Wilderness First Aid (WFA) in Tahoe

Prepare for the unexpected with this hands-on, 16 hour introduction to wilderness medicine. If you are an aspiring mountaineer, backcountry skier or love to recreate outdoors, this course is an essential program. Wilderness First Aid is a must for outdoor recreationalists!
Includes ASHI (American Safety & Health Institute) WFA & CPR certifications.
Overview
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Inclusions
Gear

We'll cover the following topics and skills:

  • The Patient Assessment System

  • How to provide effective first aid treatment for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors

  • Techniques to improvise first aid solutions in the backcountry

  • How to make appropriate evacuation decisions


Upon completion of the course, you'll receive:

  • 16-hour Wilderness First Aid Certification from ASHI (American Safety & Health Institute)
  • AED and Adult/Child Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificate from ASHI

This program requires at least 4 participants to run.

Here's the schedule for your course:

Field Day 1

  • 8:00 am - Meet your instructor and review the plan for the day.

  • 9:30 am - We'll spend the day demonstrating and coaching while you practice wilderness first aid skills

  • 12:00pm - Lunch on the go

  • 3:30pm - We will close the program at the trailhead with a quick review of the skills that we learned and an overview of what to expect the following day in the field.

Field Day 2

  • 8:00 am Meet your instructor and review the plan for the day.

  • 9:30 am - We'll spend the day demonstrating and coaching while you practice wilderness first aid skills

  • 12:00pm - Lunch on the go

  • 3:30pm - We will close the program at the trailhead with a quick review of the skills that we learned and next steps you can take to apply these skills and further your wilderness first aid education.

  • Minimal Fitness - This program involves minimal physical fitness and is appropriate for anyone who is able to travel a couple miles over the course of the day.

Here's what's included with your course:

  • Expert WFA Instructor
  • Innovative Curriculum
  • 16hr ASHI (American Safety and Health Institute) Wilderness First Aid Certification (Valid for two years)
  • ASHI Adult/Child CPR and AED Certification (Valid for two years)

Clothing & Accessories

  • Light Outerwear (check the weather)
  • Multiple Midlayer Options
  • Gloves
  • Beanie
  • Baseball Cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water Bottle / Hydration Pack (2L)
  • Lunch and Snacks


Know Before you go

SKILL LEVELBeginner Intermediate
ELEVATION6,000’
LocationTruckee, CA

Price/Person $335.00
Private Programs
Duration: 2 Days
View Full Itinerary
Private Programs

Blackbird Mountain Guides offers both scheduled group programs and private programs.

Private programs are simply above and beyond what Blackbird Mountain Guides currently has scheduled. Scheduled courses are not always less expensive. Before booking a trip with Blackbird Mountain Guides, clients are encouraged to review the differences between these types of programs, and to decide what works best for them.

SCHEDULED PROGRAMS

Scheduled Programs have fixed dates, itineraries, objectives, curriculum, and costs. They typically appeal to solo individuals or small groups or who are looking to share the cost of their program with a larger group. Correspondingly, scheduled programs are less expensive for smaller groups (1-2), and they provide the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. If you have a large group (3+), Scheduled programs will often be more expensive. They can fill up quickly, and scheduling flexibility is obviously limited.

Scheduled programs will have advertised dates. All scheduled programs can be run as private programs with private dates/rates as well.

PRIVATE PROGRAMS

Private programs have scheduling freedom. They typically appeal to those who would like some flexibility in planning their own trip or course. In this regard, Itineraries and objectives can be tailored to suit current conditions as well as client goals. Private programs are normally less expensive for larger groups (3+). If you have a small group (1-2) private programs will be more expensive.

Contact us
Full Itinerary

This course begins with email correspondence between you and your instructor.  Your Instructor will begin by assigning you any pre-course reading. They will also include where and when to meet, weather concerns, and the ideal time to be back at the cars.  


