The course fee is USD $950.00 per person. Please use https://www.xe.com for the exchange rate when you are ready to pay.

Included in the course fee are the NOLS Wilderness Medicine Wilderness Medicine book, a hand-out, a patient assessment bandana, NOLS Wilderness Medicine WAFA certification, Epinepherine and CPR certification. Included is also all gear that is used in scenarios like litters, sleepingbags, pads, first aid kits, fake blood, tarps, first aid materials etc. Your food & lodging is not included.

We ask for full payment to reserve a spot on the course. Payment can be made to Crossing Latitudes. We can also invoice you. Please 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.

International Transfer to Crossing Latitudes
Iban number: NO4615067581706
Bank: DNB Bank ASA
BIC: DNBANOKKXXX
Bank's address: DNB Bank ASA, PO Box 1600 Sentrum, 0021 Oslo, Norway

Meals & Lodging is not included in your course fee. We recommend that you book a

bed at STF Abisko Turiststation hostel or a room in their hotel (this is also where our classroom is located).

You can also book a cabin (4-6 beds) at the STF Abisko Turiststation. Let us know if you are interested in

sharing a cabin and we can connect you with others interested. You find more information about lodging at

https://www.swedishtouristassociation.com/facilities/stf-abisko-turiststation/

There are other B&B’s and guesthouses in the community of Abisko that you are welcome to stay at.

This Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) course is taught in English.

Yes - there is both a written and a practical test on this WAFA course. If you are active during the days, ask questions when you don’t understand, and study in the evenings you will do well. It is the instructors’ job to make the class understandable for you and help you do well with the tests. You need to pass the written test (multiple choice answers) with at least 70%.

If you fail the tests you can not re-test during the same course. You need to reschedule your tests with NOLS Wilderness Medicine Admissions. If you fail you will receive a NOLS Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification instead of the WAFA certification. Don’t stress – we are there to help you out. We are invested in your success!

If you take this course as Recertification for a Wilderness First Responder (meaning you hold a non-expired WFR card from NOLS Wilderness Medicine – or are within your “re-entry year” or have a valid not-expired WFR Certification from a program with a minimum 70 hour) you must do both a written and a practical test as well. Please email us if you have questions about this.

Expect dynamic instructors with lots of international Backcountry and Emergency experience. Expect to spend lots of time outside with realistic scenarios. There will be intense but rewarding days. We have fun on NOLS Wilderness Medicine courses while learning about very serious topics.

You can expect 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.

We expect you to be on time each day. We expect you to come prepared each morning. We expect you to be respectful of other participants and our staff – both in the classroom and during our scenarios outside. We do not accept any harassment of any kind. We expect you to take good care of our equipment. We hope you will ask us if you don’t understand as our goal is that all participants will gain confidence to help others in need.

We ask that all participants’ cell phones and computers will be turned off during class time. No alcohol or smoking during our class time (which includes scenario time). No pets are allowed at the class site.

Please bring comfortable outdoor clothing. We will be doing lectures inside and scenarios outside every day. Wear clothing appropriate for the weather. We will be outside no matter what the weather is. NOLS Wilderness Medicine will bring medical equipment and outdoor gear for setting up realistic scenarios. See recommended Equipment list below.

expect the best but be prepared for the worst! The weather in Abisko, north of the Arctic Circle can be extreme and changeable in the spring.

• Day pack with extra layers (sweater, socks, long johns)

• 1 Pair of protective eyewear (sunglasses, ski goggles, carpenter glasses or ordinary glasses)

• Outdoor clothing that will keep you warm and dry in all conditions

• Rain jacket & pants or winter jacket & pants

• Hiking boots or waterproof boots (folks in the past recommends boots for outdoor scenarios).

