RFA/WFA Recertification Vancouver

Congratulations on choosing to recertify your Red Cross Remote First Aid (20 hours) or Wilderness First Aid (40 hours)! The Remote First Aid recertification takes place over one full day of training, while the Wilderness First Aid recertification takes place over two days.

Course information

  • This course takes place almost entirely outside, rain or shine. Tarp shelters will be set up if necessary, but you will still be out in the rain during scenarios. Dress appropriately.

  • Our courses are primarily held at Pacific Spirit Park. There is plenty of free street parking available, and the area is served by bus routes 33 & 25. Specific outdoor classroom location varies throughout the year, and your instructor will provide the exact location in an email before your course.

  • There is a physical element to this course: team lifting, walking, carrying light to medium loads and working in awkward positions. If illness, injury, or disability might make these tasks difficult for you, please contact us before the course, or speak to your instructor about alternative roles or learning methods. Our main concern is preventing injury.

  • The outdoor classroom is not particularly remote, but accessibility is limited. If you have any medical conditions, please inform your instructor at the beginning of the course, and discuss a treatment plan in case of an emergency.

  • Practice scenarios are designed to be realistic, and can be intense. If you have any reason to expect they might cause distress, please talk to your instructor about potentially sensitive subject matter, and – of course – step out anytime you feel uncomfortable.

Hypothermia Awareness & Management Pre-Study

This course does not require any prerequisite certification or training. However, in an effort to maximize the value of our short one or two days together, you are asked to complete an online pre-study on hypothermia awareness & management before your course begins.

  • The videos are viewable here.

Prepare as if for a light day hike, including:

  • Water, meals & high energy snacks for the day

  • Proper clothing for the worst the season might offer, including closed-toe footwear

  • Any personal medications you might need

  • Camp Chair (optional but strongly recommended)

    Optional / Recommended Gear

  • Material for Splinting (Ski poles, hiking poles, ice axes, etc...)

  • Sleeping Pad or Thermarest

  • Old clothes that can be destroyed in scenarios

    The premise is to use whatever gear you have on hand to solve an emergency. We will provide mock Wilderness First Aid Kits.

Schedule

RFA Recertification:

Day 1: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. entirely outdoors in beautiful Pacific Spirit Park

WFA Recertification:

Day 1-2: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. entirely outdoors in beautiful Pacific Spirit Park

Course Assessment

  • All courses end with a multiple-choice knowledge assessment.

  • You will be assessed primarily on performance in scenarios throughout the weekend.

100% attendance is required to complete the course. If a short absence is unavoidable, please talk to us before the course begins to see if missed subject matter can be covered.

Course Assessment

  • All courses end with a multiple-choice knowledge assessment.

  • You will be assessed primarily on performance in scenarios throughout the weekend.

100% attendance is required to complete the course. If a short absence is unavoidable, please talk to us before the course begins to see if missed subject matter can be covered.

Certification

Successful completion of the recertification will earn one of the following certificates, valid for 3 years:

  • 20-Hour Canadian Red Cross Remote First Aid & CPR-C/AED

  • 40-Hour Canadian Red Cross Wilderness First Aid & CPR-C/AED

Once you have successfully completed the course, you will be registered online with the Canadian Red Cross and will be emailed access to your account and online certificate.