Would you know the best way to make a splint for someone who has broken their leg on a backpacking trip? How should you handle a severe burn from a campfire when help is hours away? What should you do when your skiing partner has an epileptic seizure?

First aid response is critical in the wilderness and learning how to handle sudden emergencies can mean the difference between life and death. My hiking partner is an emergency responder with advanced first aid skills and wilderness emergency training, so I’ve been a little lax about brushing up on my first aid. Looking ahead to the New Year, I’m making a resolution to change this by taking a course.

A quick Google search brought up dozens of options. Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine (RMAM) offers a variety of courses. For just over $100 there is a 12-hour Backcountry Emergency, non-credit course. It will, according to their website, “boost your confidence in dealing with potential injuries and emergencies that may arise during your backcountry adventure. This is the perfect course for someone who already has a Standard First Aid certificate but wants to learn about backcountry-specific emergencies.”

RMAM also offer a Remote Responder course (double the time and fee) designed for the day adventurer and an Adventure Medic course (40 hours, close to $400) for outdoor enthusiasts in isolated environments. Yamnuska Mountain Adventures has a full-blown, 80-hour Wilderness First Aid Responder for outdoor professionals that costs in the neighbourhood of $800.

Inside Out Experience, Wilderness Medical Associates, St. John’s Ambulance, and Slipstream’s Wilderness First Aid are additional providers of even more options for wilderness emergency training. And that’s not the end of list. So how do I decide which company to go with? I’m looking at the amount of course time, cost, location of course, instructor’s qualifications, and will talk to fellow backcountry enthusiasts to see if they have any personal recommendations from courses they’ve taken.

One thing’s for sure, 2009 will see me out in the backcountry with an increased confidence in my abilities to handle whatever emergency may come my way. See you on the trails!

How to find a Wilderness First Aid Course that’s right for you:
1. Google for a trainer and location near you.
2. Ask friends and family and co-workers for recommendations.
3. Check on course cost and length.
4. Study the course content being offered.