First Responder

The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) was created to provide outdoor leaders, search and rescue team members, and individuals working or recreating in remote wilderness settings the knowledge and skills necessary to deal with medical emergencies in the field. The 5-Day WFR format adheres to the same standards as the Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) 8-Day WFR format and is the first aid course required for most outdoor professionals working in remote areas. Topics covered throughout the duration of the course include patient assessment, environmental and back-country medicine, musculoskeletal problems, wound management, wound cleaning, splinting, bandaging, spine injury assessment, dislocation reduction, CPR and anaphylaxis.

Price: $1099

Offered at the Maine Island Lodge in Friendship, Maine.

May 26th – 30th, 2023

September 8 - 12th, 2023

Enrollment in the course must be complete no later than 2 weeks prior to the course start as 20-30 hours of pre-course work is required before the start of the course. Students must be at least 18 years old to participate in the course. No previous medical training is required. Lodging, meals, boat transport, and use of recreational kayaks and paddle boards all included!

We believe that whomever teaches your course has a huge effect on your preparedness to deliver critical medical treatment in the field. This course is taught by Jon Tierney, owner of Acadia Mountain Guides. Jon is one of the nation’s most experienced wilderness medicine instructors with over 1500 teaching days and tons of real-life mountain and street rescue experience. He is a flight paramedic and an internationally licensed IFMGA mountain guide.