What is Wilderness First Aid?

Wilderness First Aid courses address three problems not covered in traditional urban First Aid Courses:

Extended Patient Management
When hours or days stand between a patient and the hospital, phases of patient care that usually occur in an emergency room must be carried out in the field. Rescuers need to be prepared for this challenge, under conditions far removed from the ideal hospital setting.

Extreme Environments
Extremes of heat, cold and altitude can pose serious problems of their own. Hypothermia and frostbite, for example, may complicate a trauma victim's condition and will also pose a risk to rescuers.

The simplest tasks become difficult when the environment is hostile, potentially causing both assessment and treatment to suffer.

Limited Equipment
The more remote the setting, the less equipment will be initially available. Improvisation is an essential skill in the wilderness setting.