Wilderness Medicine
Wilderness EMT upgrade (WEMT) 7 Days (65 hours)
The Wilderness EMT upgrade course is designed to meet the needs of experienced medical practitioners who are practicing their skills as ski patrollers, SAR team members, expedition medics, etc. Participants must be a licensed EMT (basic, intermediate, or paramedic) with patient care experience. Nurses, physicians, or veterinarians may also attend but will receive a completion card in lieu of certification and may be eligible for CEU. Similar to a WFR, the WEMT upgrade focuses on assessment and treatment of traumatic, environmental, and medical emergencies in a wilderness environment. Labs teach students the skills they need to improvise in the field. Lectures are brief and focused on the need-to-know information. An effort is made to keep the course active. The skills taught during the WEMT upgrade may be applied directly to situations where prolonged EMS transport is unavoidable (e.g.: disaster relief, interface with local SAR units, rural EMS calls, etc.)
WEMT
Day 1: Trauma
- Welcome & Course Paperwork
- Course Introduction & Framing
- Brief Medical / Legal Overview
- General Trauma Assessment & Treatment
- Patient Assessment System Review Part 1
- Basic Life Support Lab: Skills Review
- Patient Assessment System Review Part 2
- Simulations
- Quiz 1
- Wounds
- Wound Cleaning Lab
- Extremities Splinting Lab
- Dislocations (lectures, slides & lab)
- Spine Assessment Lecture & Lab
- Simulations
- Spine Quiz
- Hypothermia
- Sunburn & Heat Problems
- Cold Injury (lecture & slides)
- Near Drowning
- Spine Management Lab
- Litter Carries & Passes Lab
- Simulations
- Quiz 2
- Wilderness Toxins, Bites, and Stings
- Anaphylaxis, Allergies, and Injection Lab
- Altitude
- Lightning Injury
- Specialized Rescue Equipment & Improvisation
- Quiz 3
- Basic Pharmacology
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastrointestinal (GI) problems
- Genitourinary (GU) problems
- Diabetes
- Video Simulation 1
- Quiz 4
- Ears, Eyes, Nose, Throat & Teeth Problems
- Asthma
- Video Simulation 2
- Video Simulation 3
- First Aid Kits
- Final Written Exam
- Course Debrief & Closing
The Wilderness First Responder course has been designed specifically to meet the needs of wilderness guides, expedition leaders, and outdoor instructors. It is the outdoor education and recreation industry's standard for wilderness medical training. It is the wilderness medicine training course for outdoor professionals...and the course you want your friends to have taken before you travel with them. The course includes WMTC adult CPR certification.
WFR
Day 1: Foundation Skills
- Opening & Course Paperwork
- Course Introduction & Framing
- Brief Medical / Legal Overview
- Normal Anatomy & Physiology (All Systems)
- Body Defenses
- Patient Assessment System Part 1
- Basic Life Support Skills including CPR
- Simulations
- General Concepts in Patient Care
- General Concepts in Abnormal Physiology
- Autonomic Stress Response
- Increased ICP, Concussion
- Respiratory Distress
- Volume Shock
- Stable & Unstable Musculoskeletal Injuries
- Patient Assessment System Part 2
- Simulations
- Quiz 1
- Wounds
- Wound Cleaning Lab
- Infection
- Burns
- Extremities Splinting Lab
- Spine Assessment Lecture & Lab
- Spine Quiz
- Hypothermia
- Sunburn & Heat Problems
- Cold Injury
- Near Drowning
- Spine Management Lab
- Quiz 2
- Toxins, Bites, & Stings
- Anaphylaxis/Allergies
- Injection Lab
- Altitude
- Lightening
- Simulations
- Quiz 3
- Basic Pharmacology
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastrointestinal (GI) Problems
- Genitourinary (GU) Problems
- Diabetes
- Dislocations Lab
- Simulations
- Quiz 4
- Ears, Eyes, Nose, Throat & Teeth Problems
- Asthma
- Heart Attack, Angina
- Stroke
- Seizures
- Specialized Rescue Equipment & Improvisation
- Video Simulation 1
- Litter Carries & Passes
- Video Simulation 2
- First Aid Kits
- Video Simulation 3
- Final Written Exam & CPR Practical
- Course Debrief & Closing
The WFR Review & Recertification course is designed for graduates of our Wilderness First Responder course and our Wilderness EMT module. Graduates from all courses are encouraged to attend on a yearly basis to maintain and polish their skills. Our Review & Recertification course focuses on trauma and environmental problems. Over 60% of the course is hands-on skill review, role plays, and simulations. This is especially important for those who do not work as primary care rescuers. Prior to the course, students should thoroughly review their original course materials as there will NOT be enough time during the course to cover all the material presented in the original course...yet they are still responsible for knowing it. If this is a student's first WMTC course, he or she should purchase and study the Art and Technique of Wilderness Medicine (link to site to buy) prior to their course. All Review students should download and complete the pre-course practice exam (complete directions are in the file)(link to site).
