Frequently Asked Questions

Each participant is provided with a comprehensive wilderness first aid course manual, distributed on the first day of the course.

Sirius courses are designed to provide participants with practical experience that incorporates hands-on learning and realistic simulations. All specialized teaching aids will be provided by Sirius, including:

• First aid equipment and supplies, bandages, splints, spinal boards, etc.
• First aid kits and material used in demonstrations and practical sessions
• Complete make-up kits and props for realistic simulations
• Accident report forms and course handouts

Wilderness first aid requires using equipment that you would normally have on an overnight excursion. Participants are asked to bring the following equipment to a course:

• A watch with seconds – for recording vital signs
• Pen and paper
• Comfortable clothing and footwear – for indoor sessions
• Outer wear and clothing – suitable for outdoor activities (rain or shine)
• Small backpack (daypack)— to carry equipment during simulations
• Foam sleeping pad – for outdoor sessions and splinting material
• Sleeping bag – for outdoor simulations
• Tarp or ground sheet (3m X 3M) – for outdoor simulations and patient care
• Rope, 5mm X 5 m – for patient care
• A headlamp (if evening sessions are planned)
• A water bottle

For more information on how to prepare for a course, please see our Participants’ Section.

All course participants will receive a course information package once they have registered for a course. Any specific requirements will be indicated in the equipment list for that course.

Participants are required to attend all Sirius courses in their entirety. If for any reason this is not an option for a particular course please contact the SIRIUSMEDx office to inquire if alternative arrangements may be made.

There is a theoretical exam at the end of each course, as well as practical evaluations throughout the program.

All SIRIUSMEDx course certifications are valid for three (3) years. SIRIUSMEDx continues, however, to encourage course participants to maintain their skills and knowledge through frequent practice sessions, in-house training and by following refresher courses annually. Indeed many SIRIUSMEDx clients take recertification courses every year regardless of the expiration date printed on their cards.

SIRIUSMEDx does recognize the training of some reputable providers of wilderness first aid training and we will allow you to recertify with us. Contact our office so that we may determine the appropriate recertification program for you.

CPR is an important component of first aid training. Many of the clients who register for regularly scheduled wilderness first aid courses have recent CPR and first aid certification. Some of our programs provide credit for up-to-date CPR certification to avoid duplicating basic skills and to allow the class to move on to more advanced material.

Contract and Custom Wilderness First Aid Courses

CPR may be included in the body of the course or offered as a separate module for those who need the certification depending upon the requirements of the group.

Regularly Scheduled Courses

Full CPR/AED certification Level C (Health Care Provider) is included in:

• The Wilderness First Responder course
• The Wilderness First Responder Bridge program

People who work in remote regions require wilderness first aid training that addresses the type of accidents and illness inherent in that environment. Without immediate access to medical facilities, those who travel in remote regions must possess more advanced training to respond to the specific challenges of the wilderness environment.

Sirius wilderness first aid courses are designed to provide workers with the skills, knowledge and awareness that will allow them to safely undertake work and travel in remote and wilderness environments.

For more on the differences between Wilderness First Aid and Urban First Aid please refer to What is Wilderness First Aid?

Some courses may require a minimum number of participants. If you wish to conduct your own course but do not have sufficient numbers please contact our office. Special arrangements may be made or Sirius may be able to assist you in attaining the minimum number required through collaboration with similar groups or associations.

SIRIUSMEDx rarely limits the number of participants in a course. If required, SIRIUSMEDx may add an assistant instructor to the group.

A second instructor may be provided to create 2 groups if the number of participants warrants it.

Sirius remote safety training requires access to an outdoor setting to perform simulations.

Ideally, the setting would reflect the specific work environment for which the group is preparing.

If your facility does not meet the requirements to run a Sirius course, please contact our office. We will be happy to assist you in locating an appropriate space to maximize the quality of the course.

Certification is an important aspect of any training program as it allows participants to demonstrate they possess the skills and knowledge required of professionals in their field.

Participants who successfully complete a Sirius course receive certification from SiriusMedx, which is recognized across Canada and abroad. Our programs are based on provincial, national and international standards, and conform to the guidelines established by the Wilderness Medical Society.

SIRIUSMEDx certification is recognized by, among other organizations, the Prospectors and Developers’ Association of Canada, McGill University Environmental Health and Safety Office, Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School, Association des camps du Québec, Youth Challenge International, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Laurentian University Outdoor Adventure Leadership program, Université Laval, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles, Collège Merici, Capilano University and numerous federal, provincial and territorial government departments.

All Sirius Wilderness First Aid courses teach how to prevent injuries and accidents and how to assess and manage medical emergencies in remote settings without immediate access to Emergency Medical Services or hospital care.

We have developed a broad range of practical modules that may be added to our wilderness first aid training programs or assembled to provide a complete safety package for your staff. For a complete list of wilderness safety modules, go to Wilderness Readiness & Survival – Course Descriptions