Wilderness First Aid: Is There an “Industry Standard”?

ObjectiveTo determine if an “industry standard” exists for wilderness first aid training and certification of outdoor adventure/education leaders.MethodsRegulatory authorities, national organizations, and school/college groups were queried with regard to their requirements for first aid training of their wilderness trek leaders.ResultsOnly 10 of the 22 states with guide licensure programs required any first aid training as a condition of licensure, and none specified a specific course. Of those programs requiring such training, the requirements ranged from a 6-hour standard first aid course to more structured “wilderness first responder” certification.ConclusionsThere exists no uniform industry standard for first aid training and certification of wilderness leaders. The epidemiology of backcountry injuries as well as what is currently known about clinical skills retention indicate that there may be little evidence basis for much of current practice.