40-hr Wilderness First Aid Recertification

Itinerary

This course is 24 hours, delivered over 2.5 days (20 hours) with additional online learning required. The program is highly practical with a focus on first aid skills and scenarios.

Day 1: 6:00-9.30pm
Days 2 & 3: 8.30am-4.30pm

Students who have not taken a course with us in the past will need to submit an electronic copy of their current (not-expired) 40-hour wilderness first aid certificate to the Yamnuska Office. Pre-Course reading materials and assignments will be sent to each student by email four weeks before their course start date. Students may use their past textbooks and first aid materials to study.

Days 1 & 2: Intermediate First Aid Blended Re-Certification

• Medical, Legal and Documentation Issues
• Documentation
• Communicable diseases
• Patient Assessment System
• Airway, Breathing and Circulation Management
• Choking
• CPR Level C with AED training
• Soft Tissue Injuries and their care
• Shock
• Heart Attack, Angina and Stroke
• Bone and Joint Injuries
• Spine, Head and Pelvic Injuries
• Chest Trauma
• Medical Emergencies
• Bites, Stings, Poisons and Toxins
• Heat and Cold Injuries

Days 2 & 3: Wilderness First Aid Re-Certification

• Principles of extended care
• Wound management in the field
• Burn Management
• Sprains and strains
• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Head and facial trauma
• Spinal injuries and packaging – includes spinal clearance
• Abdominal trauma
• Chest Trauma
• Lightning caused injuries
• Environmental Emergencies – Dehydration; Heat / Cold; Lightning; Drowning;
• Loss of consciousness
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Seizures
• Stroke
• Allergies and Anaphylaxis
• Hyperventilation
• Abdominal Emergencies
• Outdoor first aid kits
• Bivouac principles
• Moving, Packaging and transportation
• Critical incident stress management
• Packaging and transportation
• Backcountry CPR guidelines

Training focuses on the initial care, stabilization and management of an incident that occurs in a wilderness location.

This is a re-certification course and is not designed to cover topics in detail. You will be expected to already have an appropriate level of skill from your certification and will be responsible for demonstrating your knowledge to obtain re-certification. Key topics will be discussed and reviewed at a re-certification level. If you have not practiced your first aid since your last course or are not comfortable with demonstrating key skills, you should consider a refresher course prior to re-certification.

Prerequisites: Current 40 Hour Wilderness First Aid certification.
(Original certification should be dated no more than 3 years prior to the start of the program.)

Course Agenda

This is an intensive course, so be sure to arrive prepared and ready to demonstrate your first aid skills.

Day 1: 6:00-9.30pm
Days 2 & 3: 8.30am-4.30pm

Yamnuska has complimentary tea, coffee, and hot chocolate for students, as well as a fridge and microwave available to use if you wish to bring your own lunch.

The program is highly practical and is presented using a blend of theoretical concepts and practical activities, scenarios and simulations. For successful certification, participants must complete the following course components:

• All online course elements with a score of 75% or higher
• 100% attendance
• Demonstration of all required practical skills at the WAFA level

FAQ’s

1. My certification is already expired. Am I still able to take the recertification course? Unfortunately, no. You must currently hold a valid 40-Hour Wilderness First Aid certification in order to take the recertification course. If you allow your certificate to expire you must take the full 40-hour program again to regain your certification.
2. What time of year do you usually offer WAFA Re-Certification courses, and how fast do they fill up/sell out? WAFA RE-Certification programs are typically run in the shoulder seasons- Spring (April/May) and Fall (September/October). Programs do tend to fill quickly (sometimes 2-3 months in advance), so be sure to register for the date of your choice as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
3. I took my original 40-hour course through a different company. Am I able to re-certify through Yamnuska and Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine? Yes. Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine can recertify any 40-hour Wilderness First Aid certification. Students who have not taken a course with Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine in the past will need to submit an electronic copy of their current (not-expired) 40-hour course certificate to the Yamnuska Office.
4. Which provinces in Canada is my certification valid in? Am I able to use this internationally? Your Intermediate (Standard) First Aid Certification is recognized in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Equivalence can be sought in BC at OFA1 level. The outdoor industry has no uniformity when it comes to recognition. Many outdoor companies simply want you to have a “wilderness” first aid. These courses can be anywhere from 16 hours to 120 hours in length. We recommend checking with your employer, especially if working outside of North America. Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Equivalence can be sought for BC at OFA1 level.

Getting to Canmore

Canmore is a 1-hour drive west of Calgary. If visiting the area from far away you may want a car so you can visit local attractions and enjoy the surrounding mountains.

Frequent shuttles connect Calgary International Airport and Canmore.

Logistics

Day 1: 6:00-9.30pm
Days 2 & 3: 8.30am-4.30pm

The classroom is located at #100 – 50 Lincoln park, Canmore. Map

Instructors

The course is being taught by professional instructors and practitioners from Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine (RMAM). They receive intensive vetting and training. Course quality is continually monitored and assessed to ensure it meets the most current standards.

Accommodation and Meals

Accommodation and meals in Canmore are not included. A variety of accommodation options exist in both Canmore and Banff, including campsites, hostels, all levels of hotels as well as condo-style accommodation with kitchens or suites.  We recommend that you book your accommodations well in advance as all levels of accommodations in the Bow Valley fill quickly.

What to Bring

We ask that you bring appropriate clothing for the location and time of year. Remember that rain or shine, much of our time is spent outside doing scenarios. You will also need a sleeping pad/mat (for simulations), pens, and a notebook.

• Lunch unless you want to head into town for the break
• Clothing suitable for whatever the weather throws at us for the outdoor portions of the program
• For the field days, we would recommend you bring a pack containing items that you would normally take with you on a day out into the backcountry e.g. extra clothing, tarp, ski poles, duct tape, fire starter kit, ensolite/Thermarest, Swiss army knife/Leatherman.
• Additionally, participants are welcome to bring equipment with them that they regularly use in a backcountry setting to use as part of scenarios, examples would be snowshoes, skis, snowboard, ice axes, avalanche probes etc.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require full payment at the time of booking.

Detailed booking instructions and conditions.

Risk is an inherent part of all mountain activities. We strive to manage and reduce it however, it is impossible to totally eliminate. Learn more about our safety and risk management approach here.  Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the program. Please view our sample waiver copy.

There are two basic types of insurance that most travellers need to consider: Medical and Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance. We offer our guests coverage for both and highly recommend you purchase it.

Emergency Medical Expenses Insurance:

It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip.  Obtain extra coverage if necessary.  There is no charge for rescue in the national and provincial parks, however, costs such as air or ground transportation, long-term care and other services are not covered.

Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance:

We recognize that our guests’ schedules may change for many reasons; business, family, flight delays, injuries and other unplanned events.  For these eventualities, the Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance is a great way to protect your investment.

For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend the Simpson Group.  This agency offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical and Personal Effect Loss for Canadian Travelers.

Please note that this coverage is for Canadian residents only. For guests who are not from Canada and who are interested in the ‘Visitors to Canada’ insurance package please contact the Simpson Group directly at JSimpson@simpson-group.com and reference your Yamnuska Mountain Adventure trip.