28 March – 30 march, 2025 IN Värmdö, Sweden
Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Course
HOSTED BY CROSSING LATITUDES
Fast paced and hands-on, this Wilderness First Aid course covers a wide range of wilderness medicine topics for people who travel and enjoy the outdoors. Whether spending time in the backcountry is your passion or your profession, you should never have to ask, "What do I do now?" On this course, you'll learn how to prepare for the unexpected. In just a few days, you'll have the knowledge, skills and ability to make sound decisions in emergency situations.
CPR is included. Everyone is welcome, no previous experience required.
DATES:
28 March – 30 March, 2025
09:00 to 18:00 Friday
08:00 to 18:00 Saturday
08:00 to 16:30 Sunday
LOCATION:
Skatboet, Korpholmsvägen 18, 139 36 Värmdö, Stockholm
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This course is conducted in English. Our NOLS wilderness medicine instructors teach all over the world and are often bilingual. They will endeavour to support you however they can.
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6500 SEK (570 EUR) per person (VAT excluded). The course fee includes a 30-page NOLS Wilderness Medicine handout, a bandana with the patient assessment, equipment used during the course, CPR certification, the internationally recognised NOLS Wilderness Medicine WFA certification and Epinephrine auto-injector certification.
The course fee includes 3 nights of lodging in shared cabins (2-3 people per cabin). Note that no discount can be given if you choose a different accommodation.
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This course combines theoretical lectures with hands-on sessions to train practical skills. Each day is a mix of classroom, skills sessions, scenarios, and case studies. There is a written & practical exam at the end of the course.
All participants will be learn by taking turns being “patients” and “rescuers” each day. We use fake blood to make the scenarios more realistic. The fake blood is washable, but you might have to wash twice.
If you are taking this WFA as a recertification course for a WAFA/WFR, you will need to complete a written and practical exam.
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Please register by selecting the “Register for this course button”.
Full payment is needed to confirm your reservation for the course. You may select your preferred payment method (bank transfer or credit card) on our registration form. Kindly read our cancellation policies below before you sign up. Once we have received your course fee we will email you a receipt and a course confirmation.
Do read the Student Agreement before signing up: http://www.nols.edu/en/filer/public/1481655159/906/
*There is no need to sign and send it in. We have physical forms you can sign at the course start.
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If a student cancels or withdraws from a course:
Greater than or equal to 30 days prior to the course starting date, Crossing Latitudes will retain an administrative fee of SEK 1500:-
Within 30 days of the course start date, Crossing Latitudes will retain an administrative fee of SEK 3750:-
Once the course has begun, there will be no refund
If Crossing Latitudes or NOLS Wilderness Medicine must cancel the course, you will receive a full refund.
We highly recommend that you protect yourself by buying travel insurance. Crossing Latitudes or NOLS Wilderness Medicine are not responsible for any expenses other than the course fee in case of cancellation or withdrawal.
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Lodging is included in the course fee from Thursday March 27th (after 16:00) to Sunday afternoon (3 nights). The cabins have 4 bunkbeds, but we try to only have 2 to 3 people per cabin. You need to bring your own sheets, pillowcase and towel. Bathrooms and showers are in the main building (1-2 minutes away).
Booking a solo room is not possible, however you are welcome to sleep in your van or bring a tent and camp out. Note that the course fee will remain the same.
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Meals are not included in the course fee. Skatboet has a small kitchen with two stoves, refrigerators, freezer, a microwave, water boiler and coffee machines. The kitchen has pots and pans, plates, bowls, mugs and all utensils. You are welcome to bring food and cook in the kitchen. You are of course also welcome to bring a camp stove and cook outdoors.
20 minutes walk away is 'Värmdö Köpcenter' (shopping center) with several restaurants, grocery stores and fast food. Most stores and restaurants are open to 20:00 or 21:00 in the evening.
Skatboet is owned by the Swedish Scouts, and therefore an alcohol-, drug- and smoke-free place. Please respect this and do not bring alcohol or any other recreational drugs.
Travel directions
Skatboet (the Magpie’s nest) is located on the island of Värmdö, Stockholm, Sweden. It belongs to the Stockholm Scouts. This link shows photos of the buildings and surroundings:
https://skatboetvarmdo.se/bildgalleri/
You can either drive to Skatboet on the island of Värmdö or take a bus from Stockholm. The bus takes about 30 minutes, then you must walk for 10-12 minutes to reach the destination. The address is: Skatboet, Korpholmsvägen 18, 139 36 Värmdö, Sweden.
