Wilderness First Aid - CMC State - Jan 25-26, 2025

Wilderness Medicine & Risk Management Course

Wilderness First Aid

This 16-hour Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course offered through CMC Wilderness Medicine teaches students the skills to anticipate risks and hazards, identify medical, traumatic, and environmental problems, recognize life-threatening issues, initiate basic care, and deliver a cohesive report. The curriculum forces students to think creatively, adapt to ever changing situations, and learn valuable leadership, decision making, and communication skills.

Location - see information below

TIME: 8AM - 5PM WITH A ONE-HOUR LUNCH BREAK

  • There are no prerequisites. This class is only open to students 18 years and over. This class satisfies the requirements for CMC trip leaders.  
  • Lessons and practice scenarios may take place inside or outside, so be prepared for a variety of weather conditions. 

Course Overview: 

The course will focus on

  • Prevention of potential problems while in the backcountry

  • Rescuer, patient, and bystander safety

  • Performing a basic physical exam, identifying abnormalities and life-threatening problems, obtaining vital signs, patient history, and writing and verbalizing a report for walk-out evacuation or hand-off

  • Treatment and stabilization of emergencies, improvising splints, bleeding and wound control, management of heat and cold illnesses, hydration problems, drownings, lighting injuries, spinal cord protection, basic patient lifts and transfers

  • Basic Life Support and special considerations for the wilderness, Epinephrine administration, and first aid kit planning for specific activities and needs

Please visit the Wilderness Medicine homepage to learn more about the curriculum and format of the class. 

The Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) offers Wilderness First Aid programming in-house through CMC Wilderness Medicine. Wilderness First Responder courses and WFR- Recertifications are offered through Backcountry Pulse.

Note: The email address you use when registering will be the email used for all course-related resources. 

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements
Course Activity Date Availability Leader
WFA In-person Classroom Lecture
Arvada Business Center
Sat–Sun, Jan 25–26, 2025
Registration closed Jan 23
3 participants
4 instructors
Roster
Required Equipment

Back Country Pulse Field Guide: 

  • The online version of the BCP Field Guide can be found on the Course Materials tab or at: https://www.ourboox.com/bp/1632178/
  • Each course will have a set of hard copies for students to use during the course.
  • You can purchase your own hard copy of the Field Guide before, during or after your course through the CMC website.

Packing List:

  • Notebook and pen
  • Clothing that allows you to be comfortable in a variety of weather conditions
  • Water, snacks & lunch (or money to buy lunch)
  • Day pack packed with the basic gear and first aid kit you primarily recreate with (This could be trail running, climbing gear, ski equipment, etc. We may have the opportunity to practice improvising with the equipment you already own)
  • Closed-toe shoes (i.e. hiking boots or trail runners)
  • Watch (or cell phone with timer)
  • Optional: Computer or iPad to view the online Field Guide and to take the Post Course Test on Sunday afternoon
  • Optional: Camp chair for comfort and/or Sleeping pad (so you don't have to lay directly on grass for the scenarios)
Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.