Wilderness First Aid Courses

• Canadian Red Cross
  Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
• CPR-AED
  Level C included
• Course Price
  $575
• Course Duration
  40 hours

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Wilderness First Aid Course Summary

Registration

Overview

Resources

Preparation

Skills

Medi-Pro First Aid Training's Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course is an interactive and learner centered 40 hour certification program which includes CPR & AED, and is Nationally recognized for credibility and up to date evidence-based first aid principles. You will learn how to systematically approach and manage a wide variety of emergencies including CPR & AED, Choking, Deadly Bleeding, Heart Attack, Stroke, Wound Care, Splinting, Diabetes, Concussion, Spinal Injuries, Hypothermia, Heat Stroke, Poisoning and Overdose.

WFA Certification
Upon successful completion of the Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course you will recieve a Wilderness First Aid certificate with CPR-AED level C, as issued through the Canadian Red Cross, valid for 3 years. Canadian Red Cross certificates are generated and issued electronically through the national MyRC database, and provided in PDF format by email within 10 business days of completion of all course requirements.

CPR & AED Included
Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid training courses include Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillation (AED) level C certification. CPR-AED level C indicates training to provide CPR to Adults (9 and older), Children (1-8), and Infants (under 1 year).

Course Duration
Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid (WFA) is a 40 hour training course. Wilderness First Aid courses are typically delivered over 5 consecutive days with a significant portion of the course conducted in an outdoor wilderness setting.

WFA OVERVIEW

Dates &
Registration

✜︎

WFA
Certification CPR & AED
Included Where
to Go FAQ

Wilderness First Aid Course Overview

Review the information in this section to make sure that Wilderness First Aid will meet your training and certification needs, and give yourself the tools to arrive fully prepared for success and enjoyment in your Wilderness First Aid course.

Canadian Red Cross WFA Certification

Sample WFA Certificate

Canadian Red Cross First Aid and CPR programs are Nationally recognized for up to date protocols, and follow the the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) and the Consensus on Science and Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) guidelines.

You'll learn and practice a consistent but flexible approach to checking for hazards and assessing sick or injured patients in a remote outdoor scenario, and simple hands-on skills which will help you make safe decisions in any wilderness emergency, and provide both immediate and extended medical assistance to someone who is sick or injured.

Your Canadian Red Cross certificate is awarded to you after completion of your Kelowna Wilderness First Aid course, valid for 3 years and will indicate Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid (WFA) with CPR level C. Canadian Red Cross certificates are generated and issued electronically through the national MyRC database, and provided by email within 10 business days of completion of all course and examination requirements.

More than just a certificate, you'll have the confidence to act, and Be the Difference during an emergency in your household, workplace, community and outdoor excursions.

CPR C included with WFA

CPR & AED included

Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid courses include Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification. CPR-AED level C (Adult, Child and Infant) certification is automatically included with your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Recertification course. Other levels, including CPR-AED level A can be substituted by special arrangement.

• CPR-AED level A
  Adult CPR skills only
• CPR-AED level C
  Adult, Child and Infant CPR Skills
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
  CPR and AED skills for Health Care Professionals working in a high-performance team environment

Basic Life Support (BLS) can be included with Wilderness First Aid instead of CPR level C, however this option is only available for private group bookings, and must be arranged ahead of time with Medi-Pro. In most cases the simplest solution is to attend Wilderness First Aid and BLS courses separately, which comprises the same total classroom time.

Where to go

WFA Course Locations

Most of our Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid courses are provided in multiple classroom locations in Kelowna, Vancouver, the Lower Mainland and throughout British Columbia. By request, we can schedule private courses for your group at specific location of your choosing.

The location and directions for your particular Wilderness First Aid course will be indicated during the booking process, and included in the confirmation email you will receive upon completing registration.

• Make sure the WFA course you are registering for is in a location that works for you.
• Our booking platform may show WFA courses at different geographic regions on different course dates.
• Check your confirmation email to ensure that the course location indicated is in the region you expected.
• The link in your confirmation email will incude directions, but you should verify your intended route of travel ahead of time.
• Allow ample time for traffic and unanticipated delays to ensure you arrive at your classroom in time for your scheduled course sessions.

Click here for directions, maps and public transit options.

We recognize and respectfully acknowledge that we operate on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan and Secwepemc peoples.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid certification courses in Kelowna and Vancouver BC. Take a look through the Q & A topics listed below, to find answers to your Wilderness First Aid course questions. If you don't see the answers to your questions in this FAQ section, you may still find the information you're looking for in the other sections of this page, including Wilderness First Aid Overview, Wilderness First Aid Resources, and Wilderness First Aid Course Skills.

Of course, Medi-Pro First Aid is happy to answer all your questions if you choose to contact us directly through our Contact Us form, by email (training@mediprofirstaid.com), or over the phone (778-724-9054). We do our best to respond to all enquiries as quickly as possible during normal business hours from 9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday.

Q. When will I get my Wilderness First Aid Certificate?

Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid certificates are generated on the national MyRC course managemen platform and provided to Wilderness First Aid course participants electronically, in PDF format. Upon successful completion of your Wilderness First Aid course, Medi-Pro will upload and process your certification, and you will recieve your WFA certificate by email. Medi-Pro administration do their best to ensure this process is generally completed within 48 hours of course completion, but it in some circumstances it can take up to 10 business days. If you require immediate proof of Wilderness First Aid course completion, your Instructor can provide you with a temporary certificate before you leave the classroom. However it is up to each individual employer/regulatory agency to decide whether or not they accept temporary certificates. It is usually simplest to just forward your official Wilderness First Aid certificate with CPR level C (valid for 3 years) as soon as you receive it.

Q. Can I get a refund if I cancel my Wilderness First Aid course registration?

Medi-Pro's baseline policy is no refunds for last minute cancellations. However, we will do our best to work with you if circumstances beyond your control make it impossible for you to attend your scheduled course. In most cases, we can find an alternative course date for you and just move your existing registration to the new date. Depending on circumstances, and the number of previous cancellations, there may be a small re-booking charge, but we're compassionate people who understand that life can be messy.

Q. How long is a Wilderness First Aid course?

In British Columbia, the minimum classroom time required for a Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course is 40 hours. Medi-Pro generally schedules Wilderness First Aid courses over five consecutive days, or in some cases across multiple weekends. If your group requires a different timeframe, such as multiple evenings or a specific day of the week broken up across several weeks, you can make arrangements with Medi-Pro for a private booking that works for your group's scheduling needs.

Q. Is there an age requirement for Wilderness First Aid courses?

The Canadian Red Cross does requires that all Wilderness First Aid course participants are at least 16 years of age at the start of the first session.

Q. Can I renew/recertify my old Wilderness First Aid certificate?

If you hold a current and valid Wilderness First Aid certificate from Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance or another recognized provider, you qualify to complete a shortened Wilderness First Aid Recertification course. If your most recent WFA certificate has already expired, you will need to re-complete the full Wilderness First Aid course to obtain a new WFA certificate.

Q. I can't find my WFA Certificate. How can I get a replacement?

If you took your last Wilderness First Aid course with Medi-Pro Response Solutions or Frontline First Aid, we have a record of your certificate on file. Just let us know that you need a replacement copy and we'll send it out to you by email. Make sure to tell us if your email address has changed since your last Wilderness First Aid course registration, or if you need the copy sent to a different email.

Q. Where do Wilderness First Aid and CPR guidelines come from?

The International Liason Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), and the corresponding Consensus on Science and Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) task force groups constantly review and evaluate current First Aid and CPR practices from data collected around the globe. ICLOR and CoSTR periodically produce documents which summarize their most recent findings, as well recommendations on what current First Aid and CPR practices should be continued, which should be changed, and what new practices should be adopted. Based on the findings in these documents, as well as other scientifically credible sources, individual First Aid and CPR training providers such as the Canadian Red Cross produce their own evidence-based guidelines and educational delivery models.

Q. Do I need a Wilderness First Aid course?

Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid courses are appropriate for anyone who wants to learn new first aid and CPR skills, to brush up on and expand on existing first aid skills, or wants to improve their ability to respond with calm, assertive confidence in a medical emergency at work, home, or play. You might need Wilderness First Aid certification to meet the requirements for an employment or educational opportunity, help out in your community, or just improve your first aid skills. Either way, a Wilderness First Aid course is a great place to start your training in an enjoyable and learner centered atmosphere. The training, skills, knowledge, certification, content and learning objectives included with a Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course is relevant for...

• Ecologists
• Adventure Racers
• Cyclists and Downhill Bikers
• Recreational Campers
• Remote Outdoor field workers
• Outdoor Guides
• Wilderness Trip Leaders
• Summer Camp leaders
• Geographic Surveyors
• Geologists
• Ski Guides
• Tour Guides
• School Trip leaders
• Search and Rescue personnel
• Ski Patrollers
• Mountain Bike Patrollers
• Water Quality Surveyors
• Hunting Guides
• Fishing Guides
• Forestry Workers
• Environmental Workers
• Travellers
• Campers and Backpackers
• Kayakers and River Guides
• Paddlers and Open Water Guides
• Mountaineers and Mountain Guides
• Park Rangers

You should always confirm specific course and certification requirements with your employer, educational institution or governing body before making your course selection. Medi-Pro First Aid can provide you with best practice recommendations based on industry standards, but cannot make a blanket guarantee that any particular First Aid course will meet your individual requirements.

Q. What is Hands-Only CPR?

The baseline performance of bystander CPR includes continuous cycles of chest compressions combined with alternating ventilations/rescue breaths. The chest compressions pump blood from the heart and circulate it to vital organs. The rescue breaths put oxygen back into the lungs and bloodstream so that the blood being circulated is keeping cells alive. Ideally, an AED should be used as soon as possible as well.

Hands-Only CPR (also known a Compressions-Only CPR) is an alternative which takes into account that a bystander may not feel safe or comfortable performing the rescue breathing component. Performing the chest compressions continuously, without providing rescue breaths, can still produce a positive outcome without the real or perceived risks associated with rescue breathing. Although not as statistically effective as traditional CPR, the application of Hands-Only CPR has been proven vastly superior to doing nothing, and can help ensure the patient is still viable when emergency crews arrive to perform more advanced procedures.

