Your progress
Saved in this browser only — nothing is sent anywhere. Finish a lesson's quiz to mark it complete.
How it works
Work through the lessons in order — each one builds on the last. Expect 20 to 45 minutes per lesson.
Read a lesson
Short sections with the key decisions, warning signs, and step-by-step care for each problem.
Work the scenarios
Realistic cases with hidden discussions so you can commit to a plan before you see the reasoning.
Check yourself
Every lesson ends with a quiz that explains each answer. Retake it as often as you like.
Take the final exam
40 questions across lessons 1–14. Pass, and print a record of completion with your name, score, and date.
Practice scenario Beta
Run a full accident from scene size-up to evacuation decision. No script, no fixed order — the patient responds to what you actually do, and evolves while you decide. Then debrief against the critical actions.
The lessons
Everything is taught at the wilderness first aid (lay rescuer) level: skills you can actually use with what's in your pack, plus when and how fast to get help.
Foundations
Lessons 1–2 · how to stay safe and assess any patientLife-Threatening Emergencies
Lessons 3–5 · airway, bleeding, shockInjuries
Lessons 6–7 · bones, joints, head and spineHeat & Cold
Lessons 8–9 · environmental illness and injuryMedical Emergencies & Bites
Lessons 10–12 · allergic reactions, medical problems, envenomationGetting Out Safely
Lessons 13–15 · evacuation, water and lightning, and your kitFinal exam
Finished the lessons? The 40-question final exam covers lessons 1–14. Passing is 30/40 (75%). Your name, score, and date go on a printable record of completion — a personal study record, not a certification.
Quick reference: the mnemonics
These memory tools show up throughout the course. Prefer paper? Print the field reference card — the assessment sequence plus a fillable patient form. Then stock the kit itself with the gear checklist.
XABCDE
- X
- Exsanguinating hemorrhage
- A
- Airway
- B
- Breathing
- C
- Circulation
- D
- Disability (neuro)
- E
- Expose / Environment
SAMPLE
- S
- Signs & symptoms
- A
- Allergies
- M
- Medications
- P
- Past history
- L
- Last oral intake
- E
- Events
OPQRST
- O
- Onset
- P
- Provocation
- Q
- Quality
- R
- Radiation
- S
- Severity (0–10)
- T
- Time
SOAP note
- S
- Subjective (history)
- O
- Objective (exam)
- A
- Assessment (impression)
- P
- Plan (treatment + evacuation)
AVPU
- A
- Alert
- V
- Responds to voice
- P
- Responds to pain
- U
- Unresponsive
DCAP-BTLS
- D
- Deformity
- C
- Contusions
- A
- Abrasions
- P
- Punctures / penetrations
- B
- Burns
- T
- Tenderness
- L
- Lacerations
- S
- Swelling
Questions
The short version: it's free, it's open, and it's not a certification.
Is this really free?
Yes. There is no account, no paywall, and no tracking. Your progress and quiz scores are stored in your own browser and never leave your device. The whole site is open source on GitHub.
Who is this for?
Anyone who spends time where an ambulance can't reach you quickly: hikers, backpackers, paddlers, dual-sport and adventure riders, climbers, hunters, trip leaders, and parents taking kids outdoors. No medical background is needed. It also works well as preparation for, or a refresher after, an in-person wilderness first aid course.
Does finishing the course make me certified?
No. Completing the final exam produces a record of completion — a personal study record showing your name, score, and date. Wilderness first aid skills like splinting, wound care, and CPR need hands-on practice with an instructor. Use this course to build the knowledge so that in-person training can focus on the hands-on part.
What level is the material?
Lay-rescuer wilderness first aid. Nothing here requires equipment or authority you won't have: the focus is on recognizing what's wrong, doing what a first aider can safely do, and deciding how urgently to get help. Helping a patient use their own epinephrine auto-injector or inhaler, and common over-the-counter medications, are within scope.
Can I use this during an emergency?
Please don't rely on it for that. Call your local emergency number, or activate your satellite messenger or beacon. The mnemonics above and each lesson's Summary section are designed to be skimmable, but the course is for learning ahead of time, not for looking things up while someone is hurt.
I found a mistake. Can I contribute?
Yes, and thank you. Open an issue or pull request on GitHub. Corrections that cite current first aid guidance are especially welcome. Instructors are welcome to use the course as pre-work for their own classes.
Made for your crew
Same course, different bad days. Start with the path built for how you actually get outside:
Educational use only. This course supports wilderness first aid training and does not replace hands-on instruction or professional medical care. Content follows current wilderness medicine best practices and evidence-based first aid guidance, but guidance changes — when in doubt, get help.