NOLS Wilderness Medicine Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Practice Test

A Wilderness First Responder (WFR) should be trained to reduce shoulder dislocations, jaw dislocations, finger or toe dislocations, and patella (knee cap) dislocations because they are the more common types of dislocations encountered in wilderness settings and often require immediate attention to relieve pain and restore function.

Reducing a dislocation refers to the process of realigning the bones that have been displaced from their normal position. Proper training equips the WFR with the knowledge of anatomy, the mechanism of injuries, and the appropriate techniques to safely reduce these dislocations in a field setting, minimizing further injury or complications.

While dislocated hips are serious and require prompt medical care, the management of hip dislocations is typically outside the scope of practice for WFRs due to the complexity and risks associated with the procedure. All forms of fractures encompass a wide range of injuries, and while WFRs may manage fractures, they do not reduce them in the same way that they are trained to reduce dislocations. Thus, the focus on the specified dislocation types in the correct answer aligns with the practical skills that WFRs are trained to handle effectively in the field.