Phone: 403.678.4164 — 1.866.678.4164

Dates and Price

Price

$795 Cdn includes instruction and course materials. GST is extra.

WFR Recertification

Re-certify your 80hr Advanced Wilderness First Aid Course (WFR, AAM, etc.) in this 3 day course. This course begins at 8:30am at our office location in Canmore. Map

Is it for you?

While helpful, no prior first-aid certification is needed for this course. Minimum age is 16 years.

Certification Options:

1. Course participants achieve certification that will allow them to work in a backcountry setting and that is approved by the ACMG or other outdoor companies such as ski hills. This option has no pre-requisites and is standard with the course.

2. For those looking to additionally use the certification for a worksite, the certification can be recognized by Alberta Workplace Health and Safety. This training will then offer mobility between Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Yukon. To be eligible for this type of certification participants MUST provide proof of Standard First Aid certification that was taken within the year prior to the start of the Advanced Adventure Medic program. This is the exact same curriculum and exams, however the Standard First Aid pre-requisite must be met for recognition by the Alberta Workplace Health and Safety.

Wilderness First Responder

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Wilderness First Responder

Wilderness First Responder

Wilderness First Responder

Wilderness First Responder

The Wilderness First Responder Course is mandatory for outdoor professionals and is recommended for recreationalists who spend a lot of time in the backcountry. The 80 hour wilderness first aid course is often a prerequisite for employment in many organizations.

The following topics are covered in great detail: patient assessment, body systems, environmental injuries, anaphylaxis, patient extrication, patient carries, backcountry medicine, and of course CPR.

Where appropriate, the curriculum is taught and examined using simulation exercises. The course is recommended for anyone who leads adventure trips and those who are in the backcountry for days or weeks at a time and may have to care for a patient over an extended period. In the outdoors, emergency response time is not always quick.

Rocky Mountain Adventure MedicineThis program is recognized by Alberta Occupational Health & Safety as an Advanced First Aid certificate and is an important distinction when choosing a wilderness first aid course. There is a pre-requisite if you require the recognition by Alberta occupational Health and Safety. Please see 'Certification Options' on the sidebar.

Agenda

The curriculum is 80 hours, over 9 days and we schedule one free day for study (total 10 days). Typically the mornings are devoted to lectures and exams and the afternoons focus on practical hands-on situations and simulations. There is nothing scheduled for the evenings but you will have readings and quizzes to complete which realistically are done in the evenings.

Topics include:

  • Hands-on simulations.  Were possible we use theatrical make-up and props
  • Accident Management and Leadership
  • Longer Term Care of the Sick and Injured until emergency help is available
  • Improvisation Skills
  • Basic Search and Rescue
  • Patient Packaging and Evacuation Techniques

Curriculum

Advanced First Aid scenarios in remote wilderness settings are the focus.

  • Principles of extended care
  • Medical-legal issues
  • Communicable diseases
  • Patient assessment
  • Documentation
  • Airway management, including oropharyngeal airways, use of BVM's, and suctioning
  • Shock
  • Wound management
  • Thermal burns
  • Sprains and strains
  • Fractures, including femur and pelvic fractures
  • Dislocations and field relocation techniques
  • Head and facial trauma
  • Spinal injuries; spinal restriction techniques; protocol for continuing or negating need for spinal control
  • Chest trauma
  • Abdominal trauma
  • Lightning
  • Heat injuries and dehydration, including oral re-hydration guidelines
  • Cold injuries
  • Bites and stings (for North American beasties!)
  • Poisons and toxins
  • Allergies and anaphylaxis, including use of an Epi-pen
  • Altitude emergencies
  • Drowning / near drowning
  • Water and food borne illness, including water purification techniques
  • Changes in level of consciousness
  • Respiratory distress, including use of an Epi-pen / Epinephrine for non-responsive
  • Asthma
  • Cardiology
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diabetes
  • Outdoor first aid kits
  • Bivouac skills
  • Search and rescue principles
  • Packaging and transportation
  • Critical incident stress management
  • Triage Rescue and transportation
  • Oxygen administration, including both passive and active delivery devices
  • Pregnancy and childbirth
  • Dental emergencies
  • CPR and AED skills (Level C)
  • Back country CPR guidelines
  • Anatomy, physiology and terminology

Getting to Canmore

Canmore is a 1 hour drive west from Calgary. Greyhound (1 800 661 8747) services Canmore from points east and west along the Trans-Canada Highway. If visiting the area from far away you may want to a car so you can visit local attractions and enjoy the surrounding mountains.

Program Logistics

The course begins at the Yamnuska office at 8.30am on Day 1. Map

Instructors

The course is being taught by professional instructors from Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine (RMAM). They receive intensive vetting and training. Course quality is continually monitored and assessed to ensure it meets the most current standards.

Accommodation & Meals

These are your responsibility. There are lots of options available including campgrounds, hostels, B'n'Bs, motels and hotels! Check accommodation options on our links page for our recommendations. The Alpine Club Clubhouse (403 678 3200) is a good hostel here in Canmore with good facilities and reasonable prices. We would be pleased to arrange accommodations for you.

Certification

RMAM certification is recognized throughout Canada (including the ACMG and Alberta Occupational Health and Safety) and the United States. Successful students will receive a certification card from RMAM, which is valid for 3 years. You will also receive your CPR level C. Within 3 years, graduates may recertify by way of a three-day course.

Successful completion of this course is based on attendance (100% required), and performance on both written and practical final exams. Not everyone passes this course.

What to Bring

We ask that you bring appropriate clothing for the location and time of year. Remember that, rain or shine, much of our time is spent outside ding scenarios. You will also need a sleeping pad/mat (for simulations), pens, and a notebook.

  • Something to write on and a pen or pencil
  • Lunch unless you want to head into town for the break
  • Copy of your Standard First Aid certification if you want and Advanced Adventure Medic certificate
  • Clothing suitable for whatever the weather throws at us for the outdoor portions of the program
  • For the field days we would also like you to bring a pack containing items that you would normally take with you on a day out into the back country e.g. extra clothing, tarp, ski poles, duct tape, fire start kit, ensolite/thermarest, Swiss army knife/Leatherman.
  • Additionally participants are welcome to bring equipment with them that they regularly use in a back country setting to use as part of scenarios, examples would be snowshoes, skis, snowboard, ice axes, avalanche probes etc.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require a 35% deposit at the time of booking. The remaining program fees are due eight weeks before the program start date.

For detailed Booking Instructions and Conditions, click here.

Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the trip. Click here for waiver copy.

There are two basic types of insurance that most travelers need to consider: Medical and Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance. We offer our guests coverage for both and highly recommend you purchase it.

Emergency Medical Expenses Insurance:

It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip.  Obtain extra coverage if necessary.  There is no charge for rescue in the National and provincial Parks, however costs such as air or ground transportation, long term care and other services are not covered.

Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance:

We recognize that our guests’ schedules may change for many reasons; business, family, flight delays, injuries and other unplanned events.  For these eventualities the Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance is a great way to protect your investment. 

For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend the Simpson Group.  This agency offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical and Personal Effect Loss for Canadian and International Travelers.  We highly recommend purchasing this insurance.  For more information and to purchase a plan, visit the Simpson Group’s website. 

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