FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the WFAC?
An organization that teaches an extended two-day wilderness first aid courses, which provides 24 hours of credit.
What are the topics and exercises?
See a syllabus for the Two-Day Extended WFAC.
Why can’t I sign up first and provide my proof of CPR later?
The WFAC has a very small staff and everyone has many jobs. Providing all your paperwork at once minimizes the clerical work associated with enrollment.
If this is a non-profit course, what does the cost cover?
Your fee covers:
Materials such as stage blood, simulated wounds and makeup for the simulations
Visual aid investments to provide a quality experience (a laptop computer, a projector, a skeleton, etc.)
None of your course fee goes toward paying staff; they are all volunteers.
Why is this course better than Red Cross Standard First Aid (RCSFA)?
RCSFA is three hours of instruction, mostly lecture and videos, with limited skills practice and no simulations. The WFAC is 16 hours hours of in-person instruction with 24 hours of credit and with nearly 40% of the time spent on skills practice and simulations. Our instructor-to-student ratio is 3 to 4 times better than a RCSFA course, allowing for frequent one-on-one feedback during skills sessions and simulations.
Is CPR a prerequisite?
A CPR card is required to register.
A CPR course in the last four years is accepted for WFAC enrollment, even if the card is expired. If you have taken CPR between four and eight years prior to the date of the WFAC, you may register for the WFAC, then provide proof of completion of a web (online) CPR course to finalize your WFAC enrollment.
Why isn't CPR included?
Only with difficulty can we fit the essentials of WFA into a two-day course. If we included CPR instruction we would have either to extend the course or to drop several hours of important first aid topics.
How does Wilderness First Aid differ from regular first aid?
Wilderness first aid includes:
Environmental injuries and illness such as altitude sickness and snow blindness
Emphasis on improvising with materials on hand (e.g., tent poles)
Training on care of a patient for several days In a slightly larger perspective
This is an excellent first aid course for anyone who might be in a situation where first aid is required and where emergency medical services are several hours to a week away, for example:
After a major earthquake or flood
On a sailboat during an extended voyage
In combat during a military operation
At remote homesteads located several hours by road or air from emergency services
Is this course better than an on-line first aid course?
Probably the most valuable part of the WFAC is the simulations, including feedback from knowledgeable and experienced instructors. This is not available from an on-line course.
Why are there only two courses offered per year?
The few WFAC staff members are volunteers with jobs, families and other interests. Each WFAC course takes about two months to prepare and another month afterward to tie up loose ends. This means that course staff spends about half of each year maintaining and improving the WFAC, given the two-course-per-year schedule.
Who recognizes the WFAC?
The WFAC is an independent educational non-profit corporation. It is a member of the Wilderness Medical Society. The WFAC issues its own completion certificates, which are recognized by the National Sierra Club and the (Los) Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club.
The WFAC is recognized by the American Camping Association (ACA) to meet specific ACA standards requiring certification ( St.3.2).
Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has identified the WFAC as meeting the BSA's requirements for wilderness first aid training providers, accredited by the ACA under Standard St.3.2.
The Girl Scout Council of Greater Los Angeles accepts the WFAC completion certificate for Level-2 First Aider and Wilderness First Aid designations.