Table of Contents ▲

WFA RESOURCES

Dates &
Registration

✜︎

Wilderness
Field Guide First Aid
Guide Mobile
App First Aid
Downloads First Aid
Kits

Wilderness First Aid Manuals and Resources

Get the most out of your Wilderness First Aid certification training before, during and after your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course by reviewing and downloading the resources and manuals available for easy reference.

Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Field Guide

Wilderness Field Guide

The Canadian Red Cross Wilderness & Remote First Aid Field Guide is a smaller, more portable companion book to the Comprehensive Guide to First Aid. You will refer to the Wilderness & Remote First Aid Field Guide throughout your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course in Kelowna, BC. A significant part of your Wilderness First Aid training involves familiarizing yourself with the Wilderness Field Guide, and learning how to use it as an on the spot reference when you encounter an emergency.

The information in the Canadian Red Cross Wilderness & Remote First Aid Field Guide follows the guidelines from the most currently recognized International Liaison Committee on Rescuscitation (ILCOR) and Canadian Consensus on Science and Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) recommendations.

Your Canadian Red Cross certified Wilderness First Aid instructor will provide you with a classroom copy of the Wilderness & Remote First Aid Field Guide to utilize in your WFA course. You also have the option to purchase a take-home copy, to keep in your home First Aid kit, vehicle glove box, backpack, camper, boat or cabin. You might even decide to buy a few copies to keep in different locations. You can also download a PDF copy of the Wilderness & Remote First Aid Field Guide included with your course fees, and keep it stored for quick, easy access on your computer, laptop, tablet and smartphone. Wilderness & Remote First Aid Field Guide contents:

How to use this Guide

• Minor Emergency
• Major Emergency
• Critical Emergency
• Wilderness First Aid & Wilderness First Responder only
• Italicized Tips

Legalities of First Aid

• Getting Permission to Help

Planning

• Trip Plan
• Food and Personal Medications
• Six Rights of Medication
• Water
• Lowering the Risk of Infection
• Camp Set-Up
• Leave No Trace
• Sleep Or Rest

Assessment

• Check
• Check the Scene
• Check the Person (Primary Assessment)
• Checking ABCs
• Recovery Position
• Secondary Assessment
• The SOAP Note
• Focused Examination
• Hands-On Check
• Shock
• Action Plan
• Death

Choking

• Backblows
• Abdominal Thrusts
• Chest Thrusts
• If you are by yourself and choking
• Baby

Circulation Emergencies

• Angina and Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Life-Threatening External Bleeding
• Tourniquets
• Life-Threatening Internal Bleeding

CPR and AED

• Compression-Only CPR
• CPR Compression Depth
• Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
• Using an AED

Breathing Emergencies

• Respiratory Distress
• Asthma Attack
• Anaphylaxis
• Smoke Inhalation

Wound Care

• Bandaging Guidelines
• Infection Guidelines
• Bruises
• Cuts and Scrapes
• Scalp Injury
• Friction Blisters
• Impalement
• Removing an Object
• Splinters
• Fish Hooks
• Nosebleeds
• Knocked-Out Teeth
• Eye Injuries
• Ear Injuries
• Amputation
• Evisceration
• Chest Injuries
• Burns
• Burn Priority Level

Head, Neck and Spinal Injuries

• Removing a Helmet
• Concussion
• Moving a person with a Head, Neck, or Spinal Injury
• Improvised Heand and Spine Management Options
• Tarp Lift
• Spinal Motion Restriction

Bone, Muscle, and Joint Injuries

• Splints and Slings
• Pelvic Injuries
• Realigning Fractures
• Dislocation

Sudden Medical Emergencies

• Digestive Illnesses
• Diabetic Emergency
• Seizures
• Mental Health Crisis
• Suicide
• Labour and Childbirth

Environmental Injuries or Illnesses

• Heat-Related Illnesses
• Cold-Related Illnesses
• Hypothermia
• Application of a Hypothermia Wrap
• Skin Frozen to Metal
• Water-Related Illnesses
• Cold Water Immersion
• What To Do: Rescue and Survival
• Self-Rescue: Open Water
• Self-Rescue: Breaking Through the Ice
• Rescuing Another Person
• Drowning
• Responsive Drowning Person
• Extremes in Atmospheric Pressure-Related Illnesses
• SCUBA-Related Illnesses
• Lightning Injuries

Poisons

• Inhaled
• Swallowed
• Absorbed
• Injected

Wildlife

• Animal Bites
• Animal Stings
• Leeches
• Venomous Snakebites
• Venomous Spider Bites
• Tick Bites

Extended Care

• Basic Care
• Shelter, Fire, Food, and Water
• Body Positions and Movement
• Personal Hygeine
• Toileting Care
• Rest
• Extended Wound Care
• Abscess Draining
• Pain Management
• Psychological Care
• Documentation
• Waterproof Documentation
• Communicating the SOAP Note

Evacuation: Transporting the Ill or Injured Person

• Carries and Stretchers
• Carries
• Stretchers
• Getting Help
• Signalling
• Activate Professional Rescue
• Commercial Evacuation

Appendix: S-O-A-P Note

Assessment and Decision Making Chart

Wilderness First Aid Field Guide

Canadian Red Cross Comprehensive Guide for First Aid & CPR

First Aid Guide

The Canadian Red Cross Comprehensive Guide for First Aid & CPR is an expanded, more detailed companion book to the Canadian Red Cross Wilderness & Remote First Aid Field Guide. You will refer to the Comprehensive Guide for First Aid & CPR throughout your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course. A significant part of your Wilderness First Aid training involves familiarizing yourself with the First Aid guide, and learning how to use it as an exhaustive reference when you encounter an emergency in your everyday life.

The information in the Canadian Red Cross Comprehensive Guide for First Aid & CPR follows the guidelines from the most currently recognized International Liaison Committee on Rescuscitation (ILCOR) and Canadian Consensus on Science and Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) recommendations.

Your Canadian Red Cross certified Wilderness First Aid instructor will provide you with a printed classroom copy of the Comprehensive Guide for First Aid & CPR for reference throughout your WFA course. You can also download a PDF copy of the Comprehensive Guide for First Aid & CPR for free and print it out, or keep it stored for quick access on your computer, laptop, tablet and smartphone. Comprehensive Guide for First Aid & CPR contents:

Chapter 1: The Red Cross

• Our History
• The Fundamental Principles
• Humanity
• Impartiality
• Neutrality
• Indedpendence
• Voluntary Service
• Unity
• Universality
• Red Cross Symbols
• Who We Are
• How We Help
• Disaster Management
• International Operations
• First Aid Programs
• Swimming and Water Safety Program
• Respect Education
• Community Health and Wellness

Chapter 2: Responding to Emergencies

• Preparing to Respond
• Preparing for Emergencies at Home
• Recognizing that an Emergency Exists
• Willingness to Act
• Legal Issues Around First Aid
• Good Samaritan Laws
• Workplace First Aiders
• Getting Permission to Help
• Duty to Report Child Abuse or Neglect
• Responding to Disclosures of Violence
• The Emergency Medical Services System
• Chain of Survival Behaviours
• Understanding Your Role as a First Aider
• Understanding Your Role in the EMS System
• Activating EMS
• When to Call EMS/9-1-1
• Poison Control Centres
• Calling EMS/9-1-1 for a Child in Your Care
• After an Emergency
• Lowering the Risk of Infection
• How to Prevent Diseases from Spreading
• Personal Precautions
• Equipment Precautions
• Environmental Precautions

Chapter 3: Check, Call, Care

• Check
• Call
• Care
• Secondary Assessment
• Shock
• Providing First Aid for Someone with a Disability

Chapter 4: Choking

• Partial Choking
• Complete Choking
• Responsive Adult or Child over 12 Months
• If You Are By Yourself and Choking
• Responsive Baby (Less Than 12 Months)
• Unresponsive Choking

Chapter 5: Circulation Emergencies

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Heart Attack
• Angina
• Stroke
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
• Life-Threatening Bleeding
• Life-Threatening External Bleeding
• Using a Tourniquet
• Using Hemostatic Dressings

Chapter 6: CPR & AED

• Cardiac Arrest
• Cardiac Arrest, Adult (After the Onset of Puberty)
• Cardiac Arrest, Child (1 Year to the Onset of Puberty)
• Cardiac Arrest, Baby (Less Than 12 Months)
• Continue CPR Until
• What to Do if the Rescue Breaths Don't Go In
• Compression-Only CPR
• CPR Compression Depth
• Chest Compression Rates
• Chest Recoil
• Decreasing Compression Fraction (Off-Chest Time)
• Special Considerations
• CPR for a Pregnant Woman
• Air in the Stomach
• Vomiting
• Mouth-to-Nose Breathing
• Mouth-to-Stoma Breathing
• Automated External Defibrillation
• Using an AED
• Medical Direction and AEDs
• AED Maintenance
• Working as a Team

Chapter 7: Breathing Emergencies

• Respiratory Distress
• Hyperventilation
• Asthma
• Using an Inhaler
• Using an Inhaler with a Spacer
• Allergic Reactions
• Anaphylaxis

Chapter 8: Wound Care

• Bandaging Guidelines
• Triangular Bandages
• Cuts and Scrapes
• Puncture Wounds
• Scalp Injuries
• Infection
• Burns
• Thermal Burns
• Chemical Burns
• Electrical Burns
• Radiation Burns
• Special Considerations When Caring for Burns
• Bruises
• Splinters
• Nosebleeds
• Foreign Objects in the Nose
• Knocked-Out Teeth
• Eye Injuries
• Ear Injuries
• Impaled Objects
• Amputations
• Crush Injuries
• Penetrating Chest Injuries
• Blunt Chest Injuries
• Abdominal Wounds
• Blast Injuries

Chapter 9: Head, Neck and Spinal Injuries

• The Neck and Spine
• The Brain
• Concussion
• Shaken Baby Syndrome

Chapter 10: Bone, Muscle and Joint Injuries

• Splinting Guidelines
• Osteoporosis

Chapter 11: Sudden Medical Emergencies

• Fainting
• Diabetic Emergencies
• Using a Glucagon Kit
• Seizures
• Febrile Seizures
• Mental Health Crisis
• Self-Inflicted Injuries
• Childbirth
• Miscarriage

