOLO…A look at who we are
-Details, details, details…
Wilderness First Responder vs. Urban First Responder
-Role of the WFR
Medicolegal issues
Bloodborn pathogens & infectious disease

Section 2: Patient Assessment System (PAS)
Patient Assessment System
Anatomy of a Backcountry Crisis
Primary Survey= “the first five minutes”
Secondary survey & vital signs
History Taking and AMPLE
Lifting and moving techniques
PAS in the extreme environment

Section 3: Rescues and the Human Animal
Organizing the rescue= SOAP note and getting help
The Ten Essentials
Bivouac skills and practice
The Human Animal – overview of the human physiology
Body Systems – overview of human anatomy and physiology

Section 4: The Cardiovascular System
The Anatomy and Physiology of the cardiovascular system
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
-Prudent Heart Living
-Techniques of CPR
-CPR Skills practice

Section 5: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CPR practical exam
CPR considerations in the remote environment
Automated External Defibrillation

Section 6: Soft Tissue Injury
Shock & bleeding control
Long term management of the shock victim
The anatomy and physiology of the integumentrary system
Soft tissue injuries & bandaging skill
Long term wound care
Burns

Section 7: The Musculoskeletal System
The anatomy and physiology of the musculoskeletal system
Sprains and strains
Fractures & splinting techniques
Dislocations and reduction techniques
Splinting practice

Section 8: The Central Nervous System
The anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system
Head trauma
Spinal cord injury
Spinal cord management: Improvised collar, long boarding, litter packing

Section 9: The Chest and Abdominal Systems
The anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system and cardiothoracic region
Chest Trauma
The anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary system
Abdominal trauma

Section 10: The Human Animal & Environmental Emergencies Part I
The Human Animal
Heat related injuries
-dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke
Cold related injuries
-hypothermia, frostbite and non-freezing cold injuries

Section 11: Environmental Emergencies Part II
Lightning related injuries
Drowning related injuries

Section 12: Animals, Plants and Allergies
Animals that bite and sting
Plants that bite and sting
Allergic reactions
local, systemic & anaphylactic
Use of epinephrine

Section 13: Environemntal Emergencies Part III
Altitude Related Injuries
Medical Emergencies and Patient Assessment

Section14: Medical Emergenices Part I
Changes in Level of Consciousness (LOC)
Diabetic Emergencies

Section 15: Medical Emergencies Part II
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Emergency Childbirth

Section 16: Medical Emergencies Part III
Poisoning
Abdominal Pain
Group Preventative Medicine
-Water purification
-Sanitation/Defication

Section 17: Long-term Patient Care
Wilderness stabilization and bivouac
Improvising litters
Leadership in a backcountry emergency

Section 18: Mock Rescue
Mock Rescue
Debrief

Section 19: WFR Practical exam
Practical exam
Common expedition problems

Section 20: WFR Written Exam
Written exam
Closure and Graduation

Includes: