Wilderness Emergency Medicine

REMS currently offers three levels of wilderness medicine courses: Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Wilderness First Responder (WFR), and Wilderness EMT (W-EMT).

Upon successful completion of course requirements, students are eligible to receive certification from the University of Vermont.

Course Offerings

Wilderness First Aid

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Wilderness First Aid (HLTH 1990) – 1 credit
Specifically designed for individuals engaged in outdoor recreation or education, Wilderness First Aid (WFA) is a 16-hour introductory course that teaches students the basic knowledge and skills needed to recognize, assess, and manage common medical problems, trauma, and environmental emergencies in wilderness or austere settings.

Course Objectives (taught at an introductory level and applied in wilderness or austere environments):

  • Understand and apply principles of personal safety and emergency prevention
  • Demonstrate basic patient assessment
  • Recognize and stabilize life-threatening emergencies
  • Manage common soft tissue and musculoskeletal injuries
  • Assess and manage common medical emergencies
  • Recognize and manage heat and cold-related emergencies
  • Identify and respond to toxic exposures
  • Demonstrate safe lifting and moving techniques
  • Understand proper documentation practices
  • Make informed decisions regarding next-level care and/or evacuation

Wilderness First Responder

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Wilderness First Responder (HLTH 1510) – 3 credits
The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training and certification is the industry standard for professional guides and outdoor leaders.

WFR certification standards emphasize the following proficiencies:

  • Ensuring rescuer and patient safety
  • Conducting physical exams to identify injuries or abnormalities
  • Assessing signs, symptoms, and vital sign patterns
  • Obtaining relevant patient history
  • Preventing medical problems related to activity and environment
  • Recognizing and mitigating environmental conditions that may lead to emergencies
  • Stabilizing emergencies and initiating appropriate medical treatments (e.g., splinting, wound care, spinal injury management, environmental threat response)
  • Assisting patients with their medications
  • Making informed decisions regarding the need and urgency of evacuation

Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician

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Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (HLTH 2510) – 3 credits
This course is designed for individuals already certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who wish to enhance their skills and knowledge to provide more effective emergency care in wilderness or remote settings. It prepares participants for roles in search-and-rescue units, ski patrols, and outdoor recreation or education.

The 40-hour course includes lectures, hands-on skill sessions, and scenario-based exercises conducted in a field environment.

Why Wilderness Medicine?

Whether you're leading outdoor expeditions or preparing for emergency response in remote areas, wilderness medicine training equips you with the confidence and skills to act decisively when it matters most.