Wilderness Medical Training

[1leglance]

I know others around here have attending wilderness medical training but I thought I would post up about my recent experience getting WUMPed...Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals = Wilderness First Responder.

Last week I completed 5 days of intense Wilderness Upgrade for Medical Professionals in Flagstaff, mid 20's at night & mid 40's during the day. And they had us in the snow all the time practicing what we were being taught.

It was a great class and I highly recommend that everyone take some level of wilderness med training through WMI/NOLS http://www.nols.edu/wmi as they have a great setup and my instructors were top notch!. Anything put on by Pete Waka & Marc Yeston is worth attending.

The night training was very cool and I got to be a suprise patient. We had teams of 5 and 1 of our team got "hurt", after 1 hour I then had a "seizure" and that really cranked the pressure up. In the first case they knew it wasn't real, but in mine they weren't so sure.


Read more about it here
http://disabledexplorers.com/id14.html

[XXXpedition]

that sounds great. just a bit too far for me :-(((

[desertgirl66]

Whoo-hoo! Way to go Lance! A most excellent class with real life scenarios.Great to be a patient at night in the snow :snorkel:

What I really like about the Wilderness Medicine is that it feels real practical, and since becoming a WFR, I am always prepared!

Congratulations on a very hard class and super Medical Upgrade.

[1leglance]

Make sure to look at the wmi website as they have classes worldwide....and if not through them then through whoever is close to you. It feels nice to look into your revamped first aid kit and actually envision using each item.

Hey Kristina I thought it was you who had mentioned the class before but I couldn't find the thread when I searched.
I am a visual, gotta do it learner and this class was great, plus laughing helps create more solid memory banks :)

One tough thing for me is that I am so used to reaching for fresh sterile supplies at the hospital so I liked rethinking my resources and learning new pt monitoring skills.

great class.

[4Rescue]

Congrats man, it's good training to have...



I too am a graduate of the WMI EMT-W course. Best month of training ever. Dan Dekay is flat out the MAN as far as EMS trainers go. I now work with a Nurse Pract. that teaches for them and is getting me hooked up to teach as well. I highly recomend WMI over most of the other wilderness med. outfits, the knowledge base is FAR higher and the level of practical training is awsome. Doing full on night SAR practicals is just plain amazing (although a few of the kids in my class got wicked cases of Poison ivy...)

What do you do in the Hospital? (I'm currently an ER tech here in Portland, am in Nursing school, and am a certified Structrual Firefighter looking for a home with a good dept.) I hear you about Sterile field, it's alot different when you've got a real emergency out on the side of a river or on the trail, get the bleeding stoped and get'm in... Try to fight as much infection as you can but it aint no OR eh ;)

Cheers

Dave

[stick]

I've always been interested in these classes, but apparently in my part of the country we don't need Wilderness First Aid. They offer no classes even anywhere close to PA. NC is the closest thing I saw on the schedule. :o

[1leglance]

I am a RN in the ICU & surgical recovery areas...I like to change things around so I try to keep my skills up in both areas.

I guess there are parts of the country where training is lacking...we did have some folks in our class (Flagstaff, Northern Arizona) come from quite a ways away saying there was nothing aval. near them.

I can't recommend enough that you should get whatever training you can if you go into remote areas. You might just be all there is and every bit of knowledge helps.

[4Rescue]

Cool mate. I'm really looking forward to being finnished with school... My mom has been an ER nurse for 35 years so she was pretty stoked when she found out I was gonna follow in her footsteps.

And I couldn't agree with you more. If you get out there, go take a wilderness First Aid class at the least. It never hurts to know something and you may just save a life...possibly your own eh ;)

Cheers

Dave

[Fireman78]

Anyone who travels into and beyond the "Middle of Nowhere" really needs to have this training under their belt. This goes for all parties, regardless of how well you THINK your vehicle is capable/reliable/etc. I took one of these classes back in 93 or so in Squaw Valley, Ca, and it was a really great time, as well as outstanding real world info. I enjoyed talking with all the different folks from all areas and walks of life. I took another one around 99 here in New Mexico, but this one was more geared for survival and map skills. Very cool classes indeed. One thing I can recommened is that you and your group of friends that you took the class with go out once a year or every couple years or so and really practice what you've learned. I mean go out and suffer, take a small pack with bare exentials and nothing else. Imagine you've survied a plane crash or major mech breakdown and you have to hike out to civilazation and survive. no GPS, no tent, ect. Have someone literally drop you off and get back to wherever, or arrange a pick up a couple days later. You won't regret doing it. :campfire:

[Angel?]

