Wilderness First Responder

& Remote Area Medic

Located in Killarney National Park in County Kerry, Ireland

  
 

   For people who are out and about in remote places it is important to have good training geared for the outdoor enthusiast. The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is designed to provide the experience to make critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote locations. There will be plenty of scenario based practical skills and hands on learning designed to enhance your decision making abilities. This WFR training course teaches the student how to assess a situation, improvise solutions using available resources, to stabilize the patient and identify the best way to get the patient to definitive medical treatment. Since the casualty is often found in remote areas, the WFR must learn how to provide excellent medical care by using whatever materials are on hand.

   This certified 70 hour course is the industry standard for wilderness guides, outdoor enthusiasts, and troop leaders. It is based on the protocols of the Wilderness Medical Society guidelines.
    It consists of lectures, hands on demonstrations, and field based scenarios that provide the opportunity to learn by doing. The curriculum includes: wilderness wound management, how to realign sprains, fractures and reduce dislocations, patient assessment and treatment, long term management issues, and additional topics. It is designed to transform anyone with little medical training into a health care provider for austere and wilderness situations. 

 

    The WFR is taught through the education centre in Killarney National Park, and held in the Arther Vincent Hostel located close to Muckrose House. The red X shows the location in the OSI map below.

 

Accelerated WFR:
This course is offered as a part self study and part hands on training. For this option, the student will be given an intensive medical curriculum that *MUST* be completed prior to arrival at the IPNA headquarters. A 20 question multiple choice quiz will be given during the first day of class. No on will be allowed to continue who does not pass this exam. During the next five day residential part of the course, students will get hands on clinical curriculum to round out their WFR training.

 

Prerequisite:
   It is highly suggested that students have at least a two day Outdoor First Aid or a REC 2 course before enrolment.
    Anyone who enrolls in this WFR course is encouraged to attend our Outdoor First Aid course prior to the beginning of the WFR training free of charge.

Cost: €450
Food and Lodging is provided for €80 for the week in the Arther Vincent Hostel.
Snacks and tea will always be available

Download a PDF file describing WFR training (64kb)
Download the WFR pre course handout (140kb)

Dates: August 23-27, 2010
            9am-9pm

-20 hours pre study required
-50 hours of hands on wilderness based training in County Kerry

Click here for the Course Schedule
Click here to register for Courses

 

CERTIFICATION:
The WFR curriculum is based on the guidelines from the Wilderness Medical Society.
Additionally the WFR curriculum is approved by the following organisations:
Australasian Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
American Safety and Health Institute

 

 

Small Class Sizes:
  It is our aim here at IPNA and Remote Medicine Ireland to provided exceptional learning environments. We have a low student to instructor ratio which is extremely important when dealing with complex medical topics. For that reason we keep our student numbers significantly low in order to maximise learning and experience.

 

RMI offers variations of the WFR course for private organisations:
Tactical Emergency Care
Combat Lifesaver Course
Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals (WUMP)
Ranger First Responder
Remote Area Medic

 

Here are some of Aebhric's blogs on Wilderness Medicine
Common Wilderness Diseases
Herbal Applications in Wilderness Medicine

   Wilderness Wound Management                                    Patient Assessment Skills

          

                                                                                        

Remote Medicine Ireland is part of the Institute for Permaculture and Nature Awareness