Case Study: Burn in the Backcountry
A student gets a hot water burn deep in the backcountry. What do you do?
How to Prevent Hypothermia in Cold Climates
Take a proactive approach to your next adventure. Learn how to prevent hypothermia, manage cold stress, and be prepared for cold illnesses in the ...
Case Study: What to Do About Snakebites
See what you would do to respond to and treat a possible snakebite.
Case Study: Cardiac Arrest at the Crag
A climber collapses at the crag. What do you do next?
Wilderness First Aid vs. Wilderness First Responder: Choosing the Right Training for You
Understand the 'Wilderness First Aid vs Wilderness First Responder' debate to choose the best course for your outdoor medical training needs.
Case Study: Falling Through the Ice
What would you do to help a patient with hypothermia while winter camping?
Case Study: Slip Sliding Away
A skier hits a terrain feature and goes flying. They land hard and don't immediately reply when you ask if they are ok. How do you respond?
Case Study: Flu-Like Illness
Test your wilderness medicine skills with this case study!
Case Study: Hyperglycemia in the Mountains
Test your wilderness medicine skills with this case study! You are guiding a 7-day wilderness trip. One of your participants, Stan, is an ...
Case Study: Injured Knee in the Wind River Mountains
Two days into a picture-perfect autumn backpacking trip in the Wind River Mountains, your companion slips and falls on rocky terrain. His chief ...
Wilderness Medicine for Mountain Bikers
To reduce the strain on local health care facilities during a global crisis, you can step up and use your first aid training to treat some injuries ...
Case Study: An Injured Ankle on the Hunt
Test your knowledge with this case study about a patient with an ankle injury on a backcountry hunt.
Case Study: Breathing Difficulty in the Absaroka Range
Test your knowledge with this case study about a patient having breathing difficulty in a remote mountain setting
It's Getting Hot in Here: The Ps and Qs of Heat Illness
It’s important to be aware of the different types of heat illness, and their treatment principles, should an emergency arise—take a look at them in ...
Lightning Safety for Anglers
Summer means it’s time to grab your fishing gear and head outside. But have you checked the forecast—and do you know how to manage risk from a ...
Case Study: Abdominal Pain on the Trail
At 6:30 in the morning some of your participants come and tell you that their tentmate is complaining of abdominal pain. As the WFR-trained course ...
Why You Should Take a WFR with NOLS
Discover why the NOLS Wilderness First Responder course is transformative, equipping you with skills, confidence, and a new perspective on handling ...
30 Years of Wilderness Medicine
In 1990, two people started a business that was remarkable for 2 reasons—most important because the business was dedicated to teaching wilderness ...
Case Study: Suspicious Stomach Pain
Five days into sea kayaking with friends in Prince William Sound, Alaska you feel lousy; some diarrhea, some vague abdominal cramping, not much ...
Case Study: Runner Begins Feeling Ill
You and a friend are on a long run in the foothills of the Laramie Range in Wyoming. It’s a hot day. Four hours into the run your companion stumbles, ...
Case Study: An Anxious Rappel
A trip participant has trouble on a rappel. When they are safely on the ground, you begin your patient assessment. Test your wilderness medicine ...
How to Recognize and Treat Diabetic Symptoms Outdoors
When we travel into the backcountry with someone who has diabetes, it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and ...
Case Study: An Undefined Rash
When symptoms are hard to define, the skills of decision-making and problem solving become more important. Test what you know in this case study!
NOLS Wilderness Medicine Courses to Reopen in July 2020
After months of planning, NOLS Wilderness Medicine will start running courses for the first time since suspending courses in March due to the global ...
Case Study: Cold Injuries on a Hike
Do you know how to prevent, recognize, and treat a non-freezing cold injury (NFCI)? Test your wilderness medicine skills with this case study.
How to Communicate with Emergency Services Using a SOAP Note
Knowing the SOAP note steps can help communicate accurate information to providers, which is especially useful now that more providers prefer a phone ...
Wilderness Medicine for Summer Runners
To reduce the strain on local health care facilities during a global crisis, you can step up and use your first aid training to treat some injuries ...
Case Study: Spinal Injuries from a Fall
Do you know the proper protocols for a patient with a suspected spine injury?
Applying Wilderness Medicine Skills During the COVID-19 Pandemic
To reduce the strain on local health care facilities during a global crisis, you can step up and use your first aid training to treat some injuries ...
What I Wish I Knew Before I Was a Camp Counselor
See why a former camp counselor thinks all camp staff should have wilderness medicine trainings!
Getting Down to the Basics: Wilderness First Aid Quiz
Take this Wilderness First Aid quiz to test your knowledge about basic WFA skills.
Stepping into Action: First Aid on the Appalachian Trail
NOLS grad Kimberly Blazzard unexpectedly put her wilderness medicine skills into practice on a solo trip on the Appalachian Trail.
Case Study: Ankle Injuries while Climbing
Do you know how to test an ankle injury for usability?