Congrats Lance! Great job! :bowdown:

Damn, don't those outside simulations get your blood pumping?

Yes, all the WMI instructors are top notch, as are the WMI
courses.

[Angel?]

I've always been interested in these classes, but apparently in my part of the country we don't need Wilderness First Aid. They offer no classes even anywhere close to PA. NC is the closest thing I saw on the schedule. :o

Check out Wilderness Medical Associates, who along with WMI, what I understood from our instructor to be one of the top three in Wilderness Medical training companies. As I understand it, WMI and WMA accept each other's students for recerts. http://www.wildmed.com/Schedule/schedule.htm

There is a WFR by WMA class in Gettysburg PA in May.

[Tacomedic]

I've always been interested in these classes, but apparently in my part of the country we don't need Wilderness First Aid. They offer no classes even anywhere close to PA. NC is the closest thing I saw on the schedule. :o

One of the best programs in the country is in Conway, New Hampshire. SOLO (stonehearth open learning opportunities) offers WFR and WEMT classes. I have attended several Wilderness Medicine classes and I promise this is one of the best. They also have a satellite campus in NC that teaches weekend courses.

[RedRocker]

Congrats man, it's good training to have...
I too am a graduate of the WMI EMT-W course. Best month of training ever. Dan Dekay is flat out the MAN as far as EMS trainers go.

Cheers

Dave

I took that course about 15 years ago in Park City Utah, Dan
was a great teacher for sure.

[4Rescue]

I took that course about 15 years ago in Park City Utah, Dan
was a great teacher for sure.
HAHA, Nice man, small world eh, and yeah Dan is one GREAT teacher. I hope to be teaching for them by next year, I'm a fim beliver that WMI is heads and shoulders above the rest of the W-EMS world (there are other good programs, but WMI is the best IMO). Great teachers, great lesson plans, great locations, simply a great education.

Cheers

Dave

[jeepmedic46]

Going to be getting my wilderness emt back in the spring. Let mine expire years ago and want to get back into search and rescue. Going to do mine at SOLO in North Conway Nh.

[ntsqd]

Digging this older thread up, Are there CEU's offered for Medical Professionals?

My GF is an RN who is looking to take a course like this, but for it to work for her it would be very good if CEU's are offered. Her work will help with the time and the cost if CEU's are available, but those courses that she's found thus far only offer CEU equivalents to EMT's and MD's, though not for RN's.

[Cypher]

That is very cool Lance! I have been wanting to take a wilderness first aid class for sometime now. I know there are a few offered here in the valley, but I have not gotten around to getting into one. I made it a priority for me to get it done this year however. Sounds like this one was really cool being that you guys were out and about in the snow up in Flagstaff.

[1leglance]

Digging this older thread up, Are there CEU's offered for Medical Professionals?

My GF is an RN who is looking to take a course like this, but for it to work for her it would be very good if CEU's are offered. Her work will help with the time and the cost if CEU's are available, but those courses that she's found thus far only offer CEU equivalents to EMT's and MD's, though not for RN's.

If you live in a state that req RN's to have CEU (Az doesn't) then yes many of the folks teaching the WMI stuff work with a Universty for the CEU aspect. The course I took in Flagstaff gave CEU's through a Utah University.
Contact NOLS and they can help you out with what is aval in your area.


That is very cool Lance! I have been wanting to take a wilderness first aid class for sometime now. I know there are a few offered here in the valley, but I have not gotten around to getting into one. I made it a priority for me to get it done this year however. Sounds like this one was really cool being that you guys were out and about in the snow up in Flagstaff.

