Wilderness First Responder?

[jdf46]

Has anyone taken the Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training course? I'm contemplating taking one but am unsure if the 80 hours of training and $650 fee are justified. It wouldn't be for my application per se, but I suppose I could update the schools I'm waiting on. Thought it might be worthwhile since I'll be hiking the AT this spring/summer. Advice?

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[Jolie South]

I think that if you're hiking the AT it could be useful. I wouldn't want to be on that thing without anyone that could help me should I injure myself. I haven't hiked it, but from the accounts that I've read it sounds rather intense and isolated in spots.

I have several friends from Peace Corps that did the WFR and they were way more knowledgable about first aid than I was as a Parks Dept. pool manager trained in regular first aid.

If you have the money, it could be useful. However, if you have people with you that are trained already in this capacity, I don't see any need for the redundancy.

 

[montessori2md]

Sounds like fun. Does the course take place in a classroom, or is it actually outside someplace?
Maybe you could use it to get a summer job someplace.

 

[FinchHead]

Based on your MDapps profile, I'd get some clinical exposure instead, so you can go ahead and get into med school. 👍

 

[notdeadyet]

Has anyone taken the Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training course? I'm contemplating taking one but am unsure if the 80 hours of training and $650 fee are justified. It wouldn't be for my application per se, but I suppose I could update the schools I'm waiting on. Thought it might be worthwhile since I'll be hiking the AT this spring/summer. Advice?

WFR is basically an advanced first aid class with an outdoors bent. It's not a mini-EMT or any such thing, but it's a lot of fun, done with lots of scenarios and whatnot.

Can't tell if you're through-hiking the AT and if you're doing it solo, but keep in mind that a lot of the training for the WFR will involve a whole lot more equipment than you'll be carrying in your tiny first aid kit. Just be sure you also carry a few bandanas and at least one trekking pole.

Enjoy!

 

[notdeadyet]

Based on your MDapps profile, I'd get some clinical exposure instead, so you can go ahead and get into med school. 👍

The guys getting interviews at places like Vanderbilt and Cornell. You?