WFR - Wilderness First Responder Exam
2025 Questions and Answers
Describe Oxygenation - ANS Continuos flow of fresh air to the lungs
Which body system performs oxygenation? - ANS Respiratory System
Describe Perfusion? - ANS Continuous flow of blood to the body tissues
Which body system performs perfusion? - ANS Circulatory System
General problem associated with Circulatory System? - ANS Shock: inadequate perfusion
pressure
General problem associated with respiratory system? - ANS Respiratory failure
General problem associated with circulatory system? - ANS Brain failure
When assessing a patient, why are patterns and trends more important than individual signs
and symptoms? - ANS A pattern of substantial, progressive or persistent changes in vital
signs indicates an evolving problem. A problem with one critical system quickly affects the
functions of the other two.
Pg. 1 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
,Give an example of a pattern and trend of a specific problem? - ANS Shock from blood loss
stimulates an increase in the respiratory rate and causes changes in brain function.
What is the assessment tool (acronym) used to assess brain function? - ANS A - awake.
Oriented to person, place, time, event
V - verbally communicating
P - responsive to pain
U - Unreaponsive
What are the 2 most general sources of swelling? - ANS Bleeding from ruptured arteries
(fastest), and edema from damaged or inflamed capilliaries
As a general principal, when does swelling create a greater risk? - ANS Swelling inside a
restricted space:
* skull
* muscle compartment
* upper airway
* lower respiratory system
What is the difference between ischemia, necrosis and infarction? - ANS Ischemia: localized
problem of inadequate tissue perfusion
Necrosis: tissue death am degradation
Infarction: dead tissue as a result of decreased perfusion
What is typically the first indicator of ischemic tissue? - ANS Swelling
Give 2 examples of traumatic injuries or medical problems related to ischemia? - ANS 1)
dislocated shoulder - can cause ischemia of tendons and muscle if not reduced
2) heart attack - ischemia of the heart muscle
Pg. 2 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
, Why is it important to distinguish between a serious and not serious problem? -
ANS Because this directly impacts decisions to evacuate or not - we want to avoid risk of
making things worse through our decisions
What type of risk/benefit decision should be avoided? - ANS High risk - low benefit
Describe general problems (escalating order) of the circulatory system? - ANS Dehydration >
volume shock > decompensated shock
Describe general problems (escalating order) of the nervous system? - ANS Low risk TBI >
high risk TBI > increased ICP
Describe general problems (escalating order) of the musculoskeletal system? -
ANS Fractures, dislocations, spinal injury
Define the term "wilderness" as it relates to the use of the "Wilderness Protocols" -
ANS working in remote, high risk, low resource environments
Describe the 6 Wilderness Protocols - ANS 1) Anaphylaxis
2) Wound cleaning + debridement
3) CPR
4) Spine Injuries
5) Joint Dislocations
6) Severe Asthma
What are the 3 main phases of the PAS (Patient Assessment System)? - ANS 1) Scene Size Up
2) Primary Assessment
3) Secondary Assessment
Pg. 3 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
2025 Questions and Answers
Describe Oxygenation - ANS Continuos flow of fresh air to the lungs
Which body system performs oxygenation? - ANS Respiratory System
Describe Perfusion? - ANS Continuous flow of blood to the body tissues
Which body system performs perfusion? - ANS Circulatory System
General problem associated with Circulatory System? - ANS Shock: inadequate perfusion
pressure
General problem associated with respiratory system? - ANS Respiratory failure
General problem associated with circulatory system? - ANS Brain failure
When assessing a patient, why are patterns and trends more important than individual signs
and symptoms? - ANS A pattern of substantial, progressive or persistent changes in vital
signs indicates an evolving problem. A problem with one critical system quickly affects the
functions of the other two.
Pg. 1 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
,Give an example of a pattern and trend of a specific problem? - ANS Shock from blood loss
stimulates an increase in the respiratory rate and causes changes in brain function.
What is the assessment tool (acronym) used to assess brain function? - ANS A - awake.
Oriented to person, place, time, event
V - verbally communicating
P - responsive to pain
U - Unreaponsive
What are the 2 most general sources of swelling? - ANS Bleeding from ruptured arteries
(fastest), and edema from damaged or inflamed capilliaries
As a general principal, when does swelling create a greater risk? - ANS Swelling inside a
restricted space:
* skull
* muscle compartment
* upper airway
* lower respiratory system
What is the difference between ischemia, necrosis and infarction? - ANS Ischemia: localized
problem of inadequate tissue perfusion
Necrosis: tissue death am degradation
Infarction: dead tissue as a result of decreased perfusion
What is typically the first indicator of ischemic tissue? - ANS Swelling
Give 2 examples of traumatic injuries or medical problems related to ischemia? - ANS 1)
dislocated shoulder - can cause ischemia of tendons and muscle if not reduced
2) heart attack - ischemia of the heart muscle
Pg. 2 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
, Why is it important to distinguish between a serious and not serious problem? -
ANS Because this directly impacts decisions to evacuate or not - we want to avoid risk of
making things worse through our decisions
What type of risk/benefit decision should be avoided? - ANS High risk - low benefit
Describe general problems (escalating order) of the circulatory system? - ANS Dehydration >
volume shock > decompensated shock
Describe general problems (escalating order) of the nervous system? - ANS Low risk TBI >
high risk TBI > increased ICP
Describe general problems (escalating order) of the musculoskeletal system? -
ANS Fractures, dislocations, spinal injury
Define the term "wilderness" as it relates to the use of the "Wilderness Protocols" -
ANS working in remote, high risk, low resource environments
Describe the 6 Wilderness Protocols - ANS 1) Anaphylaxis
2) Wound cleaning + debridement
3) CPR
4) Spine Injuries
5) Joint Dislocations
6) Severe Asthma
What are the 3 main phases of the PAS (Patient Assessment System)? - ANS 1) Scene Size Up
2) Primary Assessment
3) Secondary Assessment
Pg. 3 Copyright © 2025 Jasonmcconell. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
