19-21 JULY 2025, TAOYUAN CITY, TAIWAN
Wilderness First Aid Course (WFA)
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:
19 – 21 July 2025 (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday)
COURSE HOURS:
08:00 – 18:00 each day
LOCATION:
International Outdoor Education Federation (IOEF), TYAC Training Center
Address: No. 16, Xingang Rd, Xinwu District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan 327
Website: https://www.tyacamps.com.tw
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This course is taught in English.
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USD $350.00 (VAT excluded). Included in the course fee are the NOLS Wilderness Medicine Wilderness First Aid 30-page handout, First Aid Pocket Guide, a patient assessment bandana, NOLS Wilderness Medicine WFA & Epinephrine certification and CPR certification.
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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 are no written or practical exams on this course.
All participants will 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.
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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 we have not received 15 participants by 25 May 2025 the WFR course might be cancelled. Please sign up in advance.
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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 USD 150
Within 30 days of the course start date, Crossing Latitudes will retain an administrative fee of USD 300.
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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Accommodation is not included in the course fee. It is strongly recommended that you stay on site or nearby for your convenience. The days will be long and require a lot of energy, and you may want to study in the evenings.
There are dormitories at the IOEF training center. The IOEF has graciously given us a discount for this course, booking accommodations with the IOEF will cost around 500 New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) (approximately USD$15.50) per night. Do contact the IOEF well in advance and directly at email: IOEF201999@gmail.com or call them at +886-(03)486-2200. Please remember to tell them that you are signed up on the NOLS WFA course.
The IOEF has plenty of 10 person dorms, all with bathroom/shower facilities. Laundry facilities are for the IOEF staff but can be provided by request if needed.
Parking is available on-site.
For other accommodation options:
There is also a "leisure farm" (glamping) about 11 minutes’ drive away and a few motel/hotel options in Xinfeng, which is about 15 minutes’ drive away for those with cars.
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Meals are not included in the course fee. Do note that kitchen facilities are not available, but you may bring your own backpacking stove and pot should you wish to cook. There is a microwave available for use if you ask. Filtered water is available on-site.
A short walk from our course site there is a 7-11 store. They have hot ready-made meals and a small grocery section as well. About 10-15 minutes’ walk away there are several restaurants and larger grocery stores.
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If you fly to Taipei, we suggest that you take the train to Xinfeng. From Xinfeng, a taxi will take approximately 15-20 minutes to the International Outdoor Education Federation (IOEF), Training Center in Taoyuan City.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bDr3vBYGTi57eGT88
For people flying into Taoyuan airport, the IOEF can also help arrange a shared private van. Do inform us if you are interested in this option when registering and the IOEF will support us in coordinating this.
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The IOEF has experience helping international participants with the invitation letter for a visa. Many countries don’t require a visa if visiting for 90 days or less: do double check the following link to find out if your country is eligible for the visa exempt status: https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-149-4486-7785a-2.html
If you require a visa, indicate this to us after you sign up for the course. Together with the IOEF, we will be in touch with you to ensure you receive an invitation letter to facilitate your visa application.
WFA Course Description
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.
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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! July in Taiwan is hot and humid with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and occasional typhoons. Average low and high temperatures are 26 °C (78 °F) and 28 °C (83 °F), but temperature often hits 35 °C (95 °F) during the day. Having quality clothing and equipment is important. Come to class each morning prepared to be outside. You need a medium sized backpack for personal extra clothing and First Aid gear that we will provide each day.
1 sweater or a fleece jacket
Rain jacket & Rain pants
Extra socks
Sunhat, umbrella and sunscreen.
Headlamp with extra batteries (important for the night scenario)
Sunglasses, water bottle and snacks
Bug spray
Closed-toe outdoor shoes
T-shirts/ Sun-shirts
Quick drying outdoor pants
Indoor shoes or sandals,
Note pad, pens or pencils
Water bottle, snacks, and personal mug
Camp chair (optional)
Adaptors for electronics (see note below)
Adaptors for electronics: Taiwan uses the same electrical outlets as the United States: 3 to 2 prongs, 110 volt & 60 Hz.
If you plan to travel to the high mountains after the course, temperatures can get a lot lower than at around sea level where the course takes place. It is suggested you pack extra base layers, fleece jacket, down sweater, heavier rain jacket, long hiking pants, etc. if that is part of your plan.
Course Cirriculum
08:00 – 18:00 each day
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 questions about this NOLS Wilderness Medicine WFR course or our curriculum please contact Crossing Latitudes at info@crossinglatitudes.com
NOLS Wilderness Medicine web: https://nols.edu/en/courses/wilderness-medicine/
IMPORTANT STUDENT AGREEMENT form
An important document to read before signing up is our Student Agreement. http://www.nols.edu/en/filer/public/1481655159/906/ There is no need to print or email it back to us. We have forms you can sign when we meet in Taiwan.