Casting into Spring: Wilderness Medicine for Fly Fishing
Even if you’ve never fly-fished, NOLS Wilderness Medicine has advice to prepare you for the hobby’s common risks, especially in the early season.
Case Study: A Freezing Snowmobile Ride
Do you know how to prevent, recognize, and treat a non-freezing cold injury (NFCI)? Test your wilderness medicine skills with this case study.
A Can of Calm: Applying Wilderness Medicine in Disaster Zones
NOLS Wilderness First Responder trainings aren't just for outdoor enthusiasts—they're also great prep for humanitarian work in disaster zones.
Thankful for Wilderness Medicine
Audrey Goral took a NOLS WFA thinking she would only use the skills for a sprained ankle. She never expected to use the skills on her twin in an ...
Wilderness Medicine and the Zombie Apocalypse
The horror movies turned out to be real—it's time to adapt your wilderness medicine skills to survive zombies!
Case Study: Anaphylaxis in the Backcountry
This case study tests how well you can adapt when your patient has a potential life threat.
How Backpacking Sparked a Love for Wilderness Medicine
On a NOLS expedition, Jack Johnson fell in love with wilderness medicine. Read about his journey from a 14-year-old backpacker to a Wilderness EMT!
Continuing Your Wilderness Medicine Education at the WRMC
Build on your wilderness medicine training and take your outdoor skills to the next level at the Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC).
Wilderness First Aid: 5 Steps of a Scene Size-up
Always start with the first 5 steps of the scene size-up when responding to an emergency.
ABCs of Wilderness Medicine: The Initial Assessment
You've spotted a fallen hiker on the trail: thinking back to your NOLS Wilderness Medicine course, do you remember how to perform an initial ...
Case Study: When Heat Stress Hits an Entire Group
This case study tests how well you can adapt when you're responsible for not just one patient, but an entire group.
Case Study: Treating a Feverish Patient
Test your wilderness medicine knowledge with this case study about a patient with flu-like symptoms that may be related to a tick-borne illness.
Wilderness First Responders: #lowkeysuperheroes
NOLS grad Eric Johnson unveils the mystery of a Wilderness First Responder certification: earning your 'Woofer' makes you a #lowkeysuperhero.
Case Study: Bucked off a Horse
You're a first responder helping a patient who was bucked off their horse. The assessment might reveal something more troubling than what meets the ...
Case Study: An Abandoned Patient High in the Alpine
After a strenuous hike, you and your team find a tent just off the trail at 11,300 ft. You call out, “Hello, is anyone in the tent? This is search ...
Why You Should Take a Wilderness First Aid Course
Do you enjoy recreating outdoors? Here are the top 7 reasons why you should consider to taking a NOLS Wilderness First Aid course.
Case Study: A Blow to the Head
Test your knowledge about caring for patients who may have head injuries with this wilderness medicine case study.
9 Wilderness Medicine Acronyms You Need to Know
So many abbreviations, so little time! Take a look at these need-to-know acronyms for wilderness medicine.
Case Study: A Backcountry First Aid Mystery from the ’80s
Test your knowledge with a case study based on a real event in the '80s where Wilderness First Responders aided a hiker suffering from weakness and ...
Case Study: Is That Frostbite?
The patient commented that their toes have been cold and numb all day, but thought they could get by until getting into their sleeping bag. Read the ...
Your 8 Favorite Wilderness Medicine Posts of 2018
As 2018 wraps up, our team gathered this year’s most popular wilderness medicine topics from the NOLS Blog.
Real-Life Scenario: Stuck on a Climbing Route
NOLS instructor Jake Blackwelder tells the story of a rescue on a rock climbing route in Moab, Utah.
Real-life Scenario: A Surfing Rescue in Baja California
One NOLS graduate uses her Wilderness First Responder skills to help a surfer in need.
Case Study: Is Hydration Always the Answer?
The patient is a 30-year-old complaining of fatigue, dizziness, and a headache—how will you respond? Test your knowledge with this case study.
Quiz: Sprains, Strains, and Athletic Injuries
Sprains and strains are some of the most common injuries you'll encounter in the outdoors. Are you prepared to recognize and treat them?
Gender-inclusive Communication for First Responders
When gender or sex is relevant to treating a patient, it's important to communicate respectfully and not make assumptions.
Case Study: Finding a Sick Person High in the Mountains
You find a hiker who you think might be suffering from altitude illness - after introducing yourselves, and with the patient's permission, you and ...
Quiz: Managing Altitude Illness
Take this wilderness medicine quiz to find out what you really know about the symptoms and treatment for altitude illness.
7 Fishing First Aid Hazards (and What to Do)
Read our tested strategies for handling the first aid hazards you’re most likely to see when you go fishing in lakes, rivers, streams, or the ocean.
Quiz: Treating Heat Illness and Dehydration
How much do you really know about heat illness and dehydration? Test your skills with this first aid quiz from NOLS Wilderness Medicine.
Stay or Go? Making Evacuation Decisions [Infographic]
How do you make decisions about evacuating a patient from the wilderness?
