The primary purpose of the American Red Cross Wilderness and Remote First Aid course is to provide individuals a foundation of first aid principles and skills to be able to respond to emergencies and give care in areas that do not have immediate emergency medical services (EMS) response, such as wilderness and remote environments, including urban disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes.

Current adult CPR/AED certification is a prerequisite for participation in the Wilderness and Remote First Aid course. Participants must also be 14 years of age on or before the last scheduled session of the course.

The Wilderness and Remote First Aid course is designed to be taught in approximately 16 hours.