About the Course
This 10-Day WFR Certification
Class is taught by the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS and
covers all aspects of WMI's 80-hour certification course. Specific topics
and a sample day-by-day agenda is included below (subject to change).
Emphasis on this course is placed on the development of good decision making
skills and the prevention of emergencies. This course will be held in Boulder,
Utah and the surrounding canyons, desert and mountains for necessary field
trips / practicals. The course is open to anyone interested in learning
wilderness medical techniques.
About
BOSS
Since 1968, BOSS Courses
have set the standard for low-technology camping and desert hiking techniques,
where instruction
is conducted with minimal intrusion of modern technology in environments that
allow course content to be experienced first-hand. Our commitment to quality
and to our core philosophies has earned BOSS its reputation as the
survival school to go to when you want to learn from the best in the industry.
The
Course Location
The BOSS WFR course will
be taught in the town hall of Boulder, Utah, with day trips as needed into
the surrounding natural areas. For this reason, students should plan on bringing
hiking boots suitable for day trips that may take us in water and over rocks.
Course
Content
The following is a sample agenda
based on past WFR courses (Subject to change):
| Day
0 - April 18, 2010 |
|
| Before
1pm |
Students arrive in Salt Lake / Provo |
| 2pm |
Shuttle leaves from Travelodge in Provo |
| 7pm |
Shuttle arrives in Boulder, Utah |
| 7:30pm |
BOSS Orientation for WFR course |
| Day
1 |
|
| 7:15
- 8am |
Breakfast |
| 8
- 9am |
Introduction: Wilderness vs. Urban care |
| 9
- 10am |
Initial Assessment |
| 10
- 11am |
Patient Exam |
| 11am
- 12pm |
Vital signs: LOC, HR, RR, SCTM |
| 12
- 1pm |
Lunch |
| 1
- 2pm |
Vital Signs: BP, Pupils |
| 2
- 3pm |
Focused History |
| 4
- 5pm |
Medical Legal Issues |
| 6pm |
Dinner |
| Day
2 |
|
| 7:15
- 8am |
Breakfast |
| 8
- 8:15am |
Problem of the Day |
| 8:15
- 9am |
Scenario |
| 9am
- 12pm |
Airway Obstruction, Respiratory Arrest, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation |
| 12
- 1pm |
Lunch |
| 1
- 1:30pm |
CPR Considerations for Remote Environments |
| 1:30
- 2pm |
Mechanical Aids to Breathing |
| 2
- 2:30pm |
Scenario |
| 2:30
- 3:30pm |
Shock and Bleeding |
| 3:30
- 5pm |
Practical Session |
| 6pm |
Dinner |
| Day
3 |
|
| 7:15
- 8am |
Breakfast |
| 8
- 8:15am |
Problem of the Day |
| 8:15
- 9am |
Scenario |
| 9
- 10:30am |
Chest Injuries |
| 10:30
- 11am |
Scenario |
| 11am
- 12pm |
Head injuries |
| 12
- 1pm |
Lunch |
| 1
- 2pm |
Spinal Cord Injury Assesments |
| 2
- 3:30 |
Lifting and Moving |
| 3:30
- 5pm |
Backboards, Collars, Litter Packaging, Carrying and Long-term Patient Management. |
| 6pm |
Dinner |
| Day
4 |
|
| 7:15
- 8am |
Breakfast |
| 8
- 8:15am |
Problem of the Day |
| 8:15
- 9am |
Scenario |
| 9am
- 12pm |
Wilderness Wound Management |
| 12
- 1pm |
Lunch |
| 1
- 1:30pm |
Communicable Diseases |
| 1:30
- 3:30 |
Athletic Injuries |
| 3:30
- 5pm |
Fracture Management |
| 5
- 6pm |
Dinner |
| 6
-7:30pm |
Traction Splinting |
| 7:30
- 8:30pm |
Dislocations |
| 8:30
- 9pm |
Practical Scenario |
| Day
5 |
|
| 7:15
- 8am |
Breakfast |
| 8
- 8:15am |
Problem of the Day |
| 8:15
- 9am |
Review and Practical Session |
| 9
- 10:30am |
Hypothermia |
| 10:30
- 11:30 |
Scenario |
| 11:30am
- 12pm |