Chapter 12: Environmental Illnesses

• How Body Temperature is Controlled
• Heat-Related Illnesses
• Heat Cramps
• Heat Exhaustion
• Heat Stroke
• Cold-Related Illnesses
• Frostbite
• Hypothermia
• Freezing of Skin to Metal Objects
• Snow Blindness
• Cold-Water Immersion
• Drowning
• Responsive Drowning Person
• Unresponsive Drowning Person
• Seasickness

Chapter 13: Poisons

• Identifying Hazardous Materials
• Swallowed Poisons
• Inhaled Poisons
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• Absorbed Poisons
• Poison Ivy, Sumac, and Oak
• Giant Hogweed and Wild Parsnip
• Injected Poisons
• Poisoning Caused by Alcohol or Drugs
• Drug Overdose
• Opioid Overdose
• Alcohol Poisoning
• Bites and Stings
• Animal Bites
• Rabies
• Insect Stings
• Tick Bites
• Lyme Disease
• Snakebites
• Spider Bites
• Black Widow Spiders
• Brown Recluse Spiders
• Stings from Marine Life

Chapter 14: Childhood Illnesses

• Protecting Children from Infection and Disease
• Questions to Ask Yourself if You Think a Child May Be Ill
• When to Call the Parent of a Child in Your Care
• Common Childhood Conditions: Guidelines for Care
• Comparison Chart for Epiglotitis and Croup
• Childhood Fevers
• Taking a Child's Temperature
• Complications Related to Fever
• Giving Medications
• When to Give Medications
• General Rules for Medication
• Medication in the Eye
• Medication in the Nose

Chapter 15: Caring for Children

• Toy and Equipment Safety
• Equipment for Babies
• Safe Use of Cribs
• Safe Use of Playpens
• Safe Use of High Chairs
• Safe Use of Baby Strollers
• Safe Use of Pacifiers
• Equipment for Children
• Safe Use of Child Bike Trailers
• Safe Use of Safety Gates
• Toys for Children and Babies
• Playground Safety
• Car Safety
• Safe Use of Car Seats
• Passenger Rules for Children: Safety Education
• Safe Use of Wheeled Equipment
• Choosing a Safe Bicycle
• Choosing a Safe Helmet
• Safe Use of Bicycles
• Safe Use of Skateboards and Rollerblades
• Fire Safety
• Reducing the Risk of Fire and Burns
• Fire Escape Plan
• What to Do in the Case of a Fire During the Night
• Ice Safety
• Water Safety
• General Tips for the Prevention of Drowning
• Safe Use of Bathtubs
• Safe Use of Backyard Pools and Hot Tubs
• Safe Swimming
• Safe Boating
• Teaching Children Safety Awareness
• Child and Youth Protection
• Abuse and Violence
• Neglect
• Understanding Bullying and Harassment
• Responding to Disclosures
• Childrens' Hygeine
• Diapering
• Dental Health

Appendix A: First Aid Kit Contents

• Example of an Emergency Supplies Kit
• Example of an Emergency Car Kit

Appendix B: Moving an Ill or Injured Person

• Body Mechanics
• How to Move an Ill or Injured Person
• Stretchers and Lifting Devices

Appendix C: Anatomy and Physiology

• Body Systems
• Interrelationships of Body Systems
• Respiratory System
• Circulatory System
• Nervous System
• Musculoskeletal System
• Muscles
• Skeleton
• Integumentary System
• Digestive System
• Urinary System
• Reproductive System

Glossary

Comprehensive First Aid & CPR Guide

Canadian Red Cross First Aid App

First Aid App

The Canadian Red Cross First Aid App allows you to keep lifesaving procedures and advice literally in the palm of your hands. Turn your Apple or Android smart phone, tablet, or mobile device into an extensive and instantaneous resource for the emergencies you encounter.

The First Aid App helps you maintain and hone your First Aid skills on a day to day basis, and provides you with the extra details that can make a huge difference when seconds count. Although mobile technology is not a substitute for first aid certification training and regular hands-on practice, having the relevant information including diagrams, phone numbers, video clips and flowcharts immediately accessible when faced with an emergency leaves you feeling more confident in your decisions and first aid capabilities.

Free to download, easy to use, essential to have. Download the App to get on the go access to First Aid videos, images, interactive quizzes, and step-by-step First Aid procedures.

Key features of the Canadian Red Cross First Aid App:

• Step-by-Step First Aid Instructions for everyday emergencies.
• Integration with 9-1-1, which allows to call EMS directly from the app.
• Videos, images and animations which visually reinforce your First Aid skills
• Prevention and safety tips for extreme weather and disaster conditions such as hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, fires, and tornadoes to keep you aware and prepared.
• Pre-loaded content which remains available even when cellular and internet data connections are not accessible.
• Interactive quizzes which allow you to compete with your friends to earn badges and showcase your First Aid skills.

First Aid Mobile App

Wilderness First Aid Downloads & Links

WFA Downloads

Your learning and enjoyment in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course, as well as your confidence and competence in a real emergency, are enhanced by your course materials and the supplemental resources you keep available.

The more first aid resources you familiarize yourself with and keep readily available, the more prepared, confident, safe and successful you are likely to be when you respond to a genuine first aid emergency. You may also find information pertaining to you and your employer's workplace responsibilities with regard to first aid procedures, equipment and patient care if you are acting in an official capacity as the designated First Aid Attendant.

You can access, download and utilize these resources before your course, during your course and most importantly after your WFA course to review and verify the simple First Aid skills you'll learn. Keeping digital resources such as PDF first aid manuals stored directly on your phone/mobile device means you will access to potentially vital first aid information even when you don't have cellular data service.

Wilderness First Aid Course Comparisons Online First Aid Courses Digital First Aid Certificates First Aid & CPR Guide Wilderness First Aid Field Guide First Aid Flowchart First Aid Assessment Model First Aid Mobile App ILCOR CoSTR S-O-A-P Note Trip Plan

First Aid Kits

First Aid Kits

Once you've completed your Wilderness First Aid course, you may want to update, replace or supplement your First Aid kits. Medi-Pro First Aid offers a variety of First Aid Kits to meet your needs at work, at home, or for personal use.

No single First Aid kit will universally meet all your needs, especially if the one you need isn't readily accessible wherever you happen to be. You might need a Level 1 First Aid kit at your workplace to meet WorkSafe BC's requirements, and a Basic First Aid Kit at home for your family emergencies. A smaller, more portable Personal First Aid Kit might be ideal to keep in your vehicle glovebox, golf bag, backpack or bicycle.

You will also have the chance to look at and purchase a selection of First Aid kits in the classroom during your Wilderness First Aid course.
First Aid Kits

Table of Contents ▲

WFA PREPARATION

Dates &
Registration

✜︎

Certification
Requirements Personal
Items Breaks
& Lunch Hygeine
& Attire Physical
Requirements Social
Interaction

Kelowna Wilderness First Aid Course Preparation

You will enjoy your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course in Kelowna, BC much more if you take a few minutes to review some basic expectations and arrived fully prepared to get the most out of your training. Wilderness and Remote First Aid courses in particular require thoughtful foresight and diligent preparation for a wide range of potential circumstances, weather, terrain, and group interactions.

Wilderness First Aid Certification Requirements

Certification Requirements

Our Wilderness First Aid courses are facilitated in a friendly, learner-centered environment, with the skills and principles presented in a simple and straight forward manner. Your Wilderness First Aid course Instructor will do everything possible to ensure that you meet national Canadian Red Cross, and provincial WorkSafe BC benchmarks for Wilderness First Aid certification and recognition.

Key first aid and CPR topics are presented in a distilled and relevant context, which makes them easy to understand and remember. A mix of interactive group activities and self-application make the first aid principles easy to understand and fun to learn.

Most of the course is dedicated to physical skills and hands-on learning which involve clear demonstrations immediately followed by opportunities to apply, practice, repeat and reinforce the first aid and CPR skills with realistic equipment.

In order to receive Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid certification, which is valid for 3 years from date of completion and includes CPR level C, you must meet the following course attendance, performance and participation requirements.

• Attendance in 100% of the course
  (this includes arriving, and returning from all breaks, on time)
• Minimum 75% on a multiple choice written knowledge evaluation
  (if needed, multiple attempts and reasonable accommodation are permitted)
• Adherence to all classroom/facility health and safety guidelines
• Active participation in all activities, skills, and scenarios
• Respectful behaviour towards the Instructor all other participants
• Legible, accurate submission of your First & Last name and your preferred email address
  (this is required for Medi-Pro to process your Certification through the Canadian Red Cross)

Personal Items to bring to your Wilderness First Aid Course

Personal Items

Bringing a few essential items with you to class can make the entire course more enjoyable. This added level of comfort can also help ensure you learn and retain the Wilderness First Aid and CPR skills, as well as meeting all the certification requirements as you participate.

Making sure you can see and hear your instructor, classmates and multi-media presentations is important. Although our Instructors will speak clearly and our video/projector screens are large enough to ensure full classroom visibility, you must bring any corrective eyewear or hearing aides (with fresh batteries) that you might need with you in your Wilderness first aid course. In some cases you might need reading glasses for your Wilderness First Aid Field Guide and text/writing based activities, or you may need corrective lenses to clearly view the videos, slideshows and instructor-led first aid demonstrations.

If you normally require daily medications, you should definitely bring them with you to class, and adhere to your normal schedule. You might also find that your active participation in the first aid skills and activities throughout the day can increase your metabolic demands and the corresponding medication amounts. Medi-Pro recommends bringing double your normal amount of daily medications in case your needs increase or the session extends unavoidably.

Arriving fully prepared to remain warm, dry, nourished and comfortable for your Wilderness First Aid course will require careful planning and attention to detail. Once each course session begins, you will not have time to return for supplies that you forgot or misplaced.

If you become cold, wet, hungry or dehydrated throughout the session, your personal safety may become an overriding concern and your Instructor may have to discontinue your participation. The specific types of clothing and supplies required to maintain safe and comfortable participation will vary depending on personal preference, caloric demands, metabolism, the time of year, and daily weather patterns.

You can use Medi-Pro's suggested list of supplies and local weather predictions as a starting point for your preparations, but keep in mind that weather systems can change without warning and you know better than anyone what you will need to remain comfortable outside for extended periods.

The items listed here are intended to be referenced as minimum recommendations only, and should not be interpreted as a complete and exhaustive list of relevant and required equipment. It is better to bring supplies that you don't end up needing, than to need supplies that you didn't bring.

