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Wilderness First Aid - Golden - Jan 24-25, 2026

Wilderness Medicine & Risk Management Course

Wilderness First Aid

This 16-hour Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course, offered through CMC Wilderness Medicine, teaches students the skills to anticipate risks and hazards, identify medical, traumatic, and environmental problems, recognize life-threatening issues, initiate basic care, and deliver a cohesive report. The curriculum forces students to think creatively, adapt to ever changing situations, and learn valuable leadership, decision making, and communication skills.

Contacts

Ashley Kramer
Ashley Kramer
Leader

Location - CMC Base Camp - 15605 W 32ND AVE, GOLDEN, CO 80401 

Time: 8AM - 5PM (with 1 hour lunch break) 

  • There are no prerequisites for this course.  

  • This class is open to students 18 years and over (contact wildernessmedicine@cmc.org for courses for minors 14-18 years old).  

  • This class meets the requirements for CMC trip leaders.   

  • Lessons and practice scenarios may take place inside or outside, so be prepared for a variety of weather conditions.  

Course Overview:  

Course objectives:  

  • Prevention of potential problems while in the backcountry 

  • Rescuer, patient, and bystander safety 

  • Performing a basic physical exam, identifying abnormalities and life-threatening problems, obtaining vital signs, patient history, and writing and verbalizing a report for walk-out evacuation or hand-off 

  • Treatment and stabilization of emergencies, improvising splints, bleeding and wound control, management of heat and cold illnesses, hydration problems, lighting injuries, spinal cord protection, basic patient lifts and transfers 

  • Basic Life Support and special considerations for the wilderness, Epinephrine administration, and first aid kit planning for specific activities and needs 

CERTIFICATIONS: 

  • Wilderness First Aid Certification  

  • Epinephrine Auto-injector Training 

  • All courses are globally recognized and have reciprocity among other wilderness medicine education companies. 

Recertification: 

  • All certifications listed above are valid for two years with no grace period. 

  • Wilderness First Aid can be kept current by taking a 16-hour WFA class within the two-year period.  

CMC’s Wilderness Medicine is accredited through Backcountry Pulse.  Backcountry Pulses provides current and internationally accepted wilderness medicine curriculum and is continually updated to reflect the latest evidence-based practices. 

Note: The email address you use when registering will be the email used for all course-related resources, post course assessment, and certification.

Are you interested in becoming a WFA Instructor with CMC? [Submit an application]

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements

This course has no scheduled activities.

Roster
Required Equipment

Field Guide

  • The online version of the BCP Field Guide can be found on the Course Materials tab or at: https://www.ourboox.com/bp/1632178/
  • Each course will have a set of hard copies for students to use during the course.
  • You can purchase your own hard copy of the Field Guide before, during or after your course on Backcountry Pulse - LINK HERE

Packing List

  • Notebook and pen
  • Clothing that allows you to be comfortable in a variety of weather conditions
  • Water, snacks & lunch (or money to buy lunch)
  • Closed-toe shoes (i.e. hiking boots or trail runners)
  • Watch (or cell phone with timer)
  • Optional: Computer or iPad to view the online Field Guide and to take the Post Course Test on Sunday afternoon
  • Optional: Camp chair for comfort and/or Sleeping pad (so you don't have to lay directly on grass for the scenarios)
  • First aid kit you primarily recreate with (This could be trail running, climbing gear, ski equipment, etc. We may have the opportunity to practice improvising with the equipment you already own)
Course Materials

You must register for this course to see course materials.