Get certified in wilderness medicine in the heart of Telemark
Wilderness medicine
“Wilderness medicine” is a branch of emergency medicine that deals with the treatment of the sick or injured in situations far away from definitive care. A situation like this could arise up in the mountains, but many of the same medical principles are applied in natural disasters, warzones and rural towns.
In our wilderness-medicine courses, we assist you in learning foundational lifesaving skills with a special focus on situations that could arise on trips out into the woods or to the mountains.
Practical information:
Who are we and what do we teach?
Accidents happen. People get hurt, sick, or lost. The temperature drops, the wind picks up, and it starts to rain. Would you know what to do? Many backcountry emergencies are preventable, and even when bad things happen, sometimes the wrong care can make things worse. By learning a few basic skills, you can make the difference between a good outcome and a bad one-and maybe even save a life. At Leland Surf Expeditions AS, we hold tailored first-aid courses including both theoretic lessons in the classroom as well as practical exercizes in relevant terrain and surrounding.
What is a WFA and WFR?
WFA stands for Wilderness First-Aid and WFR stands for Wilderness First-Responder. These are two different levels of training in wilderness medicine. Here’s from the website of the certifying agency, SOLO:
“The WFA is 16 hours long (two days), and focuses on the basic skills of: Response and Assessment, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Environmental Emergencies, Survival Skills, Soft Tissue Injuries, and Medical Emergencies.”
“The WFR is 72+ hours long (8 to 10 days), and is a comprehensive and in-depth look at the standards and skills … (that) appear to be the same basic topics covered in our two-day WFA course, (though) they are covered far more extensively, and there is much more hands-on practice. Additional topics, such as CPR, are also included.”
Who can be participants?
We believe that anyone who spends time out in nature would get something out of our courses. This course can and has been customized for all kinds of different folks, from surfers on remote tropical islands to dogsled racers headed to the polar circle. The 2-day WFA is intended for the outdoor enthusiast or trip leader who wants a basic level of first aid training for short trips with family, friends, and outdoor groups. The 10-day WFR is the perfect course for anyone working in a position of leadership in an outdoor setting or for individuals who want a high level of wilderness medical training for extended personal backcountry trips or expeditions.
What do these courses cost?
This depends on a number of factors including but not limited to number of participants, the instructors travel and living costs, and total number of days. We do an individualized budget before planning each course.
To get a ballpark, we can use the prices in the United States to get an idea of what the course costs per person. There, a WFA-course over 2 days costs between $200 and $300 per person and a WRF-course over 10 days costs between $700 and $1000 per person. In our experience the cost of holding a course in Norway are a bit higher. We recommend at least 6 participants to bring down the cost per participant.
Upcoming courses: (updated January 2025)
21-23rd of March, 2025: WFA and WFR-recertification course
This three-day course has the backbone of a 16-hour Wilderness First-Aid (WFA) course with an additional day to recertify any currently certified Wilderness First-Responder. This additional day is optional. We can help coordinate overnight housing and a warm-meal on course days, though these costs are not included in the course price. The approximate cost for the full three-day course will be 450 USD, though we may be able to bring this price down with more participants to split costs. The deposit for this course is set at 100 USD. A paid deposit will grant access to the course textbook and online lessons for review. Send us an e-mail to check if there’s any spots left!
