SOLO has been a leader in wilderness medicine since it's inception in 1976. Based out of Conway, New Hampshire SOLO offers wilderness medicine courses all over the world via a network of carefully selected instructors.
SOLO offers a wide range of wilderness medicine courses from basic wilderness first aid to wilderness first responder and beyond.
Visit the SOLO for more information on all of their programs.
Wilderness First Aid (WFA) - 16 hrs
WFA is an entry-level first aid course for the outdoor enthusiast or trip leader who wants basic training for short trips with family, friends, and outdoor groups.
Topics covered include:
- Scene safety and patient assessment
- Lifting and moving techniques
- Musculoskeletal injuries (Splints and slings, Clearing C-spine)
- Environmental injuries (Hypo/Hyperthermia, Bites & Stings)
- Medical emergencies (SOB, Chest pain, Anaphalaxis, etc)
- Soft tissue injuries (Wound cleaning and bandaging)
WFA is 50% skills/hands-on practice and a minimum of 1/3 occurs outside.
Advanced Wilderness First Aid (AWFA) - 32 hrs
AWFA covers all the WFA content with an emphasis on mastery of skills.
Then we will expand on that knowledge and explore additional topics such as abdominal complaints and head and chest injuries among others.
AWFA also teaches bivouac and shelter building as well as improvised litters.
* There is a bridge course available from AWFA to WFR (5 days)
Advanced Wilderness First Aid: Part II - 16 hrs
Bridge course from WFA to AWFA.
Must have current WFA certification
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) - 72+Hrs
WFR is the industry standard for trip leaders and outdoor guides.
In addition to all WFA and AWFA topics, which are taught in greater depth, you will learn:
- Expanded assessment skills such as blood pressure and lung sounds
- Leadership skills & Group preventative medicine
- Traction splints
- Triage
- Stokes
- And much more
In addition to formative assessments there is both written and practical testing, as well as a mock rescue.
CPR is part of the WFR core curriculum.