First Aid

First Aid Information

All ETC Guides are required to have, at a minimum, certifications for Basic First Aid and CPR to guide on any trip. This said, we encourage Guides to take the next step and consider Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder classes to further prepare themselves to manage incidents on trips.

If you have a current certification, please ensure the ETC Office has it on file by emailing a scan or copy to the manager of the program you volunteer with: kayak@etctrips.org for the Sea Kayak Program; riverprogram@etctrips.org for the River Program, or winter@etctrips.org for the Winter Program.

ETC highly recommends First Aid and CPR courses that are operated entirely in person, or online courses with an in person testing / practical component after completing the online portion.  We believe that these courses are the best way to develop and practice skills.  We will accept online only basic first aid and CPR certs from Guides who can show proof of having taken in person courses within the past five years.  For online only courses, ETC recommends those offered by the American Red Cross.

To encourage Guides to obtain higher levels of certification, ETC also has a First Aid reimbursement policy for ETC Volunteers enrolled in a Wilderness First Aid course. Click Here to download the information!

If you need to get certified or re-certify, please check out the different course options below:

CPR &Basic First Aid:

ETC usually hosts a course annually at The Fort Mason Center – please email your program manager if you are interested in joining one of these courses

Wilderness First Aid:

ETC is hosting a WFA course, please email programdirector@etctrips.org if you are interested in joining! Location TBD – likely China Camp

Other options for WFA:

• Dates: Multiple options available at https://courses.sierrarescue.com/reserve/wilderness-first-aid-16
• Cost: $255.00
• Location: Coloma, CA
• Taught by: Sierra Rescue Instructors
• How to sign up: email Sierra Rescue directly and be sure to ask for the non-profit discount:)

Other Classes

Ready SF: Ready SF offers wilderness medicine training (WFA and WFA courses) and CPR courses in the Bay Area.

Red Cross: The American Red Cross offers frequent CPR and First Aid courses in a variety of locations – search by zip code.

Fast Response: Fast Response offers a wide range of first and and CPR training at their location in Berkeley.

Adam’s Safety Training: Adam’s Safety Training offers a many first aid and CPR classes at their location in San Ramon.

Safety Training Seminars: Provides lower priced CPR and first aid classes in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Wilderness Medicine Institute: WMI offers wilderness medicine classes (WFA and WFR courses) in California and all over the United States.

Safety Training Pros: Expert instruction equipping clients with emergency preparedness for the safety of the community, including CPR and first aid classes.

Sierra Rescue: Expert instruction in swift water rescue and wilderness first aid, based out of Truckee