1.Q: "I want thorough training. Why WFR instead of EMT Training?"

A: Good question!  EMTs train to stabilize life-threatening problems and rapidly transport their patient to the Emergency Room, where the ER takes over the problems.  They train to U. S. Department of Transportation curriculum standards.  If you want to work the ambulance, then EMT Training is for you!  EMTs train to be a critical “link in the chain” between bystanders and the hospital.  On the other hand, WFRs  are  trained further to “be the whole chain”, if necessary. Since wilderness circumstances may preclude rapid evacuation to an ER, WFR interventions must be  more aggressive, their assessments deeper and more thorough, and their care long-term.  Plus, WFRs train in environmental problems, like cold, heat, and altitude -- challenges seldom encountered by the urban EMT.  WFRs hands-on train in small wound management, preventive care, and long-term patient care.  So, EMT training is very good stuff -- it’s just a different tool for a different task.  Choose a training that is appropriate to your needs and wants.

2. Q: "For my family's sake, I want to become more medically self-reliant. Is WFR appropriate for that, or is there something better?"

A: Short of training as a Special Forces Medic, there’s nothing better, for medical self-reliance than Wilderness First Responder Training, for just nine days invested.  There doesn’t have to be a jungle out there for it to be ”a jungle out there.”  WFRs train to be able to be THE MEDIC -- to assess, problem-solve, and treat  -- often improvising with what’s available.

3. Q: "Well, how about Red Cross First Aid and CPR? Aren't they good?"

A: These Red Cross courses are good, but brief, and therefore limited.  And, they presume you’ve called 911, and backup is on the way.  Will your situation get backup?  CPR generally only buys you time, and presumes the EMT’s will arrive soon, with the cardiac defibrillator, to attempt to restore normal heart rhythm.  It is  dependent upon a quickly-responding EMS.

4. Q: "Are there any prerequisites for WFR training? I haven't even had First Aid!"

A: Nope. While prior training is (usually) an asset, even people with prior training "get rusty", and First Lead just figures everyone needs to be "brought up to speed together." We presume that even the "professionals" need to be refreshed.

5. Q: "I'm a practicing physician. I'm just afraid this is going to be somewhat redundant."

A: This training creates a new context for your skills and knowledge. Wilderness Medicine Practice Guidelines are quite different from those in which most medical professional have been trained.  The backcountry is a medically austere environment--you’re “in the trenches.”

6. Q: "Who takes WFR Training --who are your students?"

A: The common denominator seems to be this: WFR students recognize that, one day, they may have to be the “medically responsible person”  in a situation where they’ll have little choice in the matter, and there may be no one else to turn to.  So, they want to be able to step up to the task: they are outdoor educators, guides, trek leaders, dads and moms, expedition mountaineers, third-world adventurers, camp leaders (vision quests, children’s camps, women’s / men’s groups), and people who simply want to be able to take care of their families-- outdoors or at home.  First Lead has trained everyone from Physicians to ex-Medics, to EMT’s.

* From the Wilderness Medical Society: "WMS developed a list of recommended course topics for a Wilderness First Responder course. This list may not meet state or DOT standards for certification. The WMS is neither a certifying or licensing agency. It does not approve or disapprove teaching methods nor does it test students for knowledge or skill. WMS encourages consumers to check the providers credentials and with potential employers to see whose certification they will accept prior to enrolling in a course."