7- 12 August, 2026 AT Sörbygden, SWEDEN
Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) Course
(can be used as recertification of a WFR)
HOSTED BY CROSSING LATITUDES
Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) courses are designed for trip leaders and those travelling or working in remote areas and who want a more extensive training program than the Wilderness First Aid course. Fast paced and hands-on, this course covers a wide range of wilderness medicine topics including stabilisation, treatment, and evacuation guidelines for patients in backcountry environments. The emphasis is placed on long- term patient care, management and specific injury evaluation. Whether spending time in the backcountry is your passion or your profession, you should never have to ask, "What do I do now?"
CPR is included. Everyone is welcome, no previous experience required.
DATES:
7-12 August 2026
7 Aug: 09:00 – 18:00
8 – 11 Aug: 08:00 – 18:00
12 Aug: 08:00 – 12:00
There will be an additional night session on one day starting at 19:00 and ending late
LOCATION:
Sörbygden Basecamp, Sörbygden 181, 83498 Sörbygden (Bräcke County), Sweden
The Old School (Gamla skolan) in Sörbygden is our classroom.
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980 EUR per person (VAT exempt)
882 EUR if you book by 7 May 2026 to take advantage of our 10% early bird discount with the code WAFASORBYGDEN26.
The course fee includes a 30-page NOLS Wilderness Medicine handout, a bandana with the patient assessment, equipment used during the course, CPR certification, the internationally recognised NOLS Wilderness Medicine WFA certification and Epinephrine auto-injector certification.
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This course is taught in English.
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This course combines theoretical lectures with hands-on sessions to train practical skills. Each day is a mix of classroom, skills sessions, scenarios, and case studies. There is both a written & practical exam at the end of the course.
All participants will be learn by taking turns being “patients” and “rescuers” each day. We use fake blood to make the scenarios more realistic. The fake blood is washable, but you might have to wash twice.
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Please register by selecting the “Register for this course button”. Full payment is needed to confirm your reservation for the course. You may select your preferred payment method (bank transfer or credit card) on our registration form. Kindly read our cancellation policies below before you sign up. Once we have received your course fee we will email you a receipt and a course confirmation.
Do read the Student Agreement before signing up: http://www.nols.edu/en/filer/public/1481655159/906/
*There is no need to sign it and send this document in. We have physical forms you can sign at the course start.
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If a student cancels or withdraws from a course:
Greater than or equal to 30 days prior to the course starting date, Crossing Latitudes will retain an administrative fee equal to 25% of the course fee.
Within 30 days of the course start date, Crossing Latitudes will retain an administrative fee equal to 50% of the course fee.
Once the course has begun, there will be no refund
If Crossing Latitudes or NOLS Wilderness Medicine must cancel the course, you will receive a full refund.
We highly recommend that you protect yourself by buying travel insurance. Crossing Latitudes or NOLS Wilderness Medicine are not responsible for any expenses other than the course fee in case of cancellation or withdrawal.
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Lodging is not included in the course fee. Basecamp Sörbygden, the host of this WFA course, offers shared bedrooms, a bunkhouse, or the option to pitch your tent or park your campervan nearby. Bathrooms, showers, and a kitchen are available. Prices range from €90.00 in solo rooms to €75.00 per person per night in shared rooms. After registering for the course, you will receive a separate link where you can put in your accommodation and meal requests.
Note that the confirmation and administration of accommodation are done directly by Basecamp Sörbygden.
Of course, you are welcome to stay elsewhere if you choose.
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Meals/ Food are not included in the course fee. You can either book meals with Basecamp Sörbygden or cook your own meals.
Basecamp Sörbygden offers delicious food from the Jämtland pantry with organic ingredients where possible. Click here for a sample menu. Adaptations for those with food allergies and restrictions is subject to availability.
The lunch & dinner package is 350 SEK per person per meal. Breakfast is 120 SEK per person per meal.
After registering for the course, you will receive a separate link where you can put in your accommodation and meal requests.
Travel Directions
Basecamp Sörgården, 181 Sörbygden is located in Bräcke County, not too far from Östersund and Sundsvall (larger cities in Sweden). Basecamp Sörbygden / Sweden Survival can also help with pick-up and drop-offs in Sundsvall. Ask Victor at info@swedensurvival.com or WhatsApp +46 76 776 44 32 about a pick-up when you book your lodging.
From Östersund the drive is approx. 1,5 hours.
Driving from Sundsvall is just over an hour.
