Wilderness First Aid Afloat (WFAA)
A field‑focused Wilderness First Aid Afloat course delivered by the National Wilderness Leadership Institute (NWLI) and certified by SOLO that prepares paddling leaders, expedition crews, and afloat program staff to manage medical incidents on or near water where evacuation may be delayed. Instruction emphasizes water‑specific risk assessment, patient packaging and movement on boats and shorelines, and prolonged care techniques adapted to small‑craft environments. The course blends classroom instruction, hands‑on skills stations, and realistic on‑water scenarios to build practical competence and decision‑making under operational constraints. Learning outcomes • Perform water‑adapted primary and secondary assessments — rapidly identify life threats while accounting for wet, cold, and unstable environments. • Stabilize airway, breathing, and circulation afloat — apply BLS, airway adjuncts, and hemorrhage control with limited space and resources. • Manage common aquatic and environmental conditions — treat hypothermia, immersion injuries, near‑drowning, and marine envenomations. • Package and move patients on watercraft and shorelines — construct improvised litters, secure patients in kayaks/canoes, and coordinate team carries. • Make evacuation and transport decisions — weigh on‑scene care versus paddle/row/motor evacuations and coordinate with external rescue assets. • Lead a medical response in small‑boat operations — assign roles, maintain scene safety, and document care for handoff to EMS. Course format: nstruction covers water‑specific and core wilderness medicine topics through short lectures, progressive skills stations, and full‑day on‑water scenarios that simulate delayed evacuation. Key modules include: • Foundations of Afloat Medicine — scene safety on water, legal considerations, and risk management. • Water‑Adapted Primary Care — rapid assessment, airway and breathing strategies in confined craft. • Trauma and Musculoskeletal Care Afloat — splinting, wound care, and spinal considerations for water rescues. • Environmental and Immersion Illnesses — hypothermia, near‑drowning physiology, and heat/altitude considerations for paddling trips. • Patient Packaging and Transport — improvised litters, kayak/canoe stabilization, motorboat transfer techniques, and shore extraction. • Leadership, Communication, and Evacuation Planning — incident command for small teams, radio/phone reporting, and coordination with SAR/EMS. Who should attend Paddlesport guides, expedition leaders, outdoor educators, search and rescue volunteers, and program staff who operate on lakes, rivers, or coastal waters and need practical, water‑specific first‑aid skills. The course is also appropriate for trip participants who want a higher level of preparedness for multi‑day or remote paddling trips. Organizations can request tailored sessions focused on their craft type, typical trip length, or local environmental hazards.
Duration
16 hours
Certification valid
2 years
Available sessions
0 upcoming
Curriculum
What You'll Learn
Prerequisites
Be a minimum of the age of 13.
Questions
Wilderness First Aid Afloat (WFAA) FAQs
Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
Course overview This hands‑on, scenario‑driven Wilderness First Aid course from the National Wilderness Leadership Institute (NWLI) teaches practical, evidence‑based skills for managing medical emergencies in remote and austere environments. The curriculum emphasizes rapid patient assessment, improvised care using limited resources, and safe decision‑making for evacuation or prolonged field care. Learning objectives By the end of the course participants will be able to: • Perform a focused wilderness patient assessment and prioritize life‑threatening problems. • Manage common trauma including wound care, splinting, and basic hemorrhage control. • Recognize and treat environmental emergencies such as hypothermia, heat illness, and altitude‑related problems. • Stabilize medical emergencies (e.g., allergic reactions, diabetic events) until higher care is available. • Plan and execute safe evacuations using improvised litters, patient packaging, and risk assessment. Who should attend • Outdoor leaders, guides, and trip organizers • Backpackers, climbers, paddlers, and recreational outdoor enthusiasts • Scout leaders, camp staff, and anyone responsible for groups in remote settings. Format, prerequisites, and materials • Format: Instructor‑led mix of classroom instruction, hands‑on skills stations, and realistic field scenarios. • Duration: Two full days (16 contact hours). • Prerequisites: Minimum age typically 13; no prior medical training required. • What to bring: Weather‑appropriate outdoor clothing, notebook, water, and basic personal gear; expect outdoor skills practice. Assessment and certification Participants complete practical skills checks and scenario performance evaluations. Successful completion awards the SOLO Wilderness First Aid certificate, recognized globally and valid for two years.