Hydration Supplies

• Small water bottle for drinking throughout the day
• Large water container to refill the small water bottle as required
• Bring double the amount of water/fluids you anticipate requiring for each session
• Electrolyte drinks/additives may be advisable

Food & Nutrition

• 6 substantial Snacks that can be consumed quickly, with little to no preparation required.
• 1 substantial Lunch
• 1 substantial "back-up" meal
• Cooler with ice to keep perishables fresh
• Any cooking supplies you require to prepare your food
• Small gas-burning camp stoves are permitted
• Camp/Cooking fires are forbidden unless explicitly permitted on a case-by-case basis

Clothing

• Hooded, water-resistant jacket
• Water-proof rain jacket/poncho
• 2 T-shirts
• 2 Long-sleeved shirts
• Thermal Fleece/Wool zip-up/pullover
• Hat with sun brim
• Toque/Thermal cap
• Water-resistant shell pants
• 2 pairs of Quick-dry pants
• Shorts (in warmer weather)
• Thermal underwear/longjohns
• Hiking boots/footwear with ankle and arch support
• Wool socks
• UV protective eyewear

Health & Safety Supplies

• Any prescription medications you require (double the normal daily amount)
• Prescription eyewear/contact lenses
• Flashlight/headlamp with spare batteries
• Mobile phone
• Sun screen
• Orthopedic equipment such as knee braces and ankle wraps
• Knee pads
• Hand soap/sanitizer

Personal Items

• Toilet Paper
• Chapstick
• Insect repellant
• Seat pad/portable chair
• Umbrella
• Knee pads
• Wet wipes
• Large towel
• Pen, paper and clipboard
• Bag/backpack large enough to carry all your supplies

Wilderness First Aid course Breaks and Lunch

Breaks & Lunch

Your first aid course will be conducted in an "Adult Learning" format, which means that you will be free to excuse yourself from the classroom at any time, if you need to use the washroom, answer a phone call/text, or attend to any other urgent matter that can't wait until the next scheduled break.

Medi-Pro administration and Instructors recognize that unanticipated circumstances may occur outside the classroom which require your immediate attention, but will ask that you limit these distractions to only those that are essential, and to minimize the disruption to other participants.

If you become thirsty or hungry, you are encouraged to keep yourself nourished and hydrated in the classroom, provided this does not interrupt hands-on activities or interfere with others' safety, participation and learning. There will also be formal breaks scheduled throughout the day, which can be utilized for communications, snacks, lunch and beverages.

• There will be a 15 minute break approximately every 2 hours, depending on classroom progress and participant pacing.
• You must arrive with enough water or other beverages to keep you hydrated throughout each classroom session.
• There will be one 30-minute Lunch break every day.
• Access to local stores and restaurants may be limited.
• You must arrive with enough ready-to-eat snacks and meals to keep you nourished throughout each classroom session.
• Medi-Pro recommends that you bring double the amount of food and drinks that you anticipate consuming throughout each session.
• Anticipate that warm weather will increase your hydration demands and cooler weather will increase your caloric demands.
• Use of electronics is discouraged except during breaks and when the Instructor deems it specifically appropriate.
• Smoking, including the use of vaporization products is limited to designated times and areas.
• Consumption of alcohol or illicit substances in the classroom, facility or grounds is prohibited.
• Impairment, as observed or presumed by the Instructor, will preclude you from participation and certification, regardless of the legality of any substances involved.

Wilderness First Aid course Hygeine and Attire

Hygeine & Attire

Participating in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course in Kelowna, BC will involve working in close proximity with your classmates, and in a wide variety of changing weather conditions. Respectful physical contact is an unavoidable component of hands-on First Aid training. Out of consideration for your classmates, please arrive with hygeine, and the comfort of others in mind.

Although it is impossible to define the term "appropriate" when it comes to clothing choices, there are few universal considerations. Slogans, logos, or images that could reasonably be categorized as objectively offensive or controversial must not be worn or displayed. Clothing which is soiled to the point that incidental contact may contaminate other clothing, equipment or furnishings are not acceptable in the classroom. Clothing or hygeine products which emit a strong odor may make it difficult for other participants to concentrate or enjoy the lessons and activities.

The health of all participants and staff is of paramount importance, so if you are feeling sick, or suspect that you may be contagious of any viral or bacterial infection, you must not attend the classroom. In cases of last minute cancellations related to unpredicted illness, Medi-Pro will make reasonable efforts to reschedule your course for a later date, when you are no longer sick/contagious.

Your clothing selections should accommodate the ability to adapt to temperature and environmental changes, including rain, wind, hot sunny weather, cold weather, snow, and wet ground. Please arrive with clothing, eyewear, and headwear that will allow you to continuously participate in relative comfort, and bring a backup set in case your first set becomes unwearable.

• Hygeine and beauty products should be unscented or lightly-scented only
• Jewellery or accessories that could cause injury or entaglement may need to be removed
  (please do not bring expensive jewellery or irreplaceable heirlooms)
• Longer hair needs to be secured in a way that prevents it from getting into others mouths and eyes
• Your clothing should allow you to participate with comfort and modesty
• Slogans or images that might be considered controversial, disrespectful or confrontational should be avoided
• Some types of clothing may restrict your ability to participate or compromise your classmates' comfort.
• Although it is impossible to define every aspect of the term "inappropriate" ahead of time, we ask that you take this into consideration when making your choices
• Wear layers that allow you quickly adapt to changing temperatures and activity levels
• Wear breathable fabrics with water repellancy on the outer layers
• Headear options should include something with a visor for sun protection, a warm toque in case of cold, and a water repellant hat with a large brim.
• Sunscreen and lipbalm may be necessary depending on your tolerance and weather conditions.
• Footwear should provide ankle stability and substantial treadgrip.

Physical Requirements for Wilderness First Aid

Physical Requirements

Participating in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course in Kelowna, BC will involve significant physical activity. If you have medical conditions, physical injuries or limitations that might compromise your ability to safely participate in these physical activities, you must notify your Instructor at the start of your course. Your Canadian Red Cross certified Instructor will make reasonable efforts to adapt and accomodate your limitations, but it is your responsibility to decide whether or not you can safely complete any particular task.

Your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Instructor will balance the classroom between interactive theory components and hands-on physical activities, and you must actively participate in all the sections to successfully complete your Wilderness First Aid course. The physical requirements are not objectively intensive or difficult, but they do involve specific and repetitive movements. If you have any significant restrictions on your movement or exertion capacity, you should contact Medi-Pro well in advance of your scheduled course date to ensure that we can accommodate your limitations and provide the greatest opportunities for successful participation.

Physical activities typical of Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid courses include...

• Working on the ground from kneeling and crouching positions
• Repeatedly laying on the ground during wet and cold weather
• Walking on rough, slippery and uneven terrain
• Walking up and down stairs, hills and slopes
• Rolling and lifting an adult sized classmate
• Performing CPR chest compressions on a CPR mannequin
• Using a pocket mask with a one-way valve to inflate the lungs of a CPR mannequin
• Tying simple knots
• Tearing medical tape
• Remaining outdoors for extended durations in all weather and conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain and snow
• Kneeling on the ground
• Laying face-down on the ground
• Laying face-up on the ground
• Sitting for 15-30 minutes at at time
• Standing for 15-30 minutes at a time

Social Interaction in Wilderness First Aid Courses

Social Interaction

As a participant in a Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course, you will need to work with and show respectful behaviour towards all of your classmates. Regardless of any personal, philosophical, religious or political differences, you must support each other's learning throughout the course.

Respect is particularly important when learning, practicing or performing skills that involve physical contact with another participant. Physical contact is an unavoidable component of many core First Aid and CPR skills, so participants must be as respectful and professional as possible during these segments.

Each participant will bring their own unique experiences, backgrounds and perspectives to your Wilderness First Aid course, which will make the course more interesting and relevant for everyone, provided mutual respect is consistently demonstrated. Language or actions which impinge on every participants' right to a physically and psycologically safe learning learning environment will not be tolerated, and will result in expulsion from the program. You are not expected to agree with every aspect of your classmates' lifestyles and opinions, however you are expected to demonstrate respectful behaviour towards each other at all times.

Table of Contents ▲

WFA SKILLS

Dates &
Registration

✜︎

Wilderness
Introduction Wilderness
vs Urban Wilderness
Planning Wilderness
Assessment CPR &
AED Airway &
Choking Breathing
Emergencies Heart
Attack Stroke
& TIA Deadly
Bleeding Secondary
Survey Wound
Care Burn
Treatment Spinal
Injuries Sprains &
Fractures Medical
Emergencies Environmental
Illnesses Poisons &
Overdose Extended
Remote Care Evacuation
& Transport

Wilderness First Aid Skills & Principles

Your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course in Kelowna, BC will give you the skills and knowledge you'll need to make safe and effective decisions in a medical emergency, at work, home or play.

Wilderness First Aid Course Content

First Aid Skills

A strong emphasis is placed on developing a safety first attitude will help you anticipate and prevent many common injuries before they even occur. Responding to emergencies at work, home or play following a logical, universal and consistent decision making process is the underlying foundation of your Wilderness First Aid training.

Rather than being forced to memorize a rigid and outdated list of "rules" you'll practice a simple yet flexible approach to making sound decisions and taking sensible action that gives you confidence in any situation, regardless of the nature and extent of the injuries. You'll learn how to establish and maintain situational awareness while ensuring your own personal safety.

Assessing the patient, identifying and mitigating obvious, life-threatening inuries, followed by immediately alerting local 9-1-1/Emergency Medical Services are the most critical life-saving steps. You will also learn how to recognize and treat many common, medical emergencies and minor injuries, as well completion of WorkSafe BC first aid records. After completing your Wilderness First Aid course, you'll have the first aid skills and confidence to Be the Difference during a medical emergency in your community.

Introduction to First Aid Principles

First Aid Introduction

Your Wilderness First Aid course will begin with an introduction to the basic principles of first aid, including how and when to call EMS/9-11, recognizing and overcoming barriers that might otherwise prevent or discourage you from providing help in an emergency, and the differences between providing first aid care as a well intentioned bystander compared the responsibilities of a designated workplace first aid attendant. The legal and ethical connotations of providing first aid as a bystander will become clear and you'll feel more comfortable with your role if the need arises.