WAFA Course Description
If you travel or work in remote areas and need more extensive training than a Wilderness First Aid course, our Wilderness Advanced First Aid course is the perfect choice! Build confidence to make the right medical interventions and assessments for your clients, friends, or family and receive an up-to-date medical curriculum which includes a range of assessment, trauma, environmental and medical topics, all delivered in an intensive and hands-on format.
You will learn to stabilize, treat, and make evacuation decisions for patients in backcountry environments, with an emphasis on long term patient care management and specific injury evaluation. In addition to plenty of time practicing skills and engaging in scenarios, you will work in small teams and practice leadership skills.
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Dynamic instructors with lots of backcountry and first aid experience
Lots of time outside with realistic scenarios
Daily feedback from our instructors
Intense AND rewarding days
A written and a practical exam at the end of the course that we will do everything we can to help you develop the skills to perform well. You need to pass both the written and the practical tests to receive NOLS Wilderness Medicine international WFR certification.
A curriculum that is evidence-based, not just copied out of a textbook. We teach wilderness medicine practices and protocols that are supported by a physician-based medical advisory panel and disseminated by our curriculum director. This means you're getting the latest findings and protocols in the industry.
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That you are on time each day
Come prepared each morning, ready to learn and participate. Revision and practice in the evenings will set you up for success.
We hope that you will speak up when you need help, do not understand, or have any concerns.
Be respectful of other participants and our staff – both in the classroom and during our scenarios outside. We do not accept any kind of harassment.
We ask that all participants’ cell phones and computers will be turned off during class time.
Smoking, alcohol and/or recreational drugs are not allowed during the course hours.
Pets are not allowed at the classroom or scenario sites during course hours. Any student bringing pets to class will be asked to leave class until the pet is safely situated in a kennel or other facility – unless it is a service dog. If you have a service dog, please email us before signing up.
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NOLS Wilderness Medicine will bring medical equipment and outdoor gear for setting up realistic scenarios.
Expect the best but be prepared for the worst! Come to class each morning prepared to be both inside and outside. You need a medium sized backpack for your personal extra clothing and the First Aid gear that we will provide each day. Your backpack will be used every day in the scenarios.
Packing for class (in your backpack):
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Extra wool or synthetic socks
Hat, gloves, mittens, neck warmer, buff or scarf (as appropriate)
Headlamp with extra batteries
Sunglasses, Water bottle
Protective eyewear (sunglasses and /or clear glasses)
Indoor shoes or sandals
Note pad, pens, or pencils, Water bottle, Tea/coffee mug.
Suggested Equipment List:
Underwear
Synthetic or wool tops and bottoms
Warm sweaters or fleece jackets (as appropriate)
Quick drying outdoors pants and tops
Casual clothing for the evenings
Windproof jacket and trousers
Warm socks
Regular socks
Outdoor shoes/boots
Indoor shoes
Hat, gloves, mittens, neck warmer/scarf (as appropriate)
Exercise clothing (if you want to exercise)
Headlamp with extra batteries
Note pad and pens
Sunglasses, water bottle, mug, toiletries
Adaptor(s) for your electronics (if needed)
Course Curriculum
Communicable Disease & Infection Control
Medicine in the Wilderness Context
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Initial Assessment
Physical Examination (Head to Toe Examination)
Vital Signs
Medical History (SAMPLE)
Emergency and Evacuation Plans, and Documentation
Spine & Spinal Cord Injuries
Spine Injury Assessment & Management: Lifting & Moving
Spinal Protection, Packaging, Transport, & Extended Care
Head Injuries
Chest & Lung Injuries
Medical Shock
Wilderness Wound Management
Burns, Infections
Athletic injuries, Fractures, & Dislocations
Pain Management
Psychological First Aid
Altitude Illness
Toxicology: Bites & Stings
Lightning
Hypothermia & Local Cold Injuries
The Medical Patient: Diabetes, Asthma, Neurological Concerns, Cardiac Conditions, Respiratory Concerns, Acute Abdominal Pain, etc.
Urinary Reproductive Concerns
Mental Health Emergencies & Stress First Aid
Allergies & Anaphylaxis
Download course information
We hope this information is helpful.
For questions about this NOLS Wilderness Medicine WFR course or our curriculum please contact Crossing Latitudes at info@crossinglatitudes.com
NOLS Wilderness Medicine web: https://nols.edu/en/courses/wilderness-medicine/
IMPORTANT STUDENT AGREEMENT TO READ
Please read the Student Agreement before signing up. http://www.nols.edu/en/filer/public/1481655159/906/ There is no need to sign it and send it in. We have forms you can sign at the course start.