Wilderness First Aid is a basic certification for the assessing, treating and stabilizing of a person’s injuries in the backcountry.  But how does the (sometimes) gear and equipment focused backcountry medicine co-exist with a more minimalist view? Here is my own take.

In anticipation of assisting as  a guide, I earned both my Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR certifications.   The CPR class was aimed towards an urban environment but was easy enough to apply to a wilderness setting.

The WFA class, as the name implies, is meant for the backcountry enthusiast to provide for assessment  and treatment of medical issues in the backcountry.  The class covered injuries and situations ranging from blisters to hypothermia to head trauma. Pretty extensive.

The class was over the course of a weekend.  The class itself comprised both classroom instruction and hands on practicals with scenarios simulating real life situations.

Continue reading Wilderness First Aid : A Minimalist View at PMags.com.