 

Course Outline


 

Basic Life Support/CPR/Intro to Trauma

• Introductions and Paperwork

• How to keep situations from getting worse

• Scene Survey: What to think about first: scene safety, personal safety, method

of injury and resources

• Blood Borne pathogens: safety, prevention and body substance isolation, Hep B, AIDS, etc.

• Primary Survey: BLS: Nervous system: brain and spinal cord; Circulatory

System, and Respiratory System

• AED Training

• Hands on practice w/scenarios

• CPR testing

Trauma and Scenarios

• Trauma: Head Injuries, Internal Bleeding/Volume Shock, Respiratory Distress

• Lots of Hand on Scenarios

• Stable vs. Unstable Musculoskeletal Injuries

• Dislocations

• Improvised Splinting Lab

• Spine Management

• Documentation and Soap Notes

• Wounds and Environmental Problems

• Wounds and Wounds Lab

• High risk vs low risk wounds and treatment

• Burns and blisters

• Infection

Environmental Problems

• Cold injuries and Hypothermia

• Heat Injuries

• Heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion

• Electrolyte sickness

• Altitude Sickness

• Lightning

• Toxins

• Allergic Reactions; Anaphylaxis and local

• Environmental Scenarios

Medical Problems

Short medical scenarios involving:

• Heart attacks: Signs and symptoms/treatment

• Asthma

• Stoke/Seizure

• Diabetes

• Big Scenarios-Incorporating all the medical and environmental problems

• Course Wrap

 

Field Day 1

8:00 am Meet your instructor and review the plan for the day. 

3:30 pm We will close the program at the trailhead with a quick review of the skills that we learned and an overview of what to expect the following day in the field. 

 

Field Day 2

8:00 am Meet your instructor and review the plan for the day. 

3:30 pm We will close the program at the trailhead with a quick review of the skills that we learned and next steps you can take to apply these skills and further your wilderness first aid education. 


 

We'll cover the following topics and skills:

  • The Patient Assessment System

  • How to provide effective first aid treatment for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors

  • Techniques to improvise first aid solutions in the backcountry

  • How to make appropriate evacuation decisions


Upon completion of the course, you'll receive:

  • 16-hour Wilderness First Aid Certification from ASHI (American Safety & Health Institute)
  • AED and Adult/Child Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificate from ASHI

This program requires at least 4 participants to run.

Here's the schedule for your course:

Field Day 1

  • 8:00 am - Meet your instructor and review the plan for the day.

  • 9:30 am - We'll spend the day demonstrating and coaching while you practice wilderness first aid skills

  • 12:00pm - Lunch on the go

  • 3:30pm - We will close the program at the trailhead with a quick review of the skills that we learned and an overview of what to expect the following day in the field.

Field Day 2

  • 8:00 am Meet your instructor and review the plan for the day.

  • 9:30 am - We'll spend the day demonstrating and coaching while you practice wilderness first aid skills

  • 12:00pm - Lunch on the go

  • 3:30pm - We will close the program at the trailhead with a quick review of the skills that we learned and next steps you can take to apply these skills and further your wilderness first aid education.

  • Minimal Fitness - This program involves minimal physical fitness and is appropriate for anyone who is able to travel a couple miles over the course of the day.

Here's what's included with your course:

  • Expert WFA Instructor
  • Innovative Curriculum
  • 16hr ASHI (American Safety and Health Institute) Wilderness First Aid Certification (Valid for two years)
  • ASHI Adult/Child CPR and AED Certification (Valid for two years)

Clothing & Accessories

  • Light Outerwear (check the weather)
  • Multiple Midlayer Options
  • Gloves
  • Beanie
  • Baseball Cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water Bottle / Hydration Pack (2L)
  • Lunch and Snacks

Book Now
Select Dates:
Spots to Book:

the blackbird difference

Innovative courses

Professional Guides

Positive Progression

Community Focused

ongoing support

Got Questions?

We’re here to help. Our FAQs or Gear Lists might have the information you’re seeking. But If you’re not finding the information you need, we’d be happy to help!