Frostbite and Immersion Foot |
| 12
- 1pm |
Lunch |
| 1
- 2pm |
Heat and Hydration |
| 2
- 2:30pm |
Scenario |
| 2:30
- 3:30pm |
Altitude Sickness |
| 3:30
- 5pm |
Case Studies and Scenarios |
| 5
- 6pm |
Dinner |
| Day
6 |
|
| All
day |
Day off to explore the parks and wilderness areas Southern Utah. |
| Day
7 |
|
| 7:15
- 8am |
Breakfast |
| 8
- 8:15am |
Problem of the Day |
| 8:15
- 9am |
Scenario |
| 9
- 10am |
Cardiac Emergencies |
| 10
- 10:30 |
Scenario |
| 10:30
- 12pm |
Respiratory Emergencies |
| 12
- 1pm |
Lunch |
| 1
- 1:30pm |
Scenario |
| 1:30
- 2pm |
Neurological Emergencies |
| 2
- 2:30pm |
Scenario |
| 2:30
- 3:30pm |
Diabetes |
| 3:30
- 5pm |
Practical Session |
| 6pm |
Dinner |
| Day
8 |
|
| 7:15
- 8am |
Breakfast |
| 8
- 8:15am |
Problem of the Day |
| 8:15
- 9am |
Practical Scenario |
| 12
- 1pm |
Lunch |
| 1
- 1:30pm |
Poisoning |
| 1:30
- 2pm |
Scenario |
| 2
- 3pm |
Acute Abdomen |
| 3
- 5pm |
Practical Scenarios |
| 6pm |
Dinner |
| Day
9 |
|
| 7:15
- 8am |
Breakfast |
| 8
- 9am |
Practical Scenario |
| 9
- 9:30 |
Common Problems, Wrap up |
| 10
- 10:30 |
Scenario |
| 10:30
- 11:30 |
Lightning |
| 11:30am
- 12pm |
Drowning |
| 12
- 1pm |
Lunch |
| 1
- 2:30pm |
Gender Medical Concerns |
| 2:30
- 3:30 |
Scenarios |
| 3:30
- 5pm |
Search Scenarios |
| 5
- 6pm |
Dinner |
| 6
- 10pm |
Scenarios |
| Day
10 - April 28, 2010 |
|
| 7:15
- 8am |
Breakfast |
| 8
- 10am |
Wilderness Drug and First Aid Kits |
| 10
- 12pm |
Written Examinations |
| 12
- 1pm |
Lunch |
| 1
- 4pm |
Practical Examinations |
| 4
- 5pm |
Closing Ceremony |
| 5
- 6pm |
Dinner |
| 6pm |
Shuttle departs for Travelodge in Provo |
| 11pm |
Shuttle arrives at Travelodge in Provo |
Food
& Lodging
All students are invited to eat meals prepared by BOSS (included in the course
tuition). Meals are prepared using the freshest possible ingredients, typically
consisting of organic, locally-raised produce and grains. This can include
organic eggs, whole grain pancakes, organic yoghurt, fresh fruit for breakfasts
(as well as a variety of teas and coffee). For lunch, whole-grain sandwiches,
salads, and other simple but nutritious options will be available. And finally,
for dinner, you can expect something suitably hot and filling, also made
from whole-grains, organic vegetables (as much as possible) and whatever
seasonal dishes our cooks prepare. Based
on the feedback of past students, we can say that while the food is not the
focus of the course, it will certainly be appreciated, as our staff
work very hard to prepare your meals so you can focus your energy on the
WFR curriculum.
If you wish to supplement your diet with snacks or meals, you can visit some of the local stores and restaurants (cost not included in the tuition.)
Local restaurants are all within walking distance and include:
Meals will be served at BOSS family-style at 7:15am, 12pm and 6pm by our staff. Please call our office if you have specific questions regarding diet or food requests.
Lodging is up to each student. You can choose to sleep outside on the school's 41-acre property (no charge) or in one of the local motels (reservations may be required.)
2010 Dates & Prices
| Wilderness First Responder | WFR-10 |
April 19 - 28, 2010 | Utah |
no
mealplan: $680 |
Course dates and prices are subject to change. Space is limited on each course, and registrations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Please go to the Registration page for more information.