You'll become familiar with universal Chain of Survival behaviours and the value of being prepared ahead of time in an emergency. An emphasis on injury prevention at home, work or play will hopefully allow you to adopt small, simple changes to your surroundings after the course which will help prevent the need for first aid care. In addition to learning and practicing how to use basic first aid equipment such as sterile dressings, pressure bandages, triangular bandages and automated external defibrillators, you'll also focus on the value and applications of mobile communication devices such as cellular phones as a powerful tool during a first aid event or any emergency. Introductory skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• About the Red Cross
• The Seven Fundamental Principles
• Humanity
• Impartiality
• Neutrality
• Independence
• Voluntary Service
• Unity
• Universality
• Preparing to Respond
• Barriers to Action
• Preparedness
• Chain of Survival Behaviours
• Being Prepared
• Injury Prevention
• Willingess to Help
• Emergency Medical Response System
• Calling 9-1-1
• Mobile Communications
• Role of the First Aider
• Employer First Aid Responsibilities
• Wilderness Emergency Response Plans
• Activating Emergency Response
• Bystander vs First Aid Attendant
• The Good Samaritan Act

Urban First Aid vs Wilderness First Aid

Urban vs Wilderness

There are many differences between the urban First Aid principles that you would train for and utilize at home and in areas where 9-1-1/EMS services are readily available within a reasonable short timeframe. In urban circumstances, your role as a First Aider is generally limited to keeping the patient alive and as comfortable as possible while waiting in place for an ambulance to arrive and take over. In remote and wilderness settings, your First Aid responsibilities can increase dramatically by comparison, as well as the duration of time for which you are required to provide care for your patient. In remote circumstances, where emergency medical service is either unavailable or extremely delayed, you may need to consider First Aid and long term care interventions which would not be required or appropriate in an urban environment.

A sprained ankle in your front yard or on a downtown sidewalk will likely result in temporary discomfort and mild inconvenience in the big picture. However, suffering the same ankle sprain in an area that is inaccessible to any motor vehicles, and requires a 4-day hike to the nearest road access can have vastly different consequences. Not only does this injury prevent safe egress, but the rest of the group may become endangered as well, if supplies or weather patterns do not accommodate an extended trip duration. The immediate and ongoing decisions you'll have to make as a Wilderness First Aid responder may not only account for the injury itself, but the long term safety and survival of everyone involved. Some of the main skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials, regarding the differences between Urban and Wilderness First Aid include...

• Recognizing an Emergency
• Urban vs Wilderness First Aid Principles
• Geographically Remote Areas
• Technically Challenging Areas
• Accessing and Leaving Remote Areas
• Access to Definitive Medical Care
• Chain of Survival Behaviours
• Decision Making
• Personal and Group Concerns
• Use of Equipment
• Improvised and Commercial Equipment
• Environmental Factors
• How the Environment Affects Decisions
• Day Packs
• Trip Packs

Wilderness First Aid Planning

Planning Ahead

Wilderness First Aid training and principles extend far beyond simply reacting to injuries or illnesses as they occur. A trained and experienced Wilderness First Aid responder will start preparing and packing for potential injuries and medical emergencies while the trip is still in the planning stages. In many cases, the planning stage will involve obtaining information about the other individual members of trip, including any medical conditions, medications, allergies, emergency contacts, blood type, physical limitations, previous injuries, regular physician, and baseline vital signs such as resting heart rate and blood pressure. This information will help ensure the proper types and amounts of medications are brought, as well as a significant backup supply. A good rule of thumb is to pack double the amount of medication anticipated to be required.

It's also important to ensure that non-participating friends, family or administrators have a strong understanding of where the trip logistics including where it will begin, the waypoints and the end destination. If someone who is not travelling with the group will be making a pick-up, make sure everyone knows where and when this should take place. If a communication device is part of the trip equipment, you may want to arrange pre-designated messages and times to ensure outside resources are immediately deployed if an emergency causes delays or in case communications become disrupted. Don't forget to appoint another member of the group as the backup medical responder in case you end up in need of assistance yourself. Some of the main skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials, regarding planning and preparation include...

• Effective Leadership
• Legalities of First Aid
• Consent
• Preparing to be in a Wilderness or Remote Environment
• Trip Plan
• Trip Essentials
• Single-Day vs Multi-Day Trips
• Risk Assessment
• Assessing Human Factors
• Assessing Environmental Factors
• Food & Personal Medication
• Six Rights of Medication
• Seven Basic Body Needs
• Importance of Water
• Sleep
• Lowering the Risk of Infection
• How Infection Spreads
• Environmental Precautions
• PPE (Gloves)
• Camp Setup and Hygeine
• Preparing to Respond
• The Emergency Medical Services System
• After an Emergency
• Coping with Traumatic Events

First Aid Assessment

First Aid Assessment

The underlying foundation of your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid training course is the Assessment Model, which is a simple, logical, consistent approach to gathering information about the situation and the patient. Following the Check-Call-Care model, you'll learn and practice how to conduct a thorough assessment of your surroundings before focusing on the injured person, to ensure your own safety and the safety of others.

Checking the sick or injured person themselves during the primary assessment will give you a good idea whether or not there are any immediately life threatening problems and prompt you to take appropriate action if there are. Taking a few seconds to efficiently assess the person in a calm, orderly and logical fashion, rather than getting tunnel vision or using guesswork will help you prioritize the most important steps and interventions required.

The more information you can gather and process, following the Check-Call-Care first aid patient assessment system, the better decisions you'll be able to make regarding your own personal safety and patient care. First Aid patient assessment skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Scene Assessment
• Recognizing Hazards
• Your own personal safety
• Methods of Disease Transmission
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Use of Gloves
• Primary Assessment
• Airway, Breathing and Circulation (ABCs)
• Adequate vs Inadequate Breathing
• Visual Circulation Checks
• Assessing Skin Condition
• Assessing for Bleeding or Injuries
• Triage (Principles)
• Triage (How To)
• Head-Tilt/Chin-Lift
• Jaw Thrust
• Recovery Position
• Recognizing immediate life-threatening conditions
• Critical Interventions
• When to move back
• Consent for Care
• Life-over-limb decisions
• Secondary Assessment
• SOAP Note
• Focused Examination
• Hands-On Check
• Assessment Mnemonics
• Shock
• Vital Signs
• What are Vital Signs and What Do They Tell Us?
• How to Assess Levels of Responsiveness (AVPU)
• Moving a Person
• Assessment and Decision-Making Model
• Ongoing assessment and care
• Developing an Action Plan
• Death
• Getting Help in an Emergency
• Summoning Rescue/Evacuation/Medical Assistance teams
• Communication Devices
• In-Group Help vs Outside World Help
• If Someone Goes Missing
• Check-Call-Care
• Checking the Scene

CPR & AED

CPR & AED

When someone is unresponsive and they are not breathing, their heart stops beating and they go into cardiac arrest. The three biggest factors that increase the chances of surviving cardiac arrest are early CPR, early AED, and early activation and arrival of EMS/9-1-1 professional medical responders. As a bystander or witness to cardiac arrest, you can take immediate actions, including calling EMS/9-1-1, performing CPR, and utilizing an AED if available, that will have a dramatic impact on the patient's chances of survival.

During your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course, you will learn and practice the vital basics of CPR skills including CPR compressions, Rescue Breathing, and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). You also learn that CPR is not an all or nothing skill, and the illusion of "perfect" CPR does not exist and is not the most compelling factor in cardiac arrest survival. Any CPR that you perform will increase the odds of survival, even if it is not "perfect" or complete.

You'll have the opportunity to practice the key hands-on components of CPR in a practical and reassuring manner, with emphasis on the realities of CPR including broken ribs, agonal respirations, compression-only CPR and the fact that CPR is not a guaranteed success every time. No matter what happens, you'll know you did your best in the circumstances and that you are not personally responsible for the outcome. CPR and AED skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Cardiopulmonary Rescuscitation (CPR)
• CPR Chest Compressions
• CPR Chest Compression Location
• CPR Chest Compression Depth
• CPR Chest Compression Rate
• Compression-Only CPR
• Rescue Breathing
• CPR with Rescue Breaths
• CPR Compression to Ventilation Ratios
• When to Start CPR
• When to Stop CPR
• Barrier devices and Mouth to Mouth Resuscitation
• CPR & AED for Adults
• CPR & AED for Children
• CPR & AED for Babies
• Obvious Signs of Life
• Return of Spontaneous Circulation
• Performing CPR by yourself
• Performing CPR with others
• Special Considerations for CPR
• Mouth to Stoma Resuscitation
• Agonal Respirations
• Air in the stomach during CPR
• Patient vomiting during CPR
• Automated External Defibrillation (AED)
• How an AED Works
• Special Circumstances for AED
• Shockable Heart Rhythms
• Ventricular Tachycardia
• Ventricular Fibrillation
• Using an AED on metal surfaces
• Using an AED near wet surfaces
• Using an AED with a Pacemaker
• Using an AED with excessive body hair
• Using an AED with Medical Patches
• Limitations of CPR in Wilderness & Remote Environments
• Two-Rescuer CPR
• CPR with AED

Choking & Airway Emergencies

Choking

Choking is a very common medical emergency experienced by infants, children and even adults. This can be an extremely stressful situation, and the outcome of a choking incident can become fatal, but there are several simple steps you can take to help someone who is choking, and clear their airway so they can resume breathing normally. If someone is still able to make an effort to clear the obstruction themselves, the best approach is to simply encourage them to continue and increase their efforts. If their airway becomes completely blocked and they are no longer able to make a coughing effort, you can apply an alternating combination of backblows, abdominal thrusts and chest thrusts to clear the obstruction.

