Get certified in wilderness medicine in the heart of Telemark
Wilderness medicine
“Wilderness medicine” is a branch of emergency medicine that deals with the treatment of the sick or injured in situations far away from definitive care. A situation like this could arise up in the mountains, but many of the same medical principles are applied in natural disasters, warzones and rural towns.
In our wilderness-medicine courses, we assist you in learning foundational lifesaving skills with a special focus on situations that could arise on trips out into the woods or to the mountains.
Practical information:
Who are we and what do we teach?
Accidents happen. People get hurt, sick, or lost. The temperature drops, the wind picks up, and it starts to rain. Would you know what to do? Many backcountry emergencies are preventable, and even when bad things happen, sometimes the wrong care can make things worse. By learning a few basic skills, you can make the difference between a good outcome and a bad one-and maybe even save a life. At Leland Surf Expeditions AS, we hold tailored first-aid courses including both theoretic lessons in the classroom as well as practical exercizes in relevant terrain and surrounding.
What is a WFA and WFR?
WFA stands for Wilderness First-Aid and WFR stands for Wilderness First-Responder. These are two different levels of training in wilderness medicine. Here’s from the website of the certifying agency, SOLO:
“The WFA is 16 hours long (two days), and focuses on the basic skills of: Response and Assessment, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Environmental Emergencies, Survival Skills, Soft Tissue Injuries, and Medical Emergencies.”
“The WFR is 72+ hours long (8 to 10 days), and is a comprehensive and in-depth look at the standards and skills … (that) appear to be the same basic topics covered in our two-day WFA course, (though) they are covered far more extensively, and there is much more hands-on practice. Additional topics, such as CPR, are also included.”
Who can be participants?
We believe that anyone who spends time out in nature would get something out of our courses. This course can and has been customized for all kinds of different folks, from surfers on remote tropical islands to dogsled racers headed to the polar circle. The 2-day WFA is intended for the outdoor enthusiast or trip leader who wants a basic level of first aid training for short trips with family, friends, and outdoor groups. The 10-day WFR is the perfect course for anyone working in a position of leadership in an outdoor setting or for individuals who want a high level of wilderness medical training for extended personal backcountry trips or expeditions.
What do these courses cost?
This depends on a number of factors including but not limited to number of participants, the instructors travel and living costs, and total number of days. We do an individualized budget before planning each course.
To get a ballpark, we can use the prices in the United States to get an idea of what the course costs per person. There, a WFA-course over 2 days costs between $200 and $300 per person and a WRF-course over 10 days costs between $700 and $1000 per person. In our experience the cost of holding a course in Norway are a bit higher. We recommend at least 6 participants to bring down the cost per participant.
Upcoming courses: (updated March 2025)
25-27th of April, 2025: Wilderness First-Responder - Weekend 1
This three-day course is a component of our Wilderness First Responder course that we have spread out over multiple weekends. On this weekend, we will be doing a deep-dive into the primary assessment and life-threats. Example topics include the evaluation and treatment of: hypovolemic shock, traumatic brain injuries, chest trauma, spinal injuries, soft tissue injuries, musculoskeletal injuries (including splinting techniques), lightning strikes, drowning, among many others. Previous students get priority for the limited spots in this course. Total price of 5000 kr. per weekend. This includes course fees + materials and a bed-and-breakfast stay at Strand Farm for the duration of the course. The course has pre-requisites, so send us an e-mail to check if you qualify and if there’s any spots left!
9-11th of May, 2025: Wilderness First-Responder - Weekend 2
This three-day course is a component of our Wilderness First Responder course that we have spread out over multiple weekends. This weekend covers all of the most common injuries and illnesses you can expect to encounter on an expedition. Example topics include: dealing with pre-existing medical conditions, rescue plans and improvised litters, burns, wound-closure, infection prevention, among many others. Total price of 5000 kr. per weekend. This includes course fees + materials and a bed-and-breakfast stay at Strand Farm for the duration of the course. The course has pre-requisites, so send us an e-mail to check if you qualify and if there’s any spots left!
Understand the background for our courses:
What’s the course location like?
We currently hold our courses exclusively at Strand Farm overlooking the town of Notodden in Telemark. Here, we have tons of space to hold our practical exercises outside, as well as a beautifully renovated course room in the barn. There’s also space for our course participants to stay overnight in the farm house.
