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 WFA & AHA 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)
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificate from the AHA (American Heart Association)

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 Trained Guide
  • Innovative curriculum
  • 16hr ASHI (American Safety and Health Institute) Wilderness First Aid Certification (good for two years)
  • ASHI CPR and AED Certification (good 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 $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)
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificate from the AHA (American Heart Association)

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 Trained Guide
  • Innovative curriculum
  • 16hr ASHI (American Safety and Health Institute) Wilderness First Aid Certification (good for two years)
  • ASHI CPR and AED Certification (good 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
Participants:

Epic Reviews From Adventurers

4 reviews
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Set me up with a perfect custom skills program - highly recommend!

    I'd been trying to setup a way to learn some snow skills basics for awhile, and most companies were just not very responsive for what I wanted, and I actually couldn't make it happen. Then I emailed Blackbird - and not only was it great to finally get some conversation going by email/phone, they were able to set me up with the type of program I was looking for. I was setup with Jon as my guide and felt like I was in very capable hands the entire time - covering all the topics relevant for my goals. While I'm comfortable enough camping and hiking in the wilderness, I had zero experience with crampons, ice axes, safety aspects etc, along with navigating more challenging and steep terrain. We started off covering some initial information that went well enough to tackle a couple objectives - which were far more challenging than I'd originally thought possible for myself. But he really nailed it, and picked a plan which let me push what I could do while still feeling comfortable. Plus I appreciated his patience, encouragement and positivity as I sorted out my practice of these new skills. Overall highly recommended!

    Tobin S.
    Flag of United States
    Private Alpine Skills Course
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Incredibly knowledgeable guides!

    Incredibly knowledgeable guides. It was my first time on a serious mountaineering trip, and our guide Jason was a great resource for our attempt at the Shasta summit. Despite insanely cold and snowy weather for May we had a great time!

    Thomas M.
    Flag of United States
    Verified Buyer
    Mt Shasta Summit Climb 3 Day
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Amazing guide service, you are in the best possible hands!

    Blackbird Mountain Guides is an amazing guide service! They tailor trips based on your individual preferences and abilities and are eager to help you develop new skill sets. The guides have extensive subject matter expertise are extremely professional. I have done numerous climbs with Zeb specifically, including a recent trip a few weeks back - it was (as always) thoroughly enjoyable. There is a reason I keep coming back and climbing with Zeb - you always know you are in the best possible hands. Based on my past experiences, I am currently planning two more trips next year with Blackbird Mountain Guides. A top-notch company.

    Corey R.
    Flag of United States
    Mt Shasta Summit Climb 3 Day
  • Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Fully recommend Blackbird for Mt Shasta!

    We did a 3 day Shasta trip with Blackbird guides with Jason as our guide. Since we had already done Shasta we asked for a route a bit more adventurous and Jason obliged. The trip was fantastic with time for acclimatization and a lower summit Shastina then a super interesting route to the summit which was challenging but not too much. Jason was wonderful every step of the way, he was able to navigate the major obstacle which was the wind and went above and beyond to get us to the summit. Fully recommend Blackbird and Jason in particular.

    Richard B.
    Flag of United States
    Mt Shasta Summit Climb 3 Day
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