The Wilderness First Responder certification program offers a comprehensive educational pathway for individuals seeking to enhance their ability to manage medical emergency's in remote locations. This intensive course, is designed to bridge the gap between basic first aid and wilderness medical care.
Addressing the Challenges of Remote Emergencies:
Traditional first aid training often proves insufficient when faced with the unique challenges of wilderness environments. Limited resources, extended evacuation times, potential environmental hazards calls for skilled patient management. This course curriculum equips participants with the knowledge and practice skills to:
-Perform thorough patient assessment in outdoor setting
-implement evidence-based intervention for a wide range of medical and traumatic emergencies
-Effectively utilize limited resources to stabilize patients and mitigate further injury
-Make sound clinical decisions regarding patient care and evacuation strategies.
Wilderness Course
Course Overview:
The Wilderness Paramedic Course is designed to enhance the skills of paramedics in providing advanced medical care in austere and wilderness environments. The course focuses on the unique challenges of remote medical care, including extended patient contact time, limited resources, and environmental hazards.
Course Objectives:
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Develop advanced patient assessment and management skills in wilderness settings
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Understand the principles of wilderness medicine and austere care
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Learn to utilize and improvise medical equipment in resource-limited environments
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Enhance decision-making skills for prolonged patient care and evacuation scenarios
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Address environmental hazards and medical conditions specific to wilderness settings
Course Modules:
1. Introduction to Wilderness Medicine
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Definition and scope of wilderness medicine
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Roles and responsibilities of the wilderness paramedic
-
Legal and ethical considerations in wilderness care
2. Advanced Patient Assessment
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Comprehensive patient assessment techniques
-
Vital signs monitoring in remote settings
-
Documentation and communication strategies
3. Trauma Management
-
