Advanced Wilderness First Aid Recertification

Itinerary

There are 2 course formats: 5 consecutive days and split weekend courses. The itineraries are as follows:

5 Consecutive days: 8:30 am-5:00 pm with a 1-hour lunch break each of the 5 days.

Split Weekend courses: 6:00 pm-10:00 pm Friday evenings (2 sessions, 1 each weekend), Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am -5:00 pm with a 1-hour lunch. Your course will begin at 6:00 pm on Friday evening.

This 5-day course (eight hour days) consists of classroom instruction and field scenarios. The course requires pre-reading as well as assignments to be completed before arriving at the program. Students who have not taken a course with us in the past will need to submit an electronic copy of their current (not-expired) 80-hour wilderness first aid certificate to the Yamnuska Office.   Students must also bring a physical copy of their current 80-hour Certification to their instructor on the first day of the program. 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. Yamnuska also offers the textbook for sale at our office for $40.00 should you wish to purchase this as a study aid. If you do not have your original course textbook we strongly recommend you obtain a new one.

Every three years participants are required to refresh their Advanced Adventure Medic / Wilderness First Responder skills.

5-Day Program: The five-day program offers ample opportunities for discussion, review, and practice of both theory and skills taught in the full course. This program moves at a relaxed pace and ensures that learners leave with a thorough understanding of course topics. The five-day program offers ample opportunities for discussion, review, and practice of both theory and skills taught in the full course. This program ensures that learners leave with a thorough understanding of course topics.

Throughout the program, students are required to demonstrate:
• Patient assessment and accurate vital sign taking
• Airway management (OPA / NPA placement as well as the more basic airway maneuvers)
• Oxygen administration
• CPR skills
• Bandaging and wound care
• Extremity fracture stabilization
• Traction splinting for femur stabilization
• Pelvic splinting
• Spinal restriction skills (improvised and commercial equipment)
• Patient carries and moves
• Environmental stabilization for an injured patient

This is a re-certification course and is not designed to cover topics in detail. You will be expected to already have a high 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 you are not comfortable with demonstrating key skills, you should consider a refresher course prior to re-certification.

New First Aid Standards come into effect on January 15, 2020
Alberta Labour has adopted the Canadian Standards Association Standard Z1210-17 for First Aid Training in the Province of Alberta.
How will these changes affect you?
If you are re-certifying an Advanced Adventure Medic or Wilderness First Responder (80 hours) course, then a 3-day re-certification course will no longer provide the minimum practical hours to be compliant with CSA standards. From January 2020, the Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine Re-certification course at the Advanced level will be a 5-day / 40-hour program in order to comply with these newly adopted Canadian standards.
Updated: October 18, 2019

Course Agenda

This is an intensive course, so be sure to arrive prepared and ready to demonstrate your first aid skills. Each day will begin at 8:30 am and run until about 5:00 pm with a 1-hour break for lunch. 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 has a combination of curriculum reviews and wilderness first aid scenarios. Students will be assessed on their practical first aid skills during scenarios and practice sessions. The course ends with a final written exam. 100% attendance is required. A mark of 80% or higher on the final written exam, as well as a demonstration of all required practical skills,  is required to pass the course.

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 80 Hour Wilderness First Aid certification in order to take the recertification course. If you allow your certificate to expire you must take the full 80-hour program again to regain your certification.
2. What is the difference between the Advanced Adventure Medic Certification and the Wilderness First Responder Certification? The AAM certification is recognized by Alberta Workplace Health and Safety and by extension, the other western provinces. The WFR is recognized by the Outdoor Industry or other professions that require 80-hour advanced first aid. You can only qualify for the AAM if your certification is from an approved Alberta WH&S provider. Many of the 80-hour wilderness-based courses are not recognized. Please check on the Alberta government or another governing body website for more information.
3. What time of year do you usually offer the recertification courses, and how fast do they fill up/sell out? Recertification 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.
4. I took my original 80-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 80-hour Advanced 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) 80-hour course certificate to the Yamnuska Office.   You must bring a copy of your current certification to your instructor on the first day of the recert.
5. Which provinces in Canada is my certification valid in? Am I able to use this internationally? 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 20 hours to 120 hours long. You must check with your employer, especially if working outside of North America. The AAM certification is fully approved by Alberta Workplace Health & Safety and as such is recognized throughout the western provinces in the industrial setting as an 80-hour advanced wilderness first-aid certificate.

Getting to Canmore

Canmore is a 1-hour drive west from Calgary. Greyhound (1 800 661 8747) services Canmore from points east and west along the Trans-Canada Highway. 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

There are 2 course formats: 5 consecutive days and split weekend courses. The itineraries are as follows:

5 Consecutive days: 8:30 am-5:00 pm with a 1-hour lunch break each of the 5 days.

Split Weekend courses: 6:00 pm-10:00 pm Friday evenings (2 sessions, 1 each weekend), Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am -5:00 pm with a 1-hour lunch. Your course will begin at 6:00 pm on Friday evening.

The course begins at the Yamnuska office Day 1. 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.

Certification

RMAM certification is recognized throughout Canada (including the ACMG and Alberta Occupational Health and Safety) and the United States. Successful students will receive a certification card from RMAM, which is valid for 3 years. You will also receive your CPR level C certification. Within 3 years, graduates must recertify.

Successful completion of this course is based on attendance (100% required), and performance on both written and practical final exams. Not everyone passes this course.

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
• Copy of your Standard First Aid certification if you want and Advanced Adventure Medic certificate
• Clothing suitable for whatever the weather throws at us for the outdoor portions of the program
• For the field days, we would also like you to 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, Thermarest, Swiss army knife/Leatherman. Please bring your first aid kit.
• 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’s trip.