Alternatively WEMT and WFR graduates may choose to take the WMTC 3-day Wilderness First Aid workshop (WFA) and complete the exams and registration form in the WMTC Renewal Packet. Your exams will be corrected by a senior WMTC instructor and you will receive an in depth written report on any mistakes (there is a $25 processing fee for grading the exams).
Graduates from other wilderness medicine providers are welcome to recertify with us if they are currently certified and the wilderness portion of their original WEMT upgrade was at least 64 hours long and their original WFR was at least 72 hours. All review students must bring a copy of their certification with them to their course. If the certificate or certification card does NOT contain the course title (Wilderness EMT or Wilderness First Responder), the number of course hours, and an expiration or course completion date, you will need to supply a course syllabus that shows this together with a breakdown of the course topics. Please contact the Southwest Rescue office with any questions.
Although we encourage WMTC graduates to recertify with us, we do not require it. We understand that some of our students may occasionally wish to recertify with another company. To facilitate this process we have direct reciprocity with Wilderness Medicine Outfitters (WMO), First Lead, Aerie Wilderness Medicine, Desert Mountain Medicine, Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO), and Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) via their 3-day Challenge Course. All these organizations will permit a WMTC graduate to recertify directly with them and will issue a new certification upon successful completion of one of their recertification courses. WMTC graduates should be aware that there are minor differences between each wilderness medicine provider and are encouraged to purchase and read the text appropriate to the recertification course they plan to attend prior to the course. While WMTC does not yet have direct reciprocity with the Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI) at NOLS, we have reached an arrangement with them. WMTC students who wish to recertify with WMI should download and follow the directions in our Renewal Packet.
WFR Review
Day 1: Trauma
- Opening & Course Paperwork
- Course Introduction
- General Trauma Review
- Quiz 1
- Patient Assessment System Review (PAS), Part 1
- Basic Life Support (BLS) Lab: Skills Review
- Patient Assessment System Review (PAS), Part 2
- Simulations
- Evening Session: Wilderness CPR & AED Skills
- Review & Exam
- Review Cold and Heat Related Problems
- Quiz 2
- Extremities Splinting Lab
- Dislocations Review Lab
- Spine Assessment Review & Lab
- Simulations
- Toxins Review
- Anaphylaxis Review & Injection Lab
- Quiz 3
- Spine Management Review & Lab
- Exam Review & Open Case Studies Forum
- Final Written Case Studies Exam & CPR Practical
- General Debrief and Closing
The Wilderness First Aid workshops are designed to introduce participants to the concepts of medical care in a wilderness setting. The two day course focuses on Basic Life Support skills, minor trauma and selected environmental topics. The three day course covers the same material plus students examine the spine ruling out process, allergic & toxic reactions, and have additional simulation time. 80% of the course is hands-on skills practice and simulations; lecture is limited to basic anatomy and physiology. There is no formal testing. A completion card is given to each participant at the end of the course. Our WFA courses are accepted by the American Camping Association (ACA) for camp programs that are close to standard EMS assistance and by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) including Philmont Scout Ranch. While the course includes instruction in adult CPR techniques, due to time constraints CPR certification is not included.
