Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) An intensive wilderness medicine course for everyone
Is this course for me?
Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) course is designed for outdoor enthusiasts & professionals, preparing them to care for injuries and illnesses in remote, challenging environments.
This course is beneficial for individuals who are responsible for friends and family while in the outdoors as well as for those working in travel companies, educational and outdoor organisations, sports and adventure bodies, hospitality industry, offsites-events, relief agencies, disaster management and and rescue forces. The course is fast-paced, challenging, hands-on and fun.
While “First Aid” is at the core of the course, “Wilderness” is defined as being an hour away from definitive medical care, which makes it relevant to most rural and urban settings in India.
On successfully passing the written & practical exam, participants receive:
- Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) Certification (2 year validity)
- Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification (2 year validity)
- Epinephrine Auto-Injector (EAI) Certification (2 year validity)
Course Duration: 4 Days
Participant Limit: Min 20 - Max 30
Hanifl Centre, India’s leading institution for outdoor education and environmental study has collaborated with Aerie Backcountry Medicine, USA to conduct Wilderness Medicine Courses (WFA/WAFA/WFR) with Adult & Child Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in India.
Aerie Backcountry is recognised by the American Outdoor industry and has worked with organisations like WMA and WMI-NOLS in the USA specialising in wilderness medicine and under the guidance of the Wilderness Medical Society, evolved a Scope of Practice (SoP) for different courses. CPR certification is under the guidelines established by the American Heart Association for Heartsaver CPR.
Our WAFA course is designed with scenarios at the heart of the learning experience. We emphasise hands-on practice of skills and patient assessments. Our instructors are professional care providers with many years of outdoor leadership experience.
PROGRAMME & SCHEDULE:
Module Length: 32 hours (WAFA 28 hrs + CPR 4 hrs)
In addition to the WFA content, WAFA course focuses more in depth and detail on various topics and scenario-time. Instructors also have more time to coach struggling participants. Skill-set expectation increases from just Life Threats (Scene-Safety & Primary Survey) to Life Threats + Secondary Survey (Head-to-toe to Patient History).
Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) focuses on:
- Full Patient Assessment, Extended Patient Care
- Emergency Response Procedures.
- Injury-Illness Identification and Management: Including Bleeding Control, Shock, Spinal Injuries, Head Injuries, Chest Wounds, Sprains & Strains, Fractures & Dislocations, Splinting, Cold Injuries, Heat Illnesses, Lightning, Altitude Illnesses, Drowning, Anaphylaxis, Bites & Stings, Medical Illnesses, Wounds & Wound Management, Patient moves & Litter carries, Asthma, Diabetes, Abdominal Emergencies, Burns, Environmental Emergencies, etc.
- Adult & Child CPR.
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is an incredibly important skill, particularly in an urban environment. The session is practical and hands-on focusing on Myocardial Infarction (MI), Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), Angina, Stroke (Haemorrhagic & Ischemic), Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), Foreign Body Airway Obstruction (FBAO) along with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) incorporating the Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
We limit the group size to 30 in order to make the course effective. Recertification for both WFA & CPR involves undertaking the full course again after two years.
Packing List Ideal for Courses at Hanifl Centre
Mentioned below are the inclusions of the course, along with a broad list of basic items we recommend all participants should carry. You can always create your own packing list based on your personal needs and medical requirements.
BRING -
- Sun hat (Cotton or nylon)
- Sun glasses (Preferably with an anchor)
- Sun protection
- Water bottle 2 bottles of 1 litre capacity (cola bottles work well, but insure that they do not leak)
- Wrist watch: Is a must
- Headlamp/ flashlight: Please bring extra batteries
- Toilet articles: Toothbrush, toothpaste, etc
- Pocket knife: Optional, fixed blade or locking preferred
- Personal medications: if any
- Lip balm/ chapstick
- Camera
- Any other personal gear
- Stationary: Notebook and pen/pencils
WEAR -
- Comfortable and athletic clothing
- Wool gloves (1 pair, as thick as available in the market)
- Warm Jacket (1 jacket is sufficient)
- Warm shirts & pants: 1 pair
- Thermal Inner-wear: Bottom & Top
- Hiking pants
- Hiking shirt preferably with a long sleeve
- Underwear: 2-3 changes
- Woolen/ Nylon socks: 2 pairs
- Hiking shoes
- Slippers/ Sandals
INCLUDED SERVICES -
- Expert instructors and internationally certified faculty
- Safe-secure stay during the course
- Medical Emergency Support (Landour Community Centre - LCH)
- Wilderness First Aid Gear - All participants are provided with our Wilderness Medicine manual. First Aid kits for the training duration, first aid supplies (cravats, bandages, ace-wraps, cling-wraps, surgical shears, irrigation syringes, moulage kits, fake blood, etc.). Different props for scenarios (tib-fib fractures, wounds, amputated limbs, avulsed eyes, etc.), tarps, slings, tapes, ropes, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, wooden poles, backpacks, Actar Mannequins & AED for CPR, etc. are provided by Hanifl Centre.
