Do I need prior medical training to attend WAFA?

No formal medical background is required; the class starts with fundamentals and builds to advanced scenarios. Familiarity with basic CPR is helpful but not mandatory.

What certification do I receive?

Students receive WAFA completion documentation appropriate for guide employers and volunteer rescue organizations; verify any additional credentials your employer requires.

Where does the course meet?

Meeting logistics are arranged between the client and the instructor; the course is offered in the Roanoke, Virginia area.

How many students are in a class?

Class sizes are small—up to six people—so instructors can provide hands-on coaching and realistic patient carry practice.

Are field simulations physically demanding?

Yes. Simulations include lifting, carrying, and long-duration patient care; moderate fitness and the ability to participate in hands-on exercises are necessary.

Can I apply this training to search-and-rescue work?

WAFA teaches prolonged care and improvisation valuable to search-and-rescue teams, but confirm specific credentialing or recency requirements with your agency.

Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) — 32-Hour Wilderness Medicine Course in Roanoke, VA

Adventure Brief

A focused, four-day Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) course in Roanoke, VA, built for guides and serious backcountry travelers. Learn prolonged-care techniques, improvised splinting, and real-world simulations tailored to Blue Ridge conditions.

32 hours over 4 days

challenging

From $848.00

Out here in Roanoke, Virginia, practical skills can be the difference between a minor setback and a life-saving intervention. Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) is a four-day, 32-hour immersive course designed to teach participants how to assess, stabilize, and manage medical emergencies when help is hours away. Taught with a focus on prolonged care, improvisation, and systems-based critical thinking, the curriculum prepares outdoor leaders, guides, and serious backcountry travelers for severe environments. The program covers adult CPR and basic life support, comprehensive patient assessment, circulatory and respiratory emergencies, spinal management, splints and extrication techniques, and lifts and carries. Day-by-day instruction moves from core principles and infection control to hands-on drills: musculoskeletal trauma, wound and burn care, thermoregulation, bites and stings, allergies and anaphylaxis, and improvised patient carries. Simulated scenarios and a final exam make up the culminating practical assessment, giving students opportunities to practice decision-making under pressure. What makes this WAFA course a standout in the Roanoke region is its direct relevance to the surrounding terrain. Roanoke sits on the edge of the Blue Ridge and within easy reach of the Appalachian Trail and countless rugged ridgelines and remote river corridors. Those landscapes—steep rock, thick hardwood forests, and variable weather—are exactly the conditions this course trains you for. Small class sizes (up to six people) mean instructors can coach realistic patient carries and long-duration care techniques in detail, using improvisation strategies when standard equipment isn’t available. Practical, scenario-driven learning is complemented by attention to medical-legal issues and backcountry-specific improvisation: how to fashion splints from what you carry, when to evacuate versus when to manage in place, and how to maintain infection control without a clinic. The course is ideal for outdoor professionals, trip leaders, and wilderness enthusiasts who want confidence managing severe injuries, environmental illness, and prolonged care. Arranged with flexible meeting logistics between client and instructor, the course blends classroom modules with field drills and realistic simulations. Whether you lead weekend hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway or guide multi-day river trips, WAFA is a robust step toward safer, more prepared backcountry travel. Students walk away with clearer clinical thinking, practical hands-on skills, and the calm to manage emergencies when the nearest hospital is hours away. Certification outcomes include WAFA credentialing and completion suitable for guide employers and volunteer rescue teams; students should verify currency requirements for specific guiding organizations. Classroom sessions use case studies and quizzes to reinforce judgment, while simulation days test stamina and team communication under fatigue. The course assumes no medical background but demands engagement: expect long days, hands-on practice, and realistic messiness. Bringing scenarios back to your local terrain—whether ridge, river, or remote valley—helps you leave with usable skills and the judgment to apply them.

About Granite Arches Climbing Guides

Granite Arches Climbing Guides is a Roanoke, Virginia-based outdoor education provider specializing in rock climbing instruction, single pitch instructor (SPI) courses, exam preparation, wilderness medicine, and technical self-rescue training. The company delivers private rock climbing lessons for all levels, structured SPI Class programs and SPI Exam preparation recognized by the UIAA, plus Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness Advanced First Aid courses. Instruction emphasizes practical skill development, risk management, and decision-making in natural settings.

Instructors include experienced, credentialed guides who lead small-group and one-on-one sessions with tailored coaching and clear teaching progressions. Course formats range from intensive multi-day SPI Class instruction to focused SPI Prep one-on-one coaching and two-day medical courses designed for outdoor leaders and trip staff. Rescue courses—Rock Self-Rescue I and II—cover belay escapes, hauling systems, lowering techniques, and scenario-based rescue drills for real-world readiness.

Granite Arches operates with professional equipment, UIAA-recognized certification pathways, and locally relevant expertise on the rock systems near Roanoke. Safety practices follow industry standards for climbing instruction and wilderness medicine, and training is suitable for recreational climbers, camp staff, and aspiring professional instructors. As a featured business on The Adventure Collective, Granite Arches connects learners to nationally recognized courses, practical field experience, and instructor-led assessment options. Prospective clients can expect transparent course descriptions, focused skill progression, and individualized coaching aimed at measurable improvement and greater on-site confidence. Scheduling accommodates private bookings and small groups, with clear prerequisites listed for each course, and flexible dates to support career development and seasonal outdoor programs year-round regionally.

Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) — 32-Hour Wilderness Medicine Course in Roanoke, VA

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