You'll learn and practice how to watch for the universal signs of choking, some of the counterproductive and potentially dangerous reactions that an adult may experience, and how to immediately intervene when needed. It's important to note that even if the efforts to clear the obstruction are successful, and the person can resume breathing normally, there may still be underlying complications and injuries related to the choking and/or the the steps taken to clear it. Someone who was choking and required backblows, abdominal thrusts or chest thrusts should seek further professional medical attention to ensure they do not have any lingering injuries or complications. Choking and Airway Obstruction skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Function of the Respiratory System
• Anatomy & Physiology of the Respiratory System
• Partial/Incomplete Choking
• Responsive Choking Adult
• Responsive Choking Child
• Responsive Choking Baby
• Chest Thrusts for Choking
• Abdominal Thrusts for Choking
• Back Blows for Choking
• Alternating First Aid for Choking Techniques
• Modifications for Choking during Pregnancy
• Modifications for Choking in a Chair
• Modifications for Large/Obese Choking Adult
• Unresponsive Choking Adult
• Unresponsive Choking Child
• Unresponsive Choking Baby
• CPR & AED during Choking
• Respiratory Arrest
• Sustained Airway Obstruction
• Visual Obstruction Checks
• Removing a visible obstruction
• Adult CPR with an Airway Obstruction
• Child CPR with an Airway Obstruction
• Baby CPR with an Airway Obstruction
• Complete Choking (Alone)
• Follow-up care for somone who was choking
• Potential complications from choking
• Aspiration into the lungs
• What to do when someone collapses

First Aid for Breathing Emergencies

Respiratory Distress

Breathing emergencies and respiratory distress can be caused by physical injuries as well several common medical conditions such as Bronchitis, Asthma, Emphysema, Anaphylaxis, Pnuemonia, COPD, and Anxiety. Regardless of the specific cause behind the breathing emergency, you'll learn some universal steps to mitigate and relieve respiratory distress in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course.

During your Wilderness First Aid training, you'll learn that just speaking calmly and reassuringly to someone experience respiratory distress can have a surprisingly significant impact and encourage a positive improvement in their overall physical condition; and you'll practice talking to patients in that reassuring manner. In addition to these universal steps, you'll also learn about the medications which are commonly associated with the underlying medical conditions, and how to safely and effectively assist someone in taking it as a potentially life-saving intervention. Breathing emergency and respiratory distress skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Anatomy & Physiology of the Respiratory System
• Adequate/Normal Breathing
• Respiratory Assessment
• Signs and Symptoms of Breathing Emergencies
• Respiratory Distress
• Respiratory Arrest
• Respiratory Illness
• Bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Pneumonia
• Hyperventilation
• Panic Attacks
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• General Care for Respiratory Distress
• Asthma
• Asthma triggers
• Recognizing a severe asthma attack
• Assisting with an Inhaler
• Pneumonia
• Allergic Reactions
• Antihistimines
• Assisting with Benadryl
• Reading Medication Labels
• Anaphylaxis
• Anaphylactic Shock
• Hives
• Airway Swelling
• Assisting with an Epi-Pen
• Smoke Inhalation
• Airway Inflammation
• Hyperventilation

Wilderness First Aid for Heart Attacks

Heart Attacks

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, Heart Disease is the second most common cause of death for Canadians. When the arteries that feed the heart muscle itself become occluded or blocked with cholesterol, plaque or blood clots the muscles of the heart become starved of oxygen and cannot function properly. This can lead to chronic Chest Pain known as Angina, where the heart muscle is continually starved, and eventually cause a Heart Attack where the heart muscled actually dies from lack of blood and oxygen.

In your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course, you'll learn how to recognize the most common signs and symptoms of a heart attack as well as the atypical/soft signs and symptoms mainly associated with heart attacks in women. In addition to taking the universal approach of treating for shock and keeping the person as calm, rested and comfortable as possible, you'll learn and practice how to assist someone having a suspected heart attack with medications such as Acetylsalycilic Acid (ASA/Aspirin) tablets which are platelet inhibitors and anti-inflammatory, and Nitroglycerin spray which is a blood vessel dilator. Heart Attack and Angina skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Anatomy of the Heart
• The Coronary Artery
• Heart Attack
• Myocardial Infarction
• Angina
• Classic signs & symptoms of a Heart Attack
• Chest Pain
• Left Arm and Jaw Pain
• Diaphoresis
• Pale, Cool Skin
• Difficulty Breathing
• Soft signs & symptoms of a Heart Attack
• Nausea
• Headache
• Lower Back Pain
• Assisting with Medication for Heart Attacks
• Assistance vs Administration
• Assisting with ASA (Aspirin) tablets
• Assisting with Nitroglycerin Spray

Wilderness First Aid for Stroke

Stroke & TIA

When a blood clot, embolism, plaque or aneurysm prevents adequate blood flow to the brain, a part of the brain tissue can starve or die, causing a stroke. In some cases the blood flow may resume before permanent damage occurs, which is commonly referred to as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). The longer the blood flow is disrupted the more brain tissue dies and the more dramatic and permanent the damage becomes. As the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, and the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, the physical effects/deficits created by the stroke are usually seen on the opposite side of the affected brain.

Other than early recognition of the signs and symptoms of a potential Stroke, including sudden headache, one-sided weakness/paralysis, dizziness, confusion and slurred speech, there is very little that you can do to prevent permanent brain damage once a stroke has occured. This is why it's so important to immediately call 9-1-1 as soon as you suspect a Stroke, so that definitive medical care can be obtained and the underlying cause of the Stroke can be managed by emergency medical physicians. The sooner a Stroke patient gets to the hospital, the less brain function they will lose and the greater their chances of survival and recovery. Stroke and TIA skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Stroke
• Causes of Stroke
• Embolisms
• Aneurysms
• Thrombosis
• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
• Signs & Symptoms of Stroke
• Cincinnati Stroke Scale
• FAST acronym for recognizing Stroke
• Facial droop
• Arm/one sided weakness
• Speech slurring
• Time is brain / Time to call 9-1-1
• Early recognition and treatment for Stroke
• Psychomotor Deficits

First Aid for Deadly Bleeding

Deadly Bleeding

Although the exact amount of blood loss that can become fatal varies, deadly bleeding is generally characterized blood soaking through clothing, spurting and bright red, and/or pooling on the ground. Internal bleeding can be just as, if not more dangerous than external bleeding because there is nothing you can immediately do to stop it, and is usually accompanied by significant bruising/discoloration and rigid distension of the abdomen.

In your Wilderness First Aid course, you will practice controlling deadly bleeding by utilizing a simple form of direct pressure with a bandage and a dressing. A dressing is any absorbant material that is placed directly over the wound, and a bandage is any material used to bind and hold the dressing tightly in place, keeping the bleeding controlled and the wound as clean as possible. The cleaner/more sterile the materials you use for your bandage and dressing, the less likely infection is to set in, however the most important aspect is to control the bleeding.

For the relatively rare cases where direct pressure is impractical or ineffective you will also practice using a commercial or improvised tourniquet, controlling the bleed with indirect pressure. Tourniquets are placed approximately 2 inches above/upstream of the wound and are gradually tightened to crush the nearest artery against the nearest long bone, thus crimping the atery closed and slowing the bleeding. Deadly bleeding skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Function of the Circulatory System
• Anatomy & Physiology of the Circulatory System
• Capillary Bleeding
• Venous Bleeding
• Arterial Bleeding
• Minor Bleeding
• Deadly Bleeding
• Internal Bleeding
• Shock
• Treatment for Shock
• External Bleeding
• Controlling External Bleeding
• Signs and Symptoms of Internal Bleeding
• Direct Pressure
• Bandages
• Dressings
• Indirect Pressure
• Commercial Tourniquets
• Improvised Tourniquets
• When to utilize a Tourniquet
• When to remove a Tourniquet
• Hemostatic Dressings
• Limb Amputations

Wilderness First Aid Secondary Survey

Secondary Survey

Your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course includes training on how to perform a thorough patient assessment in two main stages. Initially, you are spending only a few seconds checking the patient for obvious and immediately life-threatening injuries or conditions. Once that is complete and you have dealt with any life-threatening problems found you may start a slower, more methodical and thorough Secondary Survey assessment.

During the secondary assessment, you will review the information you've already gathered and supplement it with an Interview, Vital Signs and Focused Examination or Hands-on Head to Toe Examination. You may discover less urgent injuries for which you can provide comfort and treatment, or you may discover more urgent but less obvious life-threatening problems that you previously missed.

In your Wilderness First Aid course, you will practice the three components of a Secondary Survey including a patient Interview following the S-A-M-P-L-E question mnemonic, checking the patient's Vital Signs and performing either a Focused Physical Examination or Hands-On Head-to-Toe Assessment. If the patient is responsive and can answer questions reliably, you will most likely utilize a Focused Examination. If the patient is unresponsive or the information they provide cannot be relied upon, you will likely perform a Hands-On Head-to-Toe assessment. Secondary Survey skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Components of a Secondary Survey
• The purpose of a Secondary Survey
• When to conduct a Secondary Survey
• Patient Interview
• S-A-M-P-L-E Questions
• Signs & Symptoms
• Allergies
• Medications
• Previous Medical History
• Last Intake of food or fluids
• Events leading up to incident
• Checking Vital Signs
• Assessing Level of Responsiveness/Consciousness
• Assessing Breathing
• Assessing Skin condition
• Hands-On Head-to-Toe Injury Check
• Focused Injury Examination
• How to assess Responsive Patients
• How to assess Unresponsive Patients
• Recording your Secondary Survey findings

Wilderness First Aid Wound Care

Wound Care

Different types of physical wounds vary significantly in scope, location and severity. Depending on how large the wound is and what tissues/underlying bodily structures are involved, a wound may present just a minor inconvenience or represent an urgent, life-threatening condition. In many cases, the final outcome will depend on the immediate and long term care the person receives after incurring the wound.

A small cut on the end a finger may intially only pose minor discomfort and inconvenience, but can lead to life-threatening complications if left unattended and becomes infected, causing septic shock. A chunk of broken glass impaled into the shoulder could lead to deadly bleeding if removed prematurely or not properly stabilized while awaiting definitive medical care. If the sucking chest wound accompanying a relatively small puncture in the chest goes unattended, it can lead to a life-threatening respiratory condition known as tension-pneumothorax and/or hemothorax.