• Indoor shoes (sneakers or sandals)

• Scarf, hat, gloves

• Head lamp with new batteries

• Thermos & personal mug, water bottle, pen and paper

• Snacks

• Infection Control & Communicable Disease

• Introductions Wilderness Medicine

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

• Initial Patient Assessment A B C D E

• Focused Exam (Head-to-Toe assessment)

• Vital Signs (LOR, HH, RR, SCTM)

• Focused Medical History (SAMPLE)

• Emergency and Evacuation Plans & Documentation

• Spine- and Spinal Cord Injuries

• Shock

• Chest Injuries

• Head Injuries

• Focused Spine Assessment

• Wilderness Wound Management, Burns & Infections

• Athletic Injuries, Fractures & Dislocations

• Stress Injuries / Psychological First Aid

• Hypothermia, Cold related problems & Frostbite

• Heat Related problems

• Submersion

• Altitude Illness

• Lightning

• Bites & Stings

• The Medical Patient: Cardiac emergencies, Respiratory problems, Diabetis, Seizures, Asthma, Abdominal

• Pain

• Anaphylaxis

• Urinary & Reproductive problems

• Poisoning

• Medical Legal Issues

• Written & Practical Exams & Closure

The Wilderness Medicine goal is to provide the highest quality education and information for the recognition, treatment, and prevention of wilderness emergencies. NOLS Wilderness Medicine (https://nols.edu/en/courses/wilderness-medicine/) is the most recognized and respected teacher of wilderness medicine, training over 600,000 students around the world. At NOLS Wilderness Medicine, students learn treatment principles and decision-making skills, not the memorization of long lists. Our courses are rigorous and intensive. They will challenge your decision-making skills and they will get you ready. NOLS Wilderness Medicine is an internationally recognized program that trains participants to respond to emergencies in remote settings.

By road from Kiruna: take the E10 road towards Narvik for 100 km. Drive through Abisko village and after 2 km turn right at the sign “Abisko Turiststation”.

By road from Norway, Narvik: take the E10 road towards Luleå. Cross the Norwegian – Swedish border and continue for about 40 km, then turn left at the sign “Abisko Turiststation”.

By Swedish rail, take VY which stops daily at "Abisko Turiststation". The train station, which has no staff onsite, is close to STF Abisko Mountain Station, a 5 minute walking distance to reception. For timetables and prices visit https://www.vy.se/en

Closest airports are Kiruna (Sweden) and Narvik - Evenes (Norway). Flights are operated by SAS www.sas.se and Norwegian www.norwegian.se

Transfer from/to Kiruna, Sweden Airport:

Visit Abisko
www.visitabisko.com
Phone: +46 980 40037

Regular bus service:
Route 91, Länstrafiken i Norrbotten
www.ltnbd.se
Phone: +46 771 100 110

Taxi Kiruna
www.taxikiruna.se
Phone: +46 980 12020

Transfer from/to Evenes Airport (Narvik), Norway:

Airport coach:
Evenes - Narvik bus station
www.flybussen.no/en/Narvik.

Onward to/from Abisko:

Visit Abisko www.visitabisko.com
Phone: +46 980 40037

By train, SJ
www.sj.se
Phone: +46 771 757 575

Regular bus service:
Route 91, Länstrafiken i Norrbotten
www.ltnbd.se
Phone: +46 771 100 110

Narvik Taxi
www.narviktaxi.no
Phone:+47 075 50

Some of the rental car companies in Kiruna, Sweden and Narvik/Harstad, Norway.

www.avis.se

www.budget.se

www.europcar.se

www.hertz.se

www.sixt.se

If a student cancels or withdraws from a course for any reason: Greater than or equal to 7 days prior to the course starting date, Crossing Latitudes will retain an administrative fee of US $300.00

Within 7 days of the course start date and once the course has begun, Crossing Latitudes will retain an administrative fee of US $500.00

If Crossing Latitudes or NOLS Wilderness Medicine must cancel the course for any reason, we will refund you the full course fee.

We do recommend that you protect yourself by buying travel insurance. Crossing Latitudes or NOLS Wilderness Medicine are not responsible for unused tickets, lodging or other expenses you have purchased if the course gets cancelled or you cancel the course.