Wilderness First Aid
This is a fast paced, fun weekend course that teaches and strengthens skills needed to assess, treat, and extract patients in a wilderness setting that are over an hour from professional medical assistance. The cost of instruction is highly subsidized by the OWA Safety & Training program. Accidents happen and whitewater is inherently dangerous. This course is designed to help provide the skills to keep yourself, your group, and our river community safer on the water and in all our wilderness adventures.
Any questions, please send an email to .
Logistics
Event: Wilderness First Aid Class
Location: Kingfisher Group Camp at Milo McIver State Park in Estacada, OR
Dates: Saturday, Sept 26th to Sunday, Sept 27th, 2026
Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, both Saturday and Sunday. Attending the entire class is necessary to receive the certifications.
Registration Fee: (Non-Refundable):
OWA Members $85 per person - This amount is highly subsidized by OWA
Non-Members may join OWA and then register.
Lunch: Lunch is NOT be provided. We will have drinks and snacks
Gear: Gear: Bring weather and scenario appropriate clothing. Please bring one set of clothing you don’t mind getting fake blood/dirt on in a practice scenario. Please bring a camp chair, coffee cup, and reusable water bottle.
Contact: Safety Director: William Brezinski
Camping: OWA has reserved the Kingfisher Group Campsite at Milo McIver State Park for this course from Thursday, Sept 24th at 4:00 p.m. through Monday, Sept 28th at noon. You can arrive as early as Thursday, late afternoon at 4:00 p.m. or come in
anytime on Friday or Saturday morning. WFA instruction will conclude at 5:00 p.m. on
Sunday afternoon.
Food: Coffee, water, drinks, sweet and salty snacks will be provided but you are on
your own for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Please bring lunch with you so you don't have to leave the area to go get it, there is no offsite food close enough to leave and come back on time.
Course Summary
The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course provides introductory medical skills to individuals working or playing in remote environments. Through a hands-on and scenario-based approach, this course offers the skills and confidence needed to make informed medical decisions when definitive care is hours away. The WFA includes short lectures, interactive labs, and realistic practice scenarios that help students master the central concepts of remote medicine and effectively respond to an emergency if necessary. The WFA includes an introduction to a broad range of medical skills and topics, including:
- Scene Safety and Site Control
- Patient Assessment System
- Lifting & Moving Patients
- Musculoskeletal & Spinal Injury Management
- Wound Management & Infection
- Respiratory & Cardiac Emergencies
- Metabolic & Allergic Reactions
- Immersion & Submersion
- Cold / Heat Emergencies
- CPR & AED and More.
Course Sign Up
Step 1: OWA Membership
Membership in OWA is required for Wilderness First Aid. If you are already a current member, you may skip to the next section.
Not a member of Oregon Whitewater yet? Please sign up for a membership first and then come back to sign the waiver and pay for the course.
Join the Oregon Whitewater Association
Step 2: Payment
