Wilderness First Aid Basics

In the backcountry, the nearest emergency room may be 6–48 hours away — decisions you make in the first minutes determine outcomes. This course applies the WEMS (Wilderness Emergency Medical System) patient assessment framework to real scenarios: wound care and infection control, blister and sprain management, hypothermia and heat stroke recognition, and improvised splinting. Each module combines evidence-based protocols with practical improvisation using the gear you already carry. By the end you will know when to treat in place, when to evacuate urgently, and how to communicate your location and patient status to rescue services.