Please Note:
- - In case of damage or loss of any gear item, the participant shall be liable to pay for the cost.
- - All gear is washed and properly checked before issue
- - You are welcome to bring and use your own gear as well.
- - The list above is exhaustive but not all inclusive. You can customize the list to best suit your needs.
Below are a few Frequently Asked Questions regarding our courses. If you have not found an answer to your query below, please feel free to write to us at haniflcentre@woodstock.ac.in
Q1 - Are all meals taken care of?
Ans - If the course is run at Hanifl Centre all meals can be provided at an extra cost. If the course is held elsewhere you will have to make your own arrangements. There will be tea/biscuits in the morning and afternoon.
Q2 - Where will we stay?
Ans - If the course is run at Hanifl Centre you can choose to stay at Hanifl Centre at an extra cost. If the course is held elsewhere you will have to make your own arrangements.
Q3 - Are there charging points for electrical appliances?
Ans - If you choose to stay at Hanifl Centre, there are 1-2 charging points in each room, depending on the layout (4 bedded/8 bedded). We can provide 2 extension cords, one for each section for participants to charge their devices.On the trek, we recommend participants to only carry basic electronic appliances as options for charging will not be available in the field.
Q4 - Is there laundry facility in Hanifl Centre?
Ans - We do not have laundry facility at Hanifl Centre. We have a school dhobi who can do your laundry. He will come and collect the clothes from the Hanifl Centre and will bring it back to on a set date. Payments are to be made directly to the Dhobi. We will share the price list of the Dhobi with you. Participants can get their own washing powder/bars and do laundry by themselves in the dormitory. There are a few clothes lines at the attic and we can provide drying stands if needed.
Q5 - How is the mobile connectivity?
Ans - There is very limited mobile coverage in Hanifl Centre. However, there are certain spots where you can get network, we will show them when you are in campus.
Q6 - In which language is the course taught in?
Ans - The course is taught in English.
Q7 - What is the maximum size of the class?
Ans - The maximum size of the class is 30 participants.
Q8 - What is the student: instructor ratio?
Ans - The participant: instructor ratio is 30:2
Q9 - How to reach Hanifl Centre?
Ans - By Bus: Dehradun is well connected with all major cities by road. There are AC, Non-AC and Volvo services available from ISBT Kashmere Gate, New Delhi. The journey from New Delhi to Dehradun is about 6-7 hours. From Dehradun, one can take another bus/shared taxi to Picture Palace, Mussoorie. Hanifl Centre is about 4-5 kms from there. Local taxi from Picture Palace to Hanifl Centre would cost about INR 350 (Note: There is a second bus stop/taxi stand at Library, Mussoorie. Please do not go there as it is much farther away from the Hanifl Centre). Alternate- You can also take a taxi from Dehradun to Hanifl Centre. Approximate cost could be anywhere between INR 1500-1900. By Train: Dehradun also has a railway station and is well connected with major cities. Please check https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search to learn about trains from nearest station. By Flight: There are daily flights from Delhi to Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. Delhi is well connected with other major cities. We are 3 hours away from the Jolly Grant Airport.
Q10 - Is alcohol consumption/smoking allowed?
Ans - Hanifl Centre is an extension of Woodstock School. We adhere to school policies and do not allow consumption of alcohol or other substances in the premises.
Q11 - Is there a safe available?
Ans - We recommend participants not to bring valuables or overtly expensive items. However, there is a small safe available in the office for keeping cash and other small valuable items. Before the hike, participants can keep their valuables in the safe if required.
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