You can check the bus schedule here: http://sl.se/en/ Your starting point is 'Slussen' (Stockholm) and your destination 'Älgstigen' (Värmdö). Walk in the same direction as the bus continues, there is a sidewalk along the road. After about 2 minutes walk, a dirt road starts on your right. This road is called 'Korpholmsvägen'. Follow it for another 10 minutes past several homes. Follow to the left uphill at the fork (still called 'Korpholmsvägen'), pass 'Korpstigen' to your right, and continue ahead past houses and through woods until arriving at Skatboet.
If you drive, you can pass the gate, past garbage cans, and park at the very end of the road – right below the “Skatboet”
The Course
Our 3-day Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course is a fast-paced, hands-on introduction to managing common injuries, more serious emergencies, and everything in between. Lectures, demonstrations, and practical scenarios will challenge you and provide a dynamic learning environment. After the course, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, and ability to make sound decisions and interventions in emergency situations.
Wilderness First Aid is different from the urban first aid. Focus is on initial and prolonged care for a patient in the back country. This course is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and individuals in remote locations.
For more information about NOLS Wilderness Medicine and our WFR courses, please visit the NOLS website (link below).
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Dynamic instructors with lots of backcountry and first aid experience
Lots of time outside with realistic scenarios
Daily feedback from our instructors
Intense AND rewarding days
A curriculum that is evidence-based, not just copied out of a textbook. We teach wilderness medicine practices and protocols that are supported by a physician-based medical advisory panel and disseminated by our curriculum director. This means you're getting the latest findings and protocols in the industry.
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That you are on time each day
Come prepared each morning, ready to learn and participate. Revision and practice in the evenings will set you up for success.
We hope that you will speak up when you need help, do not understand, or have any concerns.
Be respectful of other participants and our staff – both in the classroom and during our scenarios outside. We do not accept any kind of harassment.
We ask that all participants’ cell phones and computers will be turned off during class time.
Smoking, alcohol and/or recreational drugs are not allowed during the course hours.
Pets are not allowed at the classroom or scenario sites during course hours. Any student bringing pets to class will be asked to leave class until the pet is safely situated in a kennel or other facility – unless it is a service dog. If you have a service dog, please email us before signing up.
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NOLS Wilderness Medicine will bring medical equipment and outdoor gear for setting up realistic scenarios.
Expect the best but be prepared for the worst! We will be outside each day even if it rains, snows or storms. Having quality clothing and equipment is important. Come to class each morning prepared to be both inside and outside. You need a medium sized backpack for your personal extra clothing and the First Aid gear that we will provide each day. Your backpack will be used every day in the scenarios.
Packing for class (in your backpack):
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Extra wool or synthetic socks
Hat, gloves, mittens, neck warmer, buff or scarf
Headlamp with extra batteries
Sunglasses, Water bottle
Protective eyewear (sunglasses and /or clear glasses)
Indoor shoes or sandals
Note pad, pens, or pencils, Water bottle, Tea/coffee mug.
Suggested Equipment List:
Underwear
Synthetic or wool tops and bottoms
Warm sweaters or fleece jackets
Quick drying outdoors pants and tops
Casual clothing for the evenings
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Warm socks
Regular socks
Outdoor shoes/boots
Indoor shoes
Hat, gloves, mittens, neck warmer/scarf
Exercise clothing (if you want to exercise)
Headlamp with extra batteries
Note pad and pens
Sunglasses, water bottle, mug, toiletries
Adaptor(s) for your electronics (if needed)
Course Cirriculum
Hello & Welcome
Introductions
Communicable Disease & Infection Control
Medicine in the Wilderness Context
Scene Size-up & Initial Assessment
Physical Examination / Head to Toe assessment
Vital signs: LOR, HR, RR, SCTM
Medical History: SAMPLE
Emergency and Evacuation Plans, and Documentation
Spine & Spinal Cord Injuries
Head Injuries
Medical Shock
Wilderness Wound Management
Athletic injuries, Fractures, & Dislocations
Heat Illness
Hypothermia & Local Cold Injuries
The Medical Patient: Chest pain, abdominal pain, respiratory concerns, etc.
Allergies & Anaphylaxis
Wilderness First Aid Kits
download course information
We hope this information is helpful.
For specific questions about NOLS Wilderness Medicine or our curriculum please contact Crossing Latitudes info@crossinglatitudes.com
NOLS Wilderness Medicine web: https://nols.edu/en/courses/wilderness-medicine/
IMPORTANT STUDENT AGREEMENT TO READ
Please read the Student Agreement before signing up. http://www.nols.edu/en/filer/public/1481655159/906/ There is no need to sign and send it in. We have forms you can sign at the course start.