Even when the first aid performed for wounds is not immediately critical, you can still make the injured person more comfortable, prevent further aggravation and escalation of the injury and prevent long-term complications. Wound Care skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Wound Anatatomy
• Basic Wound Care
• Bandages
• Dressings
• Minor Wounds
• Withstanding Movement
• First Aid for Cuts & Scrapes
• Stitches
• Preventing Infection
• Signs & Symptoms of Infection
• Nose Bleeds
• Epistaxis
• Knocked-Out Teeth
• Ear Injuries
• Scalp Injuries
• Splinters
• Friction Blisters
• Fish Hooks
• Eye Injuries
• Impaled Objects
• Crush Injuries
• Crush Syndrome
• Amputations
• Partial Amputations
• Chest Injuries
• Broken Ribs
• Flail Chest
• Sucking Chest Wounds
• Pneumothorax
• Hemothorax
• Tension Pneumothorax
• Abdominal Injuries
• Pelvic Injuries
• Evisceration
• Stages of Wound Healing

First Aid for Burns

Burns

Burns are among the most painful type of injury, and are generally classified into 3 categories based on the depth of tissues affected. Superficial/First Degree burns only affect the outer epidermal layer of the skin, and are usually accompanied by painful reddened areas. Partial Thickness/Second Degree burns involve the deeper tissues of the dermis as well as the outer epidermal layers, and are generally identified by pain, blisters, redness and thick peels of skin. Full Thickness/Third Degree burns usually cause blackened, charred skin and tissue which may extend all the way down to the fatty layers, muscles and even bone.

Burns can become immediately life-threatening if they affect the airways and impair breathing, which is particularly common with inhalation injuries from being inside a burning building or breathing in chemical fumes. The most commonly life-threatening aspect of burn injuries is the rapid onset of infection and subsequent septic shock. This occurs because the skin which normally protects internal structures from infection is removed or damaged, and bacteria overwhelmingly penetrates the body's systems.

Some of the most important aspects of providing first aid care for burn injuries that you will learn and practice in your Wilderness First Aid course include ensuring your own safety (in particular when dealing with chemical or electrical burns), cooling the burn to prevent further tissue damage, and protecting the burned areas from infection with dry and sterile/clean dressings. Wet fabric will wick dirt and bacteria through to the tissues, so a burn is not protected unless the coverings are clean and dry. Burn care skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Causes of Burns
• Types of Burns
• Burn Severity
• Chemical Burns
• Burns caused by dry chemicals
• Burns caused by wet chemicals
• Burns caused by chemical fumes
• Inhalation Burns
• Electrical Burns
• Entry and exit Burns
• Thermal Burns
• Burns caused by flame/fire
• Burns caused by hot/boiling liquids
• Burns caused by heated metal surfaces
• Burns caused by steam
• Sunburns
• Burn Prevention
• Superficial Burns
• First Degree Burns
• Partial Thickness Burns
• Second Degree Burns
• Full Thickness Burns
• Third Degree Burns
• First Aid for Burns
• Cooling a Burn
• Protecting Burns from Infection

Wilderness First Aid for Concussion, Head and Spinal Injuries

Head Injuries

Although true Spinal Cord injuries are relatively uncommon compared to other injuries statistically, they account for a disproportionately significant number of deaths and permanent disability. Basically, it's rare that the spinal cord actually becomes severed but it's extremely serious when it does happen (usually when the mechanism of injury involves excessive physical force such as a long fall or vehicle accident). If you suspect that, in addition to any other injuries or illnesses you've found during your assessment, somone may have injured their neck or spine it's best to minimize their movement and keep them as still as possible. If you have to move someone in order to protect them or provide crucial care apply the principle of Life-Over-Limb and do not hesitate, but unnecessary movements should be avoided.

By comparison, current medical evidence suggests that Concussion injuries are far more commonplace than previous believed, and the long-term/cumulative effects of Concussions are far reaching and very serious. Each time the brain is rattled/bumped inside the skull, the brain suffers damage which may or may not fully heal during recovery. Each successive Concussion event is more likely to create permanent damage, and cause more significant and permanent effects. If you suspect that someone have have suffered a Concussion injury, you should encourage them to seek definitive medical care as soon as possible, even if the effects do not seem immediately severe or obvious. Concussion, Head and Spinal injury skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Function of the Nervous System
• Anatomy & Physiology of the Nervous System
• Signs & Symptoms of Head, Neck and Spinal Injuries
• When to suspect Concussion or Brain Injury
• When to suspect Spinal Injuries
• Spinal Mechansims of Injury
• Spinal Column Injuries
• Vertebral bones
• The Spinal Cord
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Care for Head, Neck and Spinal Injuries
• Spinal Injury Airway Complications
• Approaching a Person with a Suspected Head or Neck Injury
• Principles of Life-Over-Limb for Spinal Concerns
• Removing a Helmet
• When to Remove a Helmet
• Head Injuries
• Brain Injuries
• Concussion
• Signs & Symptoms of Concussion
• Short-term effects of Concussion
• Long-term effects of Concussion
• Cumulative effects of Concussion
• Care for Concussion
• Moving a Person with a Suspected Head, Neck or Spinal Injury
• Spinal Motion Restriction
• Improvised Head and Spine Management Options
• Principles of life-over-limb with Spinal Injuries
• Manual Head and Neck Stabilization
• Improvised Spinal Collars
• Spinal Tarp Lift
• Spinal Motion Restriction (SMR)
• Discontinuing Spinal Precautions

Wilderness First Aid for Fractures and Sprains

Fractures & Splinting

Fractures are injuries which cause any damage to bone structures, which can include cracking, chipping, splintering, complete breaks, and compound fractures where the broken bone ends protrude through the skin. Sprains are injuries to the ligaments which anchor the ends of two bones together, and usually involve stretching and/or tearing. Strains are injuries, which also usually involve stretching and/or tearing, to the tendons which hold muscles to bones. Dislocations are injuries that occur when two bone ends which normally connect are pulled out of alignment, usually involving a shoulder, knee, wrist, finger or toe.

When someone damages a bone or joint, the injury may be limited to just a fracture, sprain, strain or dislocation, but more often the injury is a combination of two or more of those conditions. For example, a fracture to an ankle bone will usually include some damage to the ligaments and tendons, and may even involve more than one bone. Regardless of the specific structures and tissues involved, an injury of this nature will usually present itself with universal signs and symptoms that include pain, tenderness, swelling and discoloration. It is not necessary to diagnose the specific types of inury/injuries to provide good first aid care.

First Aid for fractures, sprains, strains and dislocations involves providing comfortable support for the injury, and preventing further aggravation or long-term complications. Injury stabilization and support is provided in the form of a splint, which can be improvised from many different materials and in many configuations. Ensuring that the patient remains as comfortable as possible, supporting the limb above and below the injury, and ensuring that circulation is not impaired are the main principles of splinting. It's important to note that although these types of injuries are not typically life-threatening, if the broken bones cut through the surrounding blood vessels, severe internal bleeding can occur. Fracture, Sprain, Strain and Dislocation injury skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Function of the Musculoskeletal System
• Anatomy & Physiology of Bones, Muscles and Joints
• Bone, Muscle and Joint Injuries
• Prevention of Bone, Muscle and Joint Injuries
• Signs & Symptoms of Bone, Muscle and Joint Injuries
• Bone Structures
• Ligaments
• Tendons
• Bone Joints
• Fractures
• Sprains
• Strains
• Dislocations
• Compound Fractures
• Repetitive Strain Injuries
• Femur Fractures
• Care for Bone, Muscle and Joint Injuries
• Principles and Limitations of Immobilization
• Boot Removal
• Splints & Slings
• Splinting for Patient Comfort
• Femur Splints
• Tube Slings
• Regular Slings
• Rigid Splints
• Soft Splints
• Leg and Ankle Splints
• Horseshoe Splints
• Jelly Roll Splints
• Pillow Splints
• Blanket Splints
• Splinting Tools
• Anatomical Splints
• Improvised Splints & Slings
• Principles of Splinting
• Commercial Splints
• Improvised Splints
• Triangular Bandages
• Arm and Shoulder Slings
• High-Arm Sling
• Low Arm Sling
• SAM Splints
• Pelvic Injuries
• Realigning Fractures
• Distal Circulation
• Fracture Complications
• Applying Traction
• Dislocations
• Reducing Dislocations

Wilderness First Aid for Medical Emergencies

Medical Emergencies

The term "Medical Emergency" covers a wide range of urgent situations related to acute or chronic pre-existing medical conditions that can create discomfort or become life-threatening. Some of the most common medical conditions that you are likely to encounter in a first aid context include Diabetes, Epilepsy, Pregnancy, Severe Allergy, Asthma, COPD, Heart Conditions, Mental Illness, and Pregnancy. During your Wilderness First Aid course you will learn and practice a universal approach to providing first aid care for someone experiencing a medical emergency, as well as some specific first aid interventions you can apply for some specific underlying medical conditions.

If someone is known or suspected to be diabetic, giving them sugar in any form can be immediately beneficial. If the person is hypoglycemic, giving them sugar will raise their blood sugar levels and improve their condition dramatically. Alternatively, if they are hyperglycemic, giving them sugar will further raise their blood sugar levels but will not cause further immediate harm. The only real caution with regards to giving someone sugar is ensuring that they will not choke.

Many medical conditions can cause seizures, which are typically associated with uncontrolled muscle convulsions which usually last a few minutes. In most cases, the crucial first aid measures you can take for someone experiencing a seizure include padding the area near their head and creating a safe space around them so they don't injure themselves during the muscle convulsions. Although you generally want to avoid physically restraining or holding someone during a seizure, it may be necessary to drag them away from a body of water, stairs or similar hazard to protect them. Once the seizure has concluded, the person may require further first aid care, especially if they are unresponsive or their airway has become compromised. Medical Emergency skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Digestive Illnesses
• Fainting
• Care During & After a Seizure
• Mental Health Crises
• Signs & Symptoms of Mental Health Emergencies
• Suicide
• Type I & Type II Diabetes
• Signs & Symptoms of Diabetic Emergencies
• Diabetic Emergencies
• Medic Alert Bracelets
• Alternative Medic Alerts
• High Blood Sugar
• Low Blood Sugar
• Relationship between Insulin and Blood Sugar
• Hypoglycemia
• Hyperglycemia
• Signs & Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
• Signs & Symptoms of Hyperglycemia
• First Aid for Diabetic Emergencies
• First Aid for Hypoglycaemia
• First Aid for Hyperglycaemia
• Seizures
• Types of Seizures
• Signs & Symptoms of Seizures
• Causes of Seizures
• Epilepsy
• Status Epilepticus
• Phases of a Seizure
• Aural Phase
• Tonic-Clonic Phase
• Post-Ictal Phase
• First Aid for Seizures
• Febrile Seizures (baby with a fever)
• Emergency Child Birth
• Stages of Child Birth
• Labour & Childbirth
• Child Birth Complications
• Care for Newborns

Wilderness First Aid for Overdose and Poisoning

Overdose & Poisoning

The ongoing Opioid Overdose Crisis is one of the most lethal, large scale and persistent Canadian public health crises in the past few decades. With the recent deregulation of Naloxone/NARCAN, many agencies have made emergency Narcan Overdose/Poisoning kits available to the public and especially the most vulnerable populations. Fentanyl misuse comprises the vast majority of Opioid overdose and fatalities, but there are many other opiates and harmful drugs as well. Administering Narcan, in either intramuscular or intranasal form can temporarily alleviate the most life-threatening aspects of Opioid overdose, such as respiratory arrest and unresponsiveness, but it does not completely remove the poison from the person's system. The opioids will remain in the system after the Naloxone has dissipated, so it is vital that someone receives definitive emergency medical care as soon as possible following the overdose and subsequent Narcan dose.

