First Aid

About First Aid and Wilderness First Aid

First Aid kit image

NEW OUTINGS POLICIES have arrived.  2026 Addendum contains policies pertinent to our outings program. Front/Backcountry is defined on our Forms page and in the Addendum. 

 NEW: For leaders of backcountry on-trail or cross-country Day Hikes, one leader will need at least a 16-hour in-person or hybrid Wilderness First Aid certification by January 1. 2027. 

NEW: For leaders of overnights or backcountry backpacks: Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, at least one leader must be current in Wilderness First Aid (WFA), and the other leader must be current in Basic First Aid or higher. Both  leaders must be current in CPR.  

NEW: One O-level backcountry Day Hike leader must complete a qualifying 16-hour WFA that includes a “hands-on” skills assessment that may be conducted in person or through a live-online or recorded format. Each alternating recertification may be conducted by a hybrid or virtual course.

For "Front Country" outings, e.g., conditioning hikes, walks, trash cleanups, short hikes: both leaders must be current in Basic First Aid. NEW: As of Jan. 1, 2027, at least one leader on all front country outings must be current in CPR.

I/M/E level cross-country hikes and climbs. A leader first must complete at least a qualifying 24-hour WFA course that includes a “hands-on” skills assessment that may be conducted in person or through a live-online or recorded format. One leader must be current in WFA, the other may be current only in Basic FA (BFA). Recertification / Refresh: each alternating one may be conducted by a hybrid or virtual course. NEW: As of Jan. 1, 2027, both leaders must be current in CPR.

 NEW: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)  has always been required of Angeles Chapter provisional leader candidates. As of January 1.2027, CPR is now required to be current for primary leaders and both leaders on backcountry outings  and for any entity-specific policies, e.g., Wilderness Travel Course (WTC) or Inspiring Connections Outdoors ICO). 

Expiration Dates. A leader must be current in a qualifying first aid course appropriate to the trip. The expiration date for all Basic First Aid/WFA/CPR classes is the date listed by the provider offering the class.  Scroll down to see some updated Provider lists. NEW LEADER CANDIDATES: Be sure to take both FA or WFA and CPR in person  or hybrid/blended as part of your requirements to be a Provisional Leader. A "Blended" (hybrid) class such as from American Red Cross (ARC) or American Heart Association (AHA) is acceptable for Basic FA as long as it has an in-person skills assessment component. 

RATED Leaders at any level who need to renew WFA may recertify through a qualifying 16-hour course. This course must include a hands-on skills assessment which may be conducted in person or through a live-online or recorded format. When renewing, the next recertification and each alternating recertification may be virtual. Groups, sections and committees can increase the requirement for their leaders but cannot diminish it.

RATED Leaders at the O level who wish to lead backcountry on-trail hikes and have never taken WFA must complete a qualifying 16-hour WFA course that includes a “hands-on” skills assessment that may be conducted in person or through a live-online or recorded format. After the first certification, the next recertification and each alternating one may be conducted by a hybrid or virtual course.

NEW: may go on separate page

Outings Requirements chart

 

For more information about what to do with the forms listed on the chart, ask us and see the Forms pages.

About Basic First Aid & CPR

Scroll up for currency and specific requirements. .

  • We accept in-person or "blended" or "hybrid" First Aid. "Blended" classes combine an online component with in-class skills assessment training. You must successfully complete both parts to receive a certificate and credit.  The key is the skills assessment component.
  • CPR also may be blended or hybrid first time, but must have in-person skills component. 
  • Currency is based on the expiration date if the card, typically two years. 
  • Basic FA and CPR Recertification: Each alternating recertification may be conducted by a hybrid or virtual (online) course. These are most often Red Cross or American Heart Association trainings, or may be offered by the Angeles Chapter. 
  • You may have multiple types of FA in your database record. Having only one of them current meets this requirement. You may get an automatic email about any of these that are expiring. Contact your outings chair, or Outings Management Committee (OMC) with questions. They can delete obsolete records.
  •  Physician, nurse, or other currently practicing medical professional need not take a basic first aid course if they have first aid knowledge equivalent to or higher than American Red Cross Basic. For the I or higher rating, WFA may be required.
    • Medical professionals: you may need to send us your card so that we can record the information and dates. If you are going for an I or above, you also may want to consult with Steve Schuster, LTC First Aid Chair on your WFA needs.
  • Certain entities such as ICO may have their own requirements. Contact the outings chair.

