NOLS vs. SOLO for WFR course
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Anyone have a recommendation on WFR courses? Is SOLO or NOLS better? Or are they both the same? |
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My qualifications: EMT-Basic, Wilderness Medicine Upgrade for medical professionals through WMI (of NOLS), WFR through WMI. No SOLO courses taken. |
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You're not going to get an unbiased answer. I really doubt anyone has taken a woofer through both NOLS and SOLO. |
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Josh Kornish wrote:You're not going to get an unbiased answer. I really doubt anyone has taken a woofer through both NOLS and SOLO.I haven't taken the full course with both, but i have taken a full WFR course with NOLS and i've done recerts with both groups. I happen to prefer NOLS. the instructors that i've worked with were better teachers. due to their locale in the rockies they tend to deal with people in more 'extreme' guiding scenarios. don't get me wrong. SOLO is an excellent program and they will give you a fantastic experience from knowledgable instructors. |
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Remote medical if you want to really be able to manage bc emergencies |
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I got my WFR with SOLO and was very pleased. A couple trips ago I was a first responder to a car accident on the way to the climbing and then took part in my first real evacuation/litter cary a couple days later. Felt very prepared. I'd like to get my WEMT at some point and would certainly go back to SOLO. |
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either choice you make, its all about continued studying and practice to keep first response second nature. You never know when you'll need it, back country or otherwise. |
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Say good bye to the WFR because of "Standardized Health Care." WMI and WMA are not on the same page(standards) or recognized by a governing body, therefor insurance companies can not honor the WFR certification. Same goes for the OEC. This means that insurance companies that cover Guides, SAR, and Dr./Medical Directors will be unable recognize WFR's as health care professionals. |
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Question is what is your reason/use for the cert.? |
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I believe it is all up to the medical director of the governing body? Re an emt can't do anything without medical direction even though the cert is recognized but anyway... Dunno if I'd consider a wfr a healthcare professional... |
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I have taken full length WFR courses from SOlO, WMA and WMI NOLS and also recerts with all three. I took my EMT with a NOLS provider and did my upgrade with SOLO... |
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Rowdy Wrangellian wrote:Say good bye to the WFR because of "Standardized Health Care." WMI and WMA are not on the same page(standards) or recognized by a governing body, therefor insurance companies can not honor the WFR certification. Same goes for the OEC. This means that insurance companies that cover Guides, SAR, and Dr./Medical Directors will be unable recognize WFR's as health care professionals.So what's different about right now? WFR is accepted by insurance companies but some random words you quoted now means it isn't? So WEMT would be the default and everyone that's a guide would need to upgrade? Isn't that better for everyone anyway? |
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Just wanted to bump this thread and see how people feel about the Aerie Backcountry Medicine WFR course. I can't find anything as far as reviews for Aerie. I'm from Missoula, and it would be nice to go home and stay with family while taking the WFR course. My other option is to just stay in Denver and take a NOLS WFR course. So... Aerie vs NOLS WMI. Pretty much the same? |
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I have taking a full WFR course through both WMI and SOLO, I recently did a re-cert through WMA. I would suggest WMA, Wilderness Medcical Associates, above WMI, although WMI is a close second in my opinion. I would stay away from SOLO. SOLO CAN teach good course but they lack consistency and their course materials are GROSSLY outdated. WMA has the most up to date curriculum and best consistency among instructors. They teach a great course! |
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I work with a lot of people who have taken their WFR through one or the other. Based on this I would recommend WMI. They across the board tend to be very complete and provide constant quality courses. SOLO seems to vary and be less constant. |
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FWIW.. I took my WFR through SOLO and I wish I would have taken it through NOLS or some other organization. I'll echo some of the other comments about inconsistency in teaching. I will say I had a fantastic teacher who was climbing-centered so that was a big help. But I took my course through SOLO because it was cheaper than WMA, WMI, NOLS, etc... |
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NOLS- WMI. |
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Does anyone have any experience with Aerie Backcountry Medicine courses? |
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YOLO |
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I'm an EMT-B and WEMT through SOLO. I would recommend them highly, and would also recommend WMI(NOLS). For what it's worth, I have some input: |
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