Advanced Wilderness First Aid (AWFA)
Advanced Wilderness First Aid (AWFA) trains outdoor leaders to deliver extended, high‑quality patient care and manage evacuations when professional medical help is delayed. The NWLI AWFA emphasizes practical decision‑making, leadership, and prolonged‑care skills for multi‑day trips in remote or semi‑remote environments. Who should attend: • Summer camp instructors, outdoor educators, and trip leaders running multi‑day programs. • Forest and trail guides operating where cell or satellite service exists but external help may be hours away. • Professional guides and staff who require a recognized wilderness medical credential. Key learning outcomes Participants will be able to: • Perform structured patient assessment (primary/secondary surveys; SOAP documentation). • Stabilize and manage traumatic injuries, medical illnesses, and environmental emergencies for extended care. • Lead and coordinate multi‑person rescues and evacuations. • Apply medicolegal best practices and maintain clear patient records. Core topics covered • Foundations: Wilderness vs. standard emergency care; medicolegal considerations. • Assessment & documentation: Primary/secondary surveys; SOAP notes. • Trauma care: Bleeding control; wound care; fractures; splinting; head and chest trauma. • Environmental medicine: Hypothermia; frostbite; heat illness; drowning; lightning; bites and stings. • Medical emergencies: Cardiac events; respiratory distress; seizures; diabetes; poisoning; stroke. • Operational skills: Lifting, moving, and transport techniques; personal preparedness; leadership and team roles. • Practical application: Extended‑care scenarios, multi‑patient management, mock rescues, and final certification testing. Professional relevance Graduates commonly serve as summer camp leaders, college outdoor program trip leaders, residential camp staff, and professional guides. The SOLO AWFA credential signals readiness to manage prolonged medical incidents confidently and competently in wilderness settings.
Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
Course overview A 72-hour, field-focused Wilderness First Responder course from the National Wilderness Leadership Institute (NWLI) that prepares outdoor leaders, guides, and remote-care providers to assess and manage medical emergencies when definitive care is delayed. The curriculum emphasizes practical skills, scenario-based decision making, and leadership under stress, blending classroom instruction with extended outdoor simulations. Participants leave with the confidence to stabilize patients, make evacuation decisions, and lead a medical response in austere environments. Learning outcomes • Assess and prioritize injuries and illnesses using structured primary and secondary survey techniques. • Stabilize airway, breathing, circulation, and shock with improvised and standard wilderness techniques. • Manage common wilderness problems including fractures, soft-tissue injuries, environmental illness, and medical emergencies. • Plan and execute safe patient packaging, short- and long-distance evacuations, and multi-patient triage. • Lead a team response, communicate with rescuers and medical services, and document care for handoff. Course modules and format • Foundations of Wilderness Medicine — Scene safety; patient assessment; legal and ethical considerations. • Airway Breathing Circulation — Basic airway maneuvers; oxygen use; hemorrhage control; shock recognition. • Trauma Management — Splinting; wound care; spinal motion restriction; blunt and penetrating trauma. • Medical and Environmental Illness — Cardiac events; respiratory distress; hypothermia; heat illness; altitude sickness. • Evacuation and Improvisation — Litter construction; patient packaging; decision-making for evacuation vs. on-site care. • Leadership and Docum Instruction alternates short lectures, hands-on skills stations, and full-day field scenarios that simulate delayed-evacuation conditions. Skills are practiced until competency is demonstrated. Who should • Who should attend — Guides, trip leaders, search and rescue volunteers, outdoor educators, and remote workers who need advanced first-aid skills for prolonged care. Certification assessment and recertification Certification requires successful completion of written exams, practical skills stations, and participation in field scenarios. Graduates receive a SOLO Wilderness First Responder certificate recognized by outdoor programs and guiding organizations. HOW DO I RE-CERTIFY? You may take either a 2-day WFR Refresher Course or a 2-day WFA course (approved by SOLO WFRs only).