BASIC FIRST AID PROVIDERS LIST as of July 2022.   FIRST AID FAQ as of July 26, 2018 (to be updated)

A FIRST AID KIT - a handy general list, courtesy of the Wilderness Travel Course's (WTC's) Handbook.   Link here to Remote and Basic FA kits - and our own statements about them.

ANGELES CHAPTER SUPPORT FOR FA AND WFA. For 2026, the Chapter has funds to create First Aid courses as well as to reimburse some WFA for leaders and candidates approved by their outings chair or LTC. See Schedule of Activities for FA courses to be held in various locations. 

Scroll down for Wilderness First Aid and WFA Providers lists. 

Wilderness First Aid

Leaders always give first aid treatment within what is termed the “scope of your training." Wilderness First Aid (WFA) is help given when definitive care is not available within one-two hours and resources are limited to what is on hand. Types of courses reflect the amount of training and certifications possible: WFA (can be 16-20 or 24 hours as we require for I/M/E ratings); WFR  typically taught in a 9-10 day format (72-80 hours) in an ntense learning environment reinforcing real time application of skills. At least $650 and up. Other trainings: First Responder, Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Medical Professional, etc.

Scroll up top to see current requirements for the types of trips you might lead. Here are some WFA details and courses/

  • First time course should be in-person or hybrid, i.e., must include a “hands-on” skills assessment that may be conducted in person or through a live-online or recorded format. Each alternating recertification may be conducted by a hybrid or virtual (online) course. 
  • Currency is based on the expiration date of the card. (usually 2-3 years)
  • There is no such thing as a "grace period" during which you may be considered certified after expiration date; if a course has that language, it means that you may have a period of time during which you can recertify without starting over. 
  • For M/E trips including M-restricted and E level outings, one of the two leaders must be current in WFA (16-hour minimum); the other current in (at least) Basic FA.
  • If an I or M leader wishes to advance their rating, they must be current in a 24-hour or above WFA + CPR. 
  • Wilderness Travel Course (WTC) has its own WFA/CPR policy that applies to group leaders.
  • Here is the latest WFA Provider list and a few selections. 
  • wfa-courses-apr-2026.pdf
    • Wilderness First Aid Course (WFAC) Steve Schuster's class: hybrid. Also meets 24-hour requirement. 
    • Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA), Extended WFA:  in person. Also meets 24-hour and includes CPR
    • Survival Med: Option 2 (Zoom)  or 3 (in person) will be accepted as meeting the WFA refresher requirement during 2025.  https://survivalmed.org/#.  If you are considering Survival Med, please let us know first.
    • SOLO. Highly regarded, 2-day (16-hour) WFA . Mostly East Coast, CO, one course in Ventura (4 Points Guides)
    • NOLS Highly regarded,  2-day (16-hour) WFA. CO, UT, ID, OR, Berkeley CA
  •  Epi pens FAQ and rules - see the latest Safety Policy
  • A WFA Form: WFA Refusal of First Aid Form - for refusal of FA against medical advice.

LTC First Aid Chair:  Steve Schuster at steve.n.wfac2@gmail.com. Steve also conducts the WFAC, on our list of WFA providers.

Visit National's Campfire Community First Aid Certifications page for more information.

Leader Records Updating

  • Leader Candidates: please send your scanned card (front and back) to LTC Admin.  Expiration date is important. 

  • Rated Leaders: when you complete a first aid course or renew OLT, you must notify your Outings Chair (not LTC) so that the requirement can be updated in the database. Be ready to show your scanned card front and back.  Expiration date is important. 

  • Outings Chairs: you must add a description (abbreviation such as ARC) of the provider in the certifications section of the leader's record. 

    • For First Aid, include the date and type of first aid completed, e.g. basic FA or WFA, the provider (e.g. ARC, AHA, etc.) and whether online or in person or hybrid.

    • For WFA, note whether the refresher course was a 16-hour or 24-hour or other. Example: NOLS 16-hour. 

  • Outings Chairs or records managers will update the LEADERS database with this information and should verify that the leader is compliant with the requirements at the time of any outing.​

  • For Outings Leadership Training (OLT) options, see our OLT101 page. Outings chairs will include date completed.

  • Questions? Ask LTC Admin Team members at ltcangeleschapter@gmail.com or Safety Committee at safecomm@angeles.sierraclub.org