My EDGE: Wilderness First Responder Course
Project Details
I chose to complete the Wilderness First Responder course, or WFR, as my EDGE project. The WFR is a 9-10 day course designed to teach participants how to be effective first responders through classes, hands on training, and mock scenarios. Students learn basic medical procedures for use in the backcountry. In the backcountry, meaning you are 30+ minutes away from definitive care, first responders are crucial to the survival of a patient during an emergency. The skills taught in the WFR hopefully prepare the students for many of these situations. A WFR certification is the industry standard for many professions such as outdoor guides, trip leaders, search and rescue teams, and outdoor recreationists. Those with the certification are often called “woofers”.
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The particular course I will be taking is organized through SUU and will be facilitated and taught by the Wilderness Medicine Training Center, or WMTC. It will be held at Bryce Canyon National Park from May 2-10. Through much generosity, The Bryce Canyon Natural History Association has set aside a group camp site for my classmates and I to use during the course. The NHA will also provide the classroom for the course. They offer these accommodations at virtually no cost to us and I am very grateful for their allowing us to use them.
Why WFR?
As an outdoor recreation major, each student is required to complete the WFR before graduating. The WFR not only gets me closer to my degree but the course will help me in my career as well. Having a WFR certification makes me a more valuable candidate for jobs and is required for most careers in the field. The certification is valuable in my personal life as well. Being CPR certified and having first aid skills will benefit me as I enjoy the outdoors with my family. I can have the peace of mind that if something is to go wrong, I have the necessary skills to remedy many situations. The course will definitely contribute to my skills as an outdoor leader and help me be more confident in leading others. I am excited to be able to gain valuable experiences in many areas of my life through the WFR.
Why WMTC?
I chose to take the course through the WMTC because of their accreditation. Wilderness medicine is not regulated, meaning than any person could establish their own school and decide to teach the WFR. Thankfully that doesn’t happen but there are companies that are more reputable than others. The WMTC is one of these reputable companies. This is because they research, write, test, edit, and publish their own books and teaching materials. They are the only organization that provides a handbook, available in both waterproof print and digital formats. They don’t utilize med students who are right out of college but rather the courses are instructed by established medical professionals with ample experience in the outdoors. This is why the WMTC stands above many other WFR providers and why I am confident about receiving a certification through them.
Goals and Outcomes
By taking the Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course I will gain a myriad of valuable skills. It will teach me survival skills as I camp and live in the outdoors for ten days. Working with others taking the course will help me become a better team member and leader. I will learn the necessary skills to administer first aid in the outdoors. Through the course and the outdoor environment I will learn how to identify specific hazards and how to prevent them. And lastly, it will encourage me to respect nature and stay safe.
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My overarching goals for my project as well as the objectives needed to reach them are listed below.
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Goal: Fulfill a graduation requirement by becoming WFR certified.
Objective: Successfully complete the WFR course in its entirety.
Goal: Be an asset to future employers as well as other individuals in the outdoors.
Objective: Keep skills current by reviewing the course materials regularly.
Goal: Gain knowledge and skills needed to administer aid to others.
Objective: Actively take notes that can be relied upon in the field. Participate in skills related activities.
Deliverables
Upon completion of my project, two official certification cards, WFR and Wilderness CPR, will be administered to me by the Wilderness Medicine Training Center. These cards certify that I hold the appropriate training to respond to emergency situations in remote locations. This means assessing situations, improvising solutions using available resources, and identifying the best way to get the patient to definitive medical care.