WILDERNESS MEDICINE
Wilderness Medicine differs significantly from standard Red Cross courses and other programs that are oriented toward the urban
environment. This course teaches what to do with a medical emergency when help is miles away and calling 911 isn’t an option.
We prepare students for emergency situations that involve prolonged patient care, severe environments and improvised equipment.
WHY CHOOSE WILDERNESS MEDICAL ASSOCIATES®?
Wilderness Medical Associates® has been setting the highest standard for medical training in wilderness and rescue medicine since 1981.
We are the only company in this field with a practicing emergency room physician as President and Medical Director. Dr. David Johnson’s
nearly 30 years of emergency medical and backcountry experience provide a depth of expertise that translates into a cutting edge curriculum.
Our team of exceptional instructors are medical professionals with significant patient care experience as well as substantial backcountry
resumes. All have been through a rigorous selection and training process. We demand the best, and we get them.
The curriculum is continuously updated and refined. We search the literature and draw from field experience to create the most useful
training possible for medical care in difficult and dangerous places. Our emphasis on understanding body systems and medical principles
gives students the skills and confidence to adapt and respond. Once an individual has taken one of our courses, he or she will remember
and understand what needs to be done.
Our courses are preferred by such organizations as Outward Bound, The National Park Service, and the FBI. As Canoe Magazine stated, “Wilderness Medical Associates has become the de facto standard in wilderness medical training.”
CLASS FORMAT
This course is presented in 24 hours over three days. Typically, mornings are devoted to lectures, discussions and quizzes, with afternoons
devoted to outdoor practical skills and scenarios. Evenings are reserved for study and assignments. Expect rescue scenarios with made-up
victims and simulated wounds to prepare you for backcountry emergencies. Sessions may be videotaped for enhanced learning.
PREREQUISITES
A minimum of 64 hours of continual training from any wilderness medical training program is required. Cumulative training
hours from different courses are not eligible. Training must have been completed within three years of participation
in our three-day Open Recertification course. Any exceptions to these conditions must be verified
prior to the course by contacting the Wilderness Medical Associates® office. Proof of current
certification is required at the start of the course. Students without proof of certification or
approval from the WMA™ office will not be eligible for WFR certification.
Upon receipt of a course roster from the sponsor, pre-course Study Guides will be mailed to students two to four weeks prior to the first day of their course.Students should complete the Study Guide in preparation for the course. It was designed to familiarize
students with the essential points in the curriculum. Instructors will collect it at the beginning of the
course but it will not be figured into the final grade.
Students must be at least sixteen years old to participate in the three-day Open Recertification course.
Those under age eighteen will require the written consent of a parent or guardian.
COURSE SPONSORS AND INSTRUCTORS
Wilderness Medical Associates’® courses are offered by a variety of sponsors in the US and abroad. Sponsors may set rules regarding
parking, dogs, the use of alcohol, and other site-specific issues. The course sponsor sets the tuition and provides the classroom and any
housing or meals that may be included. All courses are taught by WMA™ instructors who have been through our rigorous selection and
training process and adhere to our course standards and curriculum.
TEXTBOOKS
All teaching materials are provided by Wilderness Medical Associates® at no additional cost. This includes a book of lecture handouts,
our case study workbook, SOAP Notes, our textbook, Wilderness and Rescue Medicine, and The Wilderness Medical Associates Field Guide.
COMPLETION AND GRADES
Successful completion with certification is based on 100% attendance, satisfactory performance on homework assignments and written
quizzes, demonstrated proficiency with practical skills and a grade of 80% or better on final written exam. Wilderness Medical Associates®
is committed to making reasonable accomodation to any student with special needs.
CERTIFICATION
All eligible students who complete this course will receive Wilderness Medical Associates’® Wilderness First Responder, Anaphylaxis, and
BLS/Healthcare Provider-level CPR certification. These certifications remain valid for three years. This certification can be used to challenge
the DOT First Responder Exam, which is at the discretion of the local or state EMS authorities.
RECERTIFICATION
The three-day Open Recertification course may be used as a recertification option for those with a current WMA™ Wilderness
First Responder or WMA Wilderness EMT certification. For the WEMT recertification to be valid, WEMTs must have either a current
license or certificate as an EMT-B or higher. Contact the Wilderness Medical Associates® office for more details.
Within three years, graduates of this course may recertify by taking the 36-hour Wilderness First Aid Course, the 36-hour WAFA-to-WFR
Bridge Course, or repeating this 24-hour Open Recertification Course.
WHAT TO BRING
Bring appropriate clothing for the location and time of year. Remember that, rain or shine, much of our time is spent outside. You will
also need pens and a notebook. See our Student Handbook and speak with the sponsor for more information.
OPEN RECERTIFICATION COURSE SCHEDULE
Day 1: 8 hours - Introduction/Registration; Review Study Packet, Patient Assessment System, Basic Life Support (including Healthcare
Provider-level CPR), Circulatory System, Respiratory System, Nervous System, Lifts, Moves and Extrications, PAS Drills
Day 2: 8 hours - Musculoskeletal, Dislocations, Spine Management, Wounds and Burns, PAS Drills, Splints I - Extremities, Splints II -
Spines, Simulation
Day 3: 8 hours - Allergies and Anaphylaxis, Environmental Injuries, PAS Drills, Simulation, Final Testing, Conclusion
|
