Wilderness First Aid

Course Overview

WFA students will learn practical wilderness first aid skills and gain the confidence to step up, make decisions, and ultimately create positive outcomes from unpredictable situations.

We don’t have all the medical resources we have at home when we’re in the woods, so it’s vital to have the essential tools, the right skills, and know how to improvise when faced with a medical emergency in the backcountry. Practical hands-on exercises and scenarios will improve retention and confidence. Developed for the public from years of teaching this course to Search & Rescue professionals, students now benefit by learning the most current practices for patient assessment, trauma interventions like splinting and bleeding control, environmental emergencies like venomous snakebites and bee stings, medical emergencies like strokes and chest pain, illnesses, and more. These skills not only apply just to hiking, but anytime we’re in the outdoors. We welcome students from all outdoor pursuits – scout leaders, quad riders, beachgoers, mountain bikers, fishermen, adventure racers, and even those who just enjoy relaxing at the family BBQ. Having the knowledge, skills, and confidence to step up and help in a time of need is invaluable.

Upon completion, students will receive a 2-year ASHI WFA certification, which is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and accepted by Scouts BSA and GSUSA.

Featured Topics

• Patient assessment
• Trauma interventions – Bleeding control, splinting, wound care, etc…
• Medical interventions – Stroke, diabetes, allergies, breathing difficulty, etc…
• Environmental emergencies – Heat, cold, bites & stings, plants, weather, etc…
• Backcountry first aid kit contents

Schedule

December 10 from 6:00PM-10:00PM

December 12 from 6:00PM-10:00PM

December 14 from 9:00AM-5:00PM

About the Instructors

Joe Galvan is a lifelong hiker and in his element when sharing outdoor experiences, mentoring others, and connecting with the outdoor-minded in our community. Joe is a search and rescue officer and instructor, MRA accredited mountain rescue unit lead, National Park Service Technical Rope Rescue instructor, Adirondack Winter Mountaineering School Instructor, Adirondack 46er, and an accomplished mountaineer with ascents across North America and Europe.

Scott Fitterman grew up hiking and camping in an outdoor-minded family and became a scout leader to give back when his 3 kids joined scouting. Scott is a search and rescue officer and instructor, volunteer EMT, wilderness first responder and wilderness EMT instructor, public safety diver, National Park Services technical rope rescue graduate, Catskill 35er, New York State Licensed Guide, and leads week-long treks in the backcountry for scouts in the northeast.

Learn more about the instructors and The TrailBound Project.

Prerequisites

CPR certification – Adult CPR & AED (or higher). Anyone can take the WFA course but the 2-year WFA certification cannot be provided until successful completion of the course and proof of CPR is presented. The Red Cross offers CPR certification courses.

This program assumes participants are comfortable outdoors. The course will be conducted both inside and outside depending on the weather.

Program Guidelines

Registration is required. Please let us know if you are no longer able to attend so your space can be offered to someone else. Cancellations received at least 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund, if applicable. Programs at Duke Farms are RAIN or SHINE, but in the event of severe weather, classes may be canceled. Email notice will be given as early as possible via email and refunds will be issued in the case of cancellations.

We provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate, please contact us at registrations@dukefarms.org.