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The Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Responder course equips rescuers with essential skills and strategies for decision-making, evacuation, and extended care in remote or wilderness settings, preparing them to provide effective care and leadership in challenging outdoor environments.

Wilderness First Responder

Wilderness First Responder

The Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Responder course equips rescuers with essential skills and strategies for decision-making, evacuation, and extended care in remote or wilderness settings, preparing them to provide effective care and leadership in challenging outdoor environments.

Are you ready to enhance your skills and become a proficient rescuer in remote or wilderness settings? Look no further! Our comprehensive course is specifically designed for individuals who specialize in decision-making, evacuation, and transport in challenging outdoor environments.

Whether you are part of a remote emergency services team, work in remote worksites, ski patrol, or search and rescue, this course will equip you with the necessary knowledge and strategies to handle emergencies effectively. Our experienced instructors will guide you through the intricacies of wilderness first response, ensuring that you gain the essential skills and confidence to provide care in remote areas.

Course Highlights:

  • Leadership Skills: Develop the leadership qualities required to make critical decisions and effectively coordinate rescue operations in remote environments.
  • Expectation to Provide Care: Understand the responsibilities and expectations placed on a wilderness first responder, ensuring that you are prepared to deliver timely and effective care in challenging situations.
  • Professional Tool Kit and Resources: Learn to utilize a range of specialized tools and resources that are essential for wilderness first response, ensuring that you are equipped to handle various emergencies.
  • Extrication and Rescue Decision-Making: Acquire the skills and knowledge to assess and make informed decisions regarding extrication and rescue operations in remote or wilderness settings.
  • Urgent Evacuation and Extended Care: Master the techniques and strategies for urgent evacuation, as well as providing extended care when required for prolonged periods (5+ days).

Our course combines theoretical knowledge with practical exercises, simulations, and real-life scenarios to provide a comprehensive learning experience. You will have the opportunity to apply your skills in simulated wilderness environments, allowing you to practice and refine your techniques under the guidance of our expert instructors.

Upon successful completion of the Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Responder Course, you will receive a certification that is widely recognized and respected in the field of wilderness first response. This certification will enhance your professional profile and open doors to various career opportunities within emergency services, ski patrol, search and rescue teams, and more.

Invest in your future as a wilderness first responder and join us for an immersive and empowering training experience. Enroll today and gain the skills and confidence to save lives in remote and challenging environments.

Full Course Length 80 hours
Recertification 40 hours

FAQs

How much does a Wilderness First Responder make?

This is a tough question to answer. Wilderness First Responders work in a wide variety of contexts and often perform other professional duties as well as being a responder. As such, pay can range from unpaid volunteer work to jobs that pay $38,000 to $120,000 per year.

How do you become a wilderness first responder?

There are no course prerequisites for our Wilderness First Responder courses. All you need to do to become certified is enroll in and successfully pass one of our courses, including written and practical exams.

Is wilderness first responder worth it?

Wilderness First responder will teach you an advanced set of skilled targeted at those who will be responding to emergencies in remote areas in a professional capacity. If this is you, or if you WANT this to be you, then yes it is definitely worth it. If you are a person who loves the outdoors and just want to be ready with a great set of first aid skills in case of an emergency, our Wilderness First Aid course is probably a better fit. In the Wilderness First Responder program you'll be spending a lot of time learning to use advanced equipment that you won't typically have with you unless you are responding in a professional capacity.

How long is wilderness first responder certification good for?

Wilderness First Responder certification is valid for 3 years and can be renewed by signing up for a 40 hour recertification course at any time while it is still valid.

Certification

Canadian Red Cross certificates are now virtual! Your permanent virtual certificate will be emailed to you after you've successfully completed the entire course. You will also be able to view your manual and certification online at any time through your MyRedCross account. 

Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Responder certification is valid 3 years and Canadian Red Cross Basic Life Support certification is valid 1 year.

Training Schedules & Locations
There are no certification classes at this time. Please check back.

Recertification

Training Schedules & Locations
There are no recertification classes at this time. Please check back.

Materials

Emergency First Aid & CPR Manual

Canadian Red Cross Emergency Care for Professional Responders reference text (digital version), Canadian Red Cross Wilderness & Remote First Aid Field Guide (print version), Canadian Red Cross Basic Life Support Field Guide (digital version)

The Alert Advantage

Free Manual + App

Deep Discounts

3-Year Guarantee

Replacement certs

Learn More

Looking for a group class?

If you have a group of people and would like us to come to you to teach a
Wilderness First Responder course, we offer this course in the following locations:

Victoria | Langford | Esquimalt | Sooke | Cobble Hill | Mill Bay | Duncan | Lake Cowichan | Cedar | Ladysmith | Nanaimo | Parksville | Qualicum Beach | Port Alberni | Coombs | Parksville | Campbell River | Saltspring Island | Pender Island | Powell River | Gabriola Isand | Burnaby | Coquitlam | Delta | Langley | Maple Ridge | New Westminster | North Vancouver | Pitt Meadows | Port Moody | Richmond | Surrey | Vancouver | West Vancouver | White Rock | Langley |

Give us a call at 1.866.282.5378, or send us an email at to arrange a group course.

"Best course yet - thanks! Good alternating of teaching/hands on."

Dana Wright Emergency First-Aid and CPR-C, Victoria, B.C. More Testimonials

A good course with excellent instruction. Mike’s teaching style is engaging, supportive and candid. I feel better prepared heading into the wilderness setting with new skills & knowledge.

Dan Perera Wilderness & Remote First Aid, Courtenay, BC More Testimonials

Easy to understand and gave great instruction! He also had a great mustache.

Ally Giraron Standard First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

Very well run; organized and info filled. Even mildly entertaining! Thanks!

Zyoji Jackson Standard First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

Lots of fun, by far the most enthusiastic and engaging instructor I have ever had for first aid. My first time taking a class with Alert and I will definitly be coming back.

Laura CPR C Recertification, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

Nathan was literally amazing. Super enthusiastic the whole time and just really cheery and positive.

Veronica Wuster Basic First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

The class was the best I've taken. Very hands on and 100% educational for first aid and CPR. Will definitely recommend the class to others!

Peggy Massier Standard First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

Love it! Best first aid course I have taken. Instructor was very knowledgable. I learned alot, will definitly come back for other courses.

Isabella Lee Emergency First Aid, Victoria BC More Testimonials

Great sense of humour made learning fun! Thanks for acknowledging our skill level and working from there.

Brown-Bentley CPR HCP, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

Great course, fabulous to do activities with props. Nicely interactive. Great space. Personable trainer with gentle sense of humour makes the day lovely. Thank you.

Paula Hopkins Emergency Childcare First Aid, Nanaimo, BC More Testimonials
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