Hybrid Advanced Wilderness First Aid (WAFA) Training WMAI

05/26/2026 08:00 AM - 05/27/2026 06:00 PM CT

Admission

  • $425.00  -  Full Price - Lunch Included
  • $425.00  -  Full Price Lunch Included - Vegan & Gluten Free
  • $212.50  -  50% Scholarship - Lunch Included
  • $212.50  -  50% Scholarship - Lunch Included - Vegan & Gluten Free

Description

Hybrid Advanced Wilderness First Aid (WAFA) Training WMAI
May 26 & May 27 | 8am-6pm | At CCHE and Cook County Outside Location
Alice Henshaw, AVH Global LLC, WMAI Instructor
A one-hour lunch break will be provided each day—and lunch is based on the preferences you provide at registration!

The Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) is the perfect entry-level course for outdoor adventurers and outdoor professionals who may need to provide patient care when help is delayed for hours to days. The course focuses on basic lifesaving skills, patient assessment, field care for common injuries and illnesses, environmental illnesses, and proper reporting for rescue assistance
 

IMPORTANT: Wilderness Medical Associates uses Moodle for all pre-course paperwork, post-course evaluations, required hybrid online learning, and PDF certifications. This hybrid class is designed for motivated individuals and requires completing roughly 20 hours of online training prior to a two-day, in-person, hands-on learning session. The online and pre-class work for the hybrid WAFA course totals approximately 20 hours. Course content will be available roughly 4 weeks before the in-person session, and the instructor will provide an introduction letter along with registration details for the WMAI learning platform, Moodle. Failure to complete the online training and pre-work paperwork (in Moodle) at least 3 days prior to the in-person training will result in your inability to attend the in-person portion, and no refund will be issued due to lack of completion.

Requirements
Prior to enrolling, please review our Functional Position Description. The criteria in this policy allow students to self-assess their ability to meet the demands of a WMA International course as well as the demands of a certified wilderness medical provider in the field.
Age 16+

Adult CPR with AED – Includes the option to cover child CPR if beneficial to participants. Also covers EpiPen use for anaphylaxis and training on the Focused Spine Exam to assess the likelihood of spinal injury after a fall or impact.

Certifications earned in this course are valid for three years and include Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Adult CPR with AED, and EpiPen use for anaphylaxis.


Course Topics

  • Patient assessment and emergency care including CPR and AED use, basic life support skills, the patient assessment system, patient reporting, and calling for help.
  • Treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, including splinting and pain management. 
  • Non-technical lifting, moving, and extrication of patients with an emphasis on spinal motion restriction when applicable. 
  • Environmental medicine including illness and injuries related to temperature, lightning, submersion, and environmental toxins.
  • Backcountry medicine including the assessment and treatment of common medical problems. 
  • Management of wounds such as lacerations, burns, and blisters. 
  • Practical Skills including bleeding control, wound cleaning, bandaging, splinting, spine stable patient packaging, hypothermia management, medical kit preparation. 
  • WMA International wilderness protocols including treatment of anaphylaxis, wound management, CPR in a remote setting and spine injury assessment.

This course is an intensive, hands-on educational experience. Due to its immersive nature, it’s essential that students arrive well-rested and prepared to engage fully. You can expect to spend at least 9 hours per day learning and practicing, with evening homework assignments possible. To support your learning and well-being, we strongly encourage you to practice good self-care: stay hydrated, eat nutritious meals, and get adequate rest each night.

You’ll be learning alongside students from diverse backgrounds—some may be taking their very first medical course, while others may be returning for recertification. Everyone brings different experiences, and all are valued.

If you work or spend time in the outdoors, consider bringing your usual pack with the gear you typically carry. This is a great opportunity to test your current setup and assess how it supports first aid needs. By the end of the course, you'll have a clearer idea of what your ideal first aid kit should include—and which items you already carry that can double as medical resources.

Students will potentially need transportation to get them to the Cook County outside location. 
 
Expert-Led Curriculum

The WFA curriculum, developed and reviewed by world-class medical professionals, ensures that participants receive training grounded in the latest medical practices. Instructors bring expertise from fields such as medicine, rescue, science, guiding, and leadership.

Courses focus on real-world scenarios and realistic simulations to provide hands-on, practical learning.
 

Continuing Education Hours
First Responder: 36
EMT: 36
Advanced EMT or Paramedic: 36
Approved by Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE)