Recognizing the lack of a national standard for wilderness first aid, The Boy Scouts of America formed a Task Force consisting of wilderness medicine specialists, medical epidemiologists, legal expertise, and educators to develop a curriculum and doctrine for a 16 hour wilderness first aid (WFA) course. Buck Tilton was the lead author of this project. As author he had to amalgamate the results of the literature research performed by the Task Force and through multiple revisions until this final product was developed. The Task Force is indebted to Buck for his hours of dedication to the project. Persons taking this course will have an appreciation of how wilderness first aid differs from standard, urban fist aid. Many readers will want to learn more about this fascinating and critical skill needed by all outdoor travelers. Some will be inspired to continue their education with a wilderness first responder course. This book contains the full doctrine that the Task Force approved.

It provides a portable resource for use in the field as well as a text for the WFA course. It will be your introduction to the basic skills and knowledge all wilderness travelers should possess.