Snakebites: Myth vs. Reality
Don't believe everything you see in the movies! Get the real scoop on common myths about treating snakebites from NOLS Wilderness Medicine.
Shock: What Causes It and What To Do
The term shock gets tossed around frequently, but what does it actually refer to in medical terms and how should you respond?
Quiz: Bites and Envenomation
Do you know how to recognize and treat bites from fire ants, scorpions, snakes, spiders, and ticks? Test you knowledge with this quiz.
Patient Assessment: Visualizing the Head-to-Toe Exam
Review the steps of the head-to-toe exam with this NOLS Wilderness First Aid grad's hand-drawn diagram.
Case Study: Hiking through a Thunderstorm
Test whether you know what to do in this case study of a storm brewing and a nearby lightning strike.
Quiz: Handling Burns in the Outdoors
If you're camping and someone gets burned, do you know how to help? Test your first aid skills with this wilderness medicine quiz.
Using Your Wilderness Medicine Skills to Treat Pets
You never know when your first aid training might come in handy—you might even wind up using your skills to treat your pet!
What to Do When You Hook Yourself: Removing a Fishhook
Getting caught by a fishhook isn't fun, but it doesn't necessarily mean the end of your fishing trip—if you have the appropriate first-aid skills.
Quiz: First Aid for Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Teeth
Test what you know about providing first aid for ears, eyes, nose, and teeth when you're in the wilderness.
Lynn Hill on Mitigating Risk with Wilderness Medicine
Lynn Hill is famous for her legendary free climb of the Nose on El Capitan. What you might not know is that she's a NOLS Wilderness First Responder ...
Quiz: Allergic Reactions and Anaphylaxis
Do you know how to recognize and treat a patient having an allergic reaction? Take this quiz to find out.
6 Reasons Why You Should Take A WEMT Course (And Tips for How to Prepare)
Here are the top six reasons why one NOLS Wilderness Medicine grad recommends taking a Wilderness EMT course.
From the Office to the Wild: How I Became a Naturalist
Adventuring in nature has the ability to open our hearts and interpretive learning opens our minds.
Case Study: How to Manage Frostbite
Test how you would respond to possible frostbite with this wilderness medicine case study.
9 Wilderness Medicine Jobs You Can Get With A Wilderness Medicine Certification
Check out the top 9 wilderness medicine jobs you can score with a wilderness medicine certification.
Quiz: Winter Injury and Illness
Do you know how to help with first aid for winter injuries and illnesses?
Kids on Outdoor Trips: First Aid Recommendations
Knowing how to identify and manage pediatric medical issues can help your family have a fun adventure in the backcountry.
Responding to Hurricane Harvey with Wilderness First Aid Skills
We found ourselves in a boat pulling away from the only dry land we could see. It looked like a normal city neighborhood had been built in the middle ...
Case Study: BASE Jumping Accident
You are a member of your community’s Search and Rescue team. You and an EMS team are responding to the scene of a BASE-jumping accident…
9 Hygiene Tips for Your Camp Kitchen
Telling your friends about the peak you climbed or the rapid you ran are the things you want to bring home from the backcountry—not a foodborne ...
5 Things to Check in Your First Aid Kit
Revamp your first aid kit before a trip with these five tips.
Leveling Up: From the Operating Room to the Backcountry
Surgeon Katy Trahan levels up her medical training on a Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals course with NOLS.
Rhode Island: The Final Frontier
In 2017, NOLS finally taught its first course in the nation's smallest state: a Wilderness First Aid course on Rhode Island's Save the Bay campus.
Prepare for the Unexpected with a Solid Trip Plan
'I’m out of layers,' I thought as I searched my pack looking for something to make a splint. A broken femur wasn't a part of our trip plan...
A First Responder Changes the Conversation about Mental Health
NOLS Wilderness Medicine instructor discusses the mental challenges of emergency medicine and raises awareness of PTSD for first responders.
The 5 Components of Psychological First Aid
Wilderness First Responders need to know how to treat physical wounds. But it's also important to keep a patient's mental health in mind.
Rescue at Goblin Valley State Park
On a family trip in Utah, NOLS grad Shelli Johnson suddenly found herself using her Wilderness First Responder skills at the scene of a serious ...
Prevent Minor Trail Injuries with Advice from NOLS Staff
Here's some key advice from NOLSies to help ward off small illnesses and injuries that could lead to a more serious medical situation.
It Takes a Village: WFRs Come Together in the Linville Gorge Wilderness
A NOLS Wilderness Medicine grad shares how her first aid training became critically important when she encountered an injured climber on a weekend ...
10 Useful Wilderness Medicine Posts To Read Before Your Next Adventure
Check out these blog posts to get a refresher on key first aid topics before heading out on your next outdoor trip.
When Your Teammate Becomes Your Patient: My First Aid Training in Action
A NOLS Wilderness First Aid grad shares the story of how his first aid training helped him when a friend was injured in a mountain biking accident.
What to Do If You Get Sick While Camping
Get recommendations from NOLS Wilderness Medicine on how to deal with colds and flu-like symptoms in the backcountry.