Coastal Rivers is hosting a two-day Wilderness First Aid certification course through Wilderness Medical Associates International from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 21 and 22.  

Wilderness First Aid is the ideal course for outdoor enthusiasts on overnight or short-term wilderness adventures. Students will be able to recognize medical emergencies, and will become familiar with basic life-saving skills, patient assessment, and basic field care for common injuries. 

The Wilderness First Aid curriculum involves approximately 16 hours of instruction. In-class learning involves lecture, discussion, patient assessment drills, and hands-on practice. Students are encouraged to use their textbook to expand their knowledge after the course. 

Topics covered during the course include patient assessment and emergency care; treatment of musculoskeletal injuries; environmental medicine; lifting, moving, and extraction of patients; management of wounds; practical skills; and more. 

Certification is valid for three years. 

Space is limited. There is a fee of $300 for the 16-hour course. Registration is online at coastalrivers.org/events. 

Instructor Eric Duffy has spent his career at the intersection of education, wilderness trip leading, and emergency medical care. He is a Registered Nurse, a Wilderness EMT, and a Registered Maine Guide. Duffy has been active as an instructor for Wilderness Medical Associates International since 2000, and has held leadership positions with some of Maine’s most highly regarded independent schools and outdoor education programs. When not teaching for WMAI, he works as a clinical nurse in an emergency clinic and as a professional sea kayaking guide in the summers.