Our 3-day WFA course may be used to recertify WFR and WEMT certifications. To receive certification graduates must download and complete the exams in the Renewal Packet within two months of completing their WFA course (directions are in the packet). Your exams will be corrected by a senior WMTC instructor and you will receive an in depth written report on any mistakes (there is a $25 processing fee for grading the exams).
WFA ~ 2 Day
Day 1
- Opening & Course Paperwork
- Course Introduction
- Critical Systems Trauma Assessment & Treatment
- Patient Assessment System (PAS), Part 1
- Basic Life Support Skills (BLS) Lab
- Patient Assessment System (PAS), Part 2
- Sunburn & Heat Problems (Heat Exhaustion,Heat Stroke, Electrolyte Sickness)
- Hypothermia
- Near Drowning
- Wound Cleaning Lab
- Stable & Unstable Musculoskeletal Injuries
- Extremities Splinting Lab
- Simulations
- Course Debrief & Closing
Day 1
- Opening & Course Paperwork
- Course Introduction
- Critical Systems Trauma Assessment & Treatment
- Patient Assessment System (PAS), Part 1
- Basic Life Support Skills (BLS) Lab
- Patient Assessment System (PAS), Part 2
- Wound Cleaning Lab
- Stable & Unstable Musculoskeletal Injuries
- Extremities Splinting Lab
- Spine Assessment & Lab>
- Simulations
- Sunburn & Heat Problems (Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke, Electrolyte Sickness)
- Hypothermia
- Near Drowning
- Wilderness Toxins
- Allergies Lecture & Injection Lab
- Simulations
- Course Debrief & Closing
Swiftwater Rescue
Swiftwater Rescue Technician Unit 1(SRT1)The SRT Unit 1 is an intensive three-day, 24- to 30-hour class. It has one day of classroom instruction followed by two days developing and practicing water rescue skills. The initial emphasis is on self-rescue skills. Other objectives include an in-depth look at such subjects as water dynamics, handling hazards and obstacles, using basic rescue equipment, setting up technical rope systems, controlling in-water contact rescues, and much more. Information from this course is applicable to anyone confronted with potential water rescue, as well as, the possibility of self-rescue.
This course is the first of three classes needed for personnel to meet the requirements for the Technician level NFPA 1670 Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Rescue Incidents and the NFPA 1006 Standard for Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications in the area of water.
Equipment requirements for this course include:
- full wetsuit or drysuit
- lightweight water or kayak helmet
- USCG Type III or V approved lifejacket/PFD
- thick-soled water booties or tennis shoes
- gloves
- 18 years of age or older
- adequate health insurance coverage
- basic swimming ability
- in good physical condition
The WRT course is for people who find themselves on or around the river for either work or recreational purposes. Professional guides, fish and game personnel, park service employees, and private boaters will find this course applicable to their needs. Fire and rescue personnel should take the NFPA-compliant Swiftwater Rescue Technician Unit 1 (SRTU1) course.
The course is two and one-half days long with the first four to six hours classroom instruction. It consists of intensive training using techniques and simple equipment to assess and perform river rescues. The emphasis of the class is on fast, low-tech and improvised rescue techniques.
Equipment requirements:
- full wetsuit or drysuit
- lightweight water or kayaking helmet
- USCG Type III or V approved lifejacket/PFD
- thick-soled water booties or tennis shoes
- gloves are optional but helpful in cold weather
- 18 years of age or older
- adequate health insurance coverage
- basic swimming ability
- in good physical condition
- * This course does NOT meet the requirements for NFPA 1670 Standard and does NOT qualify as a prerequisite for Swiftwater Rescue Technician Advanced™ (SRTA).
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