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COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course includes all topics covered in a Wilderness Advanced First Aid course plus numerous additional topics, case studies, patient assessment drills, and a final simulation. Mornings will be devoted to lectures and afternoons will be devoted to practical hands-on sessions and rescue simulations. Instructors will use made-up victims, stage blood and video taping as means for enhanced learning.

“She absolutely loved working in the clinic, and that confirmed to her that she'd like to pursue a career in medicine.” — Melissa Stafford, Littleton, CO

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Students will be able to:
• Demonstrate competency in assessing a patient, handling emergencies, and utilizing Basic Life Support equipment and procedures to the level of certification.
• Determine blood pressure and lung sounds
• Demonstrate the ability to perform CPR, control hemorrhaging, properly assess and stabilize an injured spine, manage fractures and other musculoskeletal injuries, reduce simple dislocations, cleanse and dress wounds, and manage environmental emergencies
• Determine the nature and extent of illness or injury, measure pulse rates and blood pressure, assess respiratory status, observe changes in skin color, search for medical alert identification.
• Establish priority for emergency care and render appropriate care to competency level.
• Assess and assist in the extrication of a patient from an entrapment.
• Demonstrate knowledge and be able to use or assist in the use of accepted rescue and medical techniques, procedures, and devices as needed.
• Assist in evacuating patient to an ambulance or medical facility and use accepted emergency medical techniques, procedures, and devices.
• Report nature and extent of illness or injury to ambulance personnel or receiving facility via radio, establish on-line medical control as needed, continually reassess patient during evacuation and provides care as needed.
• Work in extreme environmental conditions and various terrains
• Document and report both orally and in the prescribed format to ambulance or hospital personnel

LECTURE TOPICS

• The General Principles of Rescue Medicine with an emphasis on the prevention and identification of medical emergencies, appropriate technology, and risk management.
• Patient assessment and emergency care including CPR, basic Life support, and the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis and asthma.
• Environmental Medicine including altitude illness, hypothermia and heat illness, frostbite and cold injury; lightning, submersion, and environmental toxins.
• Backcountry Medicine including the assessment and treatment of common medical problems.
• Musculoskeletal Problems including unstable and stable injuries, overuse syndromes, and dislocations.
• Wound Management including open fractures, lacerations, burns and blisters.
• Practical Skills including splinting, bandaging, litter packaging and medical kit preparation.
• WMA Wilderness Protocols including wound cleaning and exploration, spine injury assessment, dislocation reduction, CPR in the remote setting, and Anaphylaxis and Asthma.

FIELD STUDIES & EXERCISES

• Case studies and simulations

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At a Glance

• Prerequisites
• Must be at least 16 years-old before the course starts

Download Syllabus