It’s the middle of the last day of a rainy 5 Day Wilderness First Responder course in Idyllwild, California. Things are getting strange.  The instructor, the inimitable John Jacobs, is somewhere in the midst of his third rendition of “how much is this doggy in the window…Woof, Woof”, and I’m wondering if mental stability should be on a primary assessment list.

Why Take a 5 Day Wilderness First Responder Course?

160 million Americans participated in outdoor activities in 2018. That is almost half the population of the United States.  We spend our time in the outdoors more often than most. With a few close calls of our own, we’ve learned that knowing what to do in an emergency can make or break the adventure.

As interest in outdoor recreational activities continues to grow, so have associated medical emergencies.  Many of these emergencies require advanced emergency medicine.  Basic CPR, First Aid, and a First Aid kit, are often not sufficient to provide the life-saving care your buddy needs. Especially when you are hours or sometimes days away from a hospital.

The 5 Day Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, or “Woofer” was created to give advanced life-saving training to outdoor professionals and individuals that spend time in wilderness environments.

 

Where You Might Need the Wilderness First Responder Skills

The 5 Day Wilderness First Responder or Woofer course gives students practical principles & mechanisms for saving lives and providing basic medical care in extreme situations. Something to keep in mind, just because you live in an urban environment, doesn’t mean you are guaranteed immediate access to an emergency medical team.

For the outdoor recreational community and beyond, WFR certification is the gold standard in wilderness emergency medical training.

How Do You Find the Right WFR Class?

There are a number of options when it comes to gaining your 5 Day Wilderness First Responder certification. Our course was hosted by Adventure Risk Management, and certified by Wilderness Medical Associates.

Quality of instruction really matters here, and we had one of the best practitioners in the business, John Jacobs. John is a 30-year professional in the outdoor education field and did a fantastic job of conveying a massive amount of information in a clear, succinct, and often times humorous way.  This was no small feat, as these were long, bell to bell days with a 50/50 combo of classroom instruction and practice in the field.

There are a number of other reputable providers that offer Wilderness First Responder certification.  However, there is variation in quality and content from providers. Your training could mean the difference between life and death, so do your due diligence.

What is The Time Commitment Like for a 5 Day Wilderness First Responder?

Here’s a hint. It’s more than a 5 day commitment.  A word of caution, Wilderness First Responder courses are intense!  Because of time and scheduling constraints we elected to take the 5 Day Wilderness First Responder format from Wilderness Medical Associates. The 5-day format includes a significant amount of pre-course study and prep work, as well as long days on site.

In addition, the cost of a WFR class is not insignificant. The price will range from $650 and up to $1000 once you include transportation, accommodations, meals, etc.  Employers will sometimes sponsor this type of training, especially if you are an outdoor or medical professional.

So…maybe its time to hit the boss up for some of those “professional development” dollars?  We know Mesa Rim Climbing and Fitness offers some reimbursement for coaches and staff that enroll. Either way, these courses are worth every penny you spend.

Back to That Doggie in the Window

John Jacobs never did get all the way through ‘How Much is That Doggie in the Window’, but as our 5 days of classwork and homework came to close, we were all told we passed the final exams.

So when the clouds lifted over the San Jacinto mountains, I said thanks, but no thanks to the celebratory beers, and opted instead for a mountain bike ride. Recent fires had burned out some of the lower environs in the Idyllwild area, and I lost the trail for a few minutes in the moonscape that had been produced.

The fires had burned to the doorstep of many homes.  It was evident, even a year later, that the efforts of incredibly brave firefighters had helped avoid serious devastation.

It made me think about the terrible and beautiful balance of the natural world.  We live on a bit of a knife edge, and a little push in one direction can make a real difference.  Knowledge and education can help tip things the right way.

Are You Ready For Your Woofer?

If you’ve ever had any interest in the 5 Day Wilderness First Responder certification, we encourage you to go for it!  Practicing what you’ll do in an emergency situation with your own gear and with your adventure partners is also highly recommended.  Keep in mind, education is an ongoing process and several people in our class were getting their WFR re-certifications.

We want to thank Adventure Risk Management and Wilderness Medical Associates, including our instructor John Jacobs.  He provided us with a bit of humor, but also the practical skills and hands-on demonstrations in a mountain environment.

Resources

• Wilderness First Responder Falcon Guide

• Wilderness and Rescue Medicine

• Adventure Medical Kits

• Adventure Risk Management

• Wilderness Medical Associates

 

To learn more about Top Rope Media’s adventures, follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. If you have specific questions about the WFR course, send up a smoke signal!

Until next time, happy adventuring!

– Tyler McConvill