If the person is unresponsive and not breathing, it is more important to call 9-1-1 and start CPR with an AED (if available) than to immediately begin administering NARCAN. The Naloxone may be administered as well, but starting CPR is more critical when someone is not breathing. It's important to note that Naloxone/NARCAN is only effective against Opioids, such as Fentanyl and Heroin, and would have no effect on non-opioids such as depressants (ie Alcohol) or stimulants (ie Cocaine).

It is also unfortunately common for poisonings and overdose to occur from exposure, either accidental or intentional, to many other substances such as household cleaning products and workplace chemicals. The most important step in responding to a potential overdose or poisoning is to keep yourself safe from secondary exposure to the poison(s). If there is any doubt about whether or not it is safe to approach the area, it is better to keep a reasonable distance outside the affected area while waiting for 9-1-1/Emergency Services to arrive with the required specialized training and equipment. Overdose and Poisoning skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Types of Poisons
• Types of Drugs
• Types of Chemicals
• Household Products
• Workplace Chemicals
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
• Safety Data Sheets
• Poison Control Centers
• Ingested Poisons
• Inhaled Poisons
• Injected Poisons
• Absorbed Poisons
• Drug Misuse
• Drug Abuse
• Intentional and unintentional Overdose
• Alcohol Poisoning
• Opioid Overdose
• Opioid Poisoning
• Fentanyl Crisis
• Naloxone
• Public Access NARCAN (Naloxone) Kits

Wilderness First Aid for Wildlife and Environmental Illnesses & Injuries

Environmental Injuries

The Canadian outdoors have a lot to offer, whether you are simply enjoying a walk in the local park, gardening in your back yard, or trekking up mountain passes to spectacular lakes and glaciers. However, the outdoor environment also poses some hazards if you are unaware or unprepared. Extreme cold and/or heat are two of the most pervasive and persistent factors that can create injury or health hazards, but there a several simple steps you can take to prevent your body core temperature from raising too low or too high. Proper clothing layers, pre-emptive hydration and nutrition, as well as vigilance for early signs of hypothermia or hyperthermia will mitigate most of the dangers and prevent the need for first aid measures.

Some local plant life can create injury and illness as well, ranging from minor itching to severe blistering and infection, and poisoning if ingested. The most reliable way to prevent unwanted exposure to plant toxins is to recognize the dangerous types and avoid them. Long sleeves and full-length pants can help prevent direct skin contact with nettles and barbs, and regular use of sun screen can reduce the effects of UV activated toxins such as those contained in Devil's Club/Hogsweed.

Although relatively rare, some types of local wildlife such as insects, spiders, snakes, scavengers, and large predators can pose a risk of significant injury or even death. The effects of the sting of some insects such as wasps or scorpions can range from mild irritation to anaphylaxis, while poisons from the bite of a brown recluse spider, black widow, or a rattlesnake can become fatal if the envenomation is high enough. Small animals such as racoons may appear cute and harmless, but may also carry infectious disease such as rabies, and large predator animals can create significant physical trauma when provoked or hungry. Environmental injury skills and principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Heat-Related Illnesses
• Heat Cramps
• Heat Exhaustion
• Heat Stroke
• Cold-Related Illnesses
• Frostbite & Frostnip
• Non-Freezing Cold Injury (NFCI)
• Hypothermia
• Stages of Hypothermia
• Application of a Hypothermia Wrap
• Frozen Cornea
• Snow Blindness
• Freezing Skin to Metal Objects
• Water-Related Illnesses
• Cold-Water Immersion
• Self-Rescues
• Rescuing Another Person from Water or Ice
• Drowning
• High-Altitude Illness
• SCUBA-Related Illness
• Lightning Injuries
• Signs & Symptoms of Frostnip
• Signs & Symptoms of Frostbite
• First Aid for Frostbite and Frostnip
• Signs & Symptoms of Mild Hypothermia
• Signs & Symptoms of Moderate Hypothermia
• Signs & Symptoms of Severe Hypothermia
• First Aid for Hypothermia
• Signs & Symptoms of Heat Cramps
• Signs & Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion
• Signs & Symptoms of Heat Stroke
• First Aid for Hyperthermia
• Poisonous Plants
• Hogsweed
• Devil's Club
• Poison Ivy
• Poison Oak
• First Aid for plant exposure
• Animal Bites
• Rabies
• First Aid for Animal Bites
• Snake Bites
• Rattlesnakes
• First Aid for snake bites
• Jellyfish Stings
• Tick Bites
• Lyme Disease
• First Aid for Tick Bites
• Wildlife-Related Injuries and Illnesses
• Animal Bites
• Wild Animal Safety
• Hantavirus
• Animal Stings
• Stings from Marine Life
• Jellyfish Stings
• Insect Stings
• Leeches
• Spider Bites
• Regional Awareness & Preparation

Wilderness First Aid for Extended Care

Extended Care

One of the most significant, and often underestimated, responsibilities associated with acting as a Wilderness First Aid responder is providing extended and ongoing medical care for a patient in remote areas. Unlike medical emergencies in urban areas where paramedics, ambulances and medical centers are readily available, a Wilderness First Aid responder may be the most qualified available for an extended time period. Depending on the location of the injury, trip parameters, group dynamics transport options and weather patterns, it make be hours, days, or even weeks before the patient can be delivered to definitive medical care. In the meantime, a Wilderness First Aid responder will need to do everything reasonably possible to prevent injuries or illnesses from worsening, causing permanent disability or even death. It's always important to keep in mind that the circumstances and nature of the injury or illness could outperform the training and resources available to the Wilderness First Aid responder and a negative outcome may be unavoidable despite best efforts.

Activities and interventions that would be considered routine in normal circumstances can become complicated, time consuming and even risky in a remote outdoor location. A patient's toileting needs will not diminish just because they are unable to stand or walk, but soiled clothing and bedding will not only increase the chances of infection and medical complications, but also potentially attract local pests and wildlife endangering the entire camp. Minor wounds can lead to life-threatening infection and cause septic shock if left unattended, so daily inpection and cleaning of the affected tissues is extremely important in an extended care scenario. In many cases, a Wilderness First Aid responder will bring prescription antibiotics in the medical kit, after obtaining permission and instructions from a qualified physician or medical director.

Depending on the planned duration of the trip and how far into it the medical emergency occured, it may become necessary to improvise overnight shelter, make a fire, ration food and water supplies, and maximize insulation to keep the patient warm, nourished, and hydrated. The ability to maintain regular sleep patterns in a significant factor in the overall wellness and response capacity of the group, as well as patient stabilization and recovery. The ongoing health and wellness of Wilderness First Aid responder is important as well, so it may be necessary to delegate some of your duties to another member of the group. Extended remote medical care principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Shelter
• Fire
• Food
• Oxygen
• Water
• Water Purification Techniques
• Types of Shelter
• Site Selection for Shelters
• Monitoring an Ill or Injured Person
• Body Positions and Movement
• Personal Hygeine
• Toileting Care
• Rest
• Extended Wound Care
• Improvised Sterilization Techniques
• Abscess Draining
• Pain Management
• Psychological Care
• Documentation

Wilderness First Aid for Emergency Transport

Evacuation & Transport

When a medical emergency occurs in a remote or outdoor setting, the intial group response efforts are generally focused on dealing with immediate life-threatening conditions, assembling or improvising appropriate shelters, and then settling into ongoing patient care and comfort. Eventually, however a decision needs to be made regarding the best strategy to get the patient to definitive medical care and/or long term recovery facilities. There are many factors to consider in the transport decision including the urgency of the patient's condition, on location communication options, distance and terrain to the nearest roadway, watercraft or airstrip, trip supplies, group capacity, and weather conditions.

The available options will largely depend on the resources identified and secured during the pre-trip planning stage. If you have a two-way communciation device capable of transmitting your location and needs, it may be possible for someone at home to arrange for emergency transport and medical assistance. If communications are not possible where you are, you may need to consider sending a portion of the group to an area with better signal or even back to the nearest town to send for help. In both cases it's extremely important that your exact current location is accurately documented and communicated whether that includes a GPS coordinate or route plotting on a paper map.

Although helicopters are generally considered the fastest and safest way to evacuate someone from the wilderness, the terrain at your current location may not accommodate a landing or extraction. If that's the case you may need to consider moving the patient to another, more rescue friendly area. Transporting a patient in a canoe or kayak is much less physically strenuous than overland extrication, but you need to consider the likelyhood and potential consequences of the craft taking on water or capsizing. If the patient is incapable of swimming or remaining afloat they would likely drown in such a scenario, and possibly place the rest of the group in danger. Carrying a patient in an improvised litter might be the only tranpsort option available, but you'll need to realistically consider the physical limitations of the group compared to the distance terrain being travelled. A trail that is relatively easy during dry, well lit conditions may become dangerous or impassable during periods of darkness, heavy rain or snowfall. In all cases the overall well being of the entire group must be considered, as well as the urgent medical needs of the patient. Emergency rescue, evacuation and care principles covered in your Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid course and materials include...

• Transportation Planning
• Sleds
• Boats
• Helicopters
• How to Lead
• Stretchers
• Improvised Stretchers
• Moving the Person to Safety vs. Moving the Person to Transport Option
• Patient Drags
• Patient Lifts
• Patient Carries
• Patient Care During Transport
• Getting Help
• Signalling
• Communication Devices
• Geolocation Devices
• Navigation
• Route Planning
• Arranging Transport
• Activating Professional Rescue

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