I have heard that the REI courses are pretty good but honestly the guys teaching in Flag are a riot and well worth the drive and time. Plus it gave me an excuse to camp!

[ntsqd]

Grazia!!

[desertgirl66]

Pete Walka who runs the Flagstaff Field Institute and is the main Instructor for NOLS/WMI courses up there, has an amazingly wonderful course curriculum. As Lance says, the school is a bit of a "riot", tons of realistic scenarios in the elements, great class room learning, and really great "real world" scenarios.

I often go up there just to volunteer to be a "victim" or "patient" just to stay in the fun and the juice of Wilderness Medicine. I highly recommend The Flagstaff Field Institute.

http://www.flagstafffieldinstitute.com/cart.php

[4Rescue]

Pete Walka who runs the Flagstaff Field Institute and is the main Instructor for NOLS/WMI courses up there, has an amazingly wonderful course curriculum. As Lance says, the school is a bit of a "riot", tons of realistic scenarios in the elements, great class room learning, and really great "real world" scenarios.

I often go up there just to volunteer to be a "victim" or "patient" just to stay in the fun and the juice of Wilderness Medicine. I highly recommend The Flagstaff Field Institute.

http://www.flagstafffieldinstitute.com/cart.php
I'd guess that if he's a WMI guy that he got into the "scenarios" there, they erally do ALOT of that stuff. Glad to hear of another solid instructor working for/with them. I'll have to look into the other org. you linked, I'm not familliar with the group, thanks for the link and recomendation

Cheers

Dave

[rmarz]

I am glad this thread received some CPR, I had followed the link to NOLS when Lance first posted and have had it in the back of my mind as a ‘someday’ kind of thought. When the thread came back, I checked out the class schedule and work schedule and service schedule and home schedule, and to my surprise am able to attend the May class.

I am looking forward to be joining the ranks of those more prepared.

[jeepmedic46]

I'm getting my wilderness emt this summer and a buddy from work is as well.

[rmarz]

I'm getting my wilderness emt this summer and a buddy from work is as well.

I maintained EMT-B for five years before letting the CE requirements slip. The wilderness first responder training will better suit my needs as I am not pursuing a career in pre hospital care and this course is recommended by Lance, quite an endorsement.

Will your EMT-W be a component of your work?

[jeepmedic46]

Not in my full time job, I'm a critical care paramedic now. I'm applying to be on a search and rescue team and hoping it will be helpful.

[DarkHelmet]

Here are a couple other course options that I have seen.

I'd like to take this one:

Remote Medical RMUR: http://www.remotemedical.com/wilderness-medicine-training/Upgrade-EMT-Wilderness-Recertification

I am also an Instructor for ASHI certified to teach WFR and WEMT Upgrade courses:

http://www.ashinstitute.org/wilderness.htm

[rmarz]

Well I have completed wilderness first responder and am in fact posting from the Nordic Center, having completed my testing a few hours ago. If anyone is considering this training I say go for it! A very fast paced, intense ten days. It was well worth the money and using vacation time from work. WMI NOLS puts on quite the course.

[1leglance]

Hey Rich,
I forgot you were doing this!
Way cool and it is a huge assest to have more medical folks out on the trail, now the most important part is to continue to run through the info in your head when you are out there so you don't loose it (cuz I hope you never need it).
Congrats and glad you had a good time

[rmarz]

Hey Rich,
I forgot you were doing this!
Way cool and it is a huge assest to have more medical folks out on the trail, now the most important part is to continue to run through the info in your head when you are out there so you don't loose it (cuz I hope you never need it).
Congrats and glad you had a good time

Thanks Lance. I saved the last Jose Piedra petit for an after grad. treat, thanks again for the stogies! A lot of the basic info was review for me from the EMT-B class I took in the 1990’s but the wilderness protocol skills were a real eye opener.

No doubt the scenarios put on for the class will be running through my mind often, very intense. Hopefully the skills will not be needed, but the structure of the course will not be forgotten anytime soon.