Wilderness First Aid training, suitable for those 14 years old and up, prepares trainees to identify and address medical issues that might arise beyond basic first aid and where emergency medical personnel may be delayed in responding, like during a natural disaster, traffic accident or if your group was deep into the wilderness.

A BSA-led task force developed a curriculum specifically for Scouts and Scouters. All four of the BSA high-adventure bases require at least one person per trek to be WFA-trained through one of the BSA’s approved providers. Those providers are:

• American Red Cross
• Emergency Care and Safety Institute
• Providers listed by the American Camp Association under its standard

Check with your local council about taking this training, which stays current for two years. The Emergency Care and Safety Institute offers a blended BSA WFA course with half online and the other half as an in-person scenario-based skills check.

Information on Local BSA Council Run WFA Training:

• Patriots Path Counci (Recommended)
• Jersey Shore Council Fall WFA Training
• Jersey Shore Council Spring WFA Training
• REI

The WFA training addresses both simple scenarios and complex ones, like altitude sickness.

“A lot of people do CPR training,” Schuyler says. “This is more advanced first aid. Knowing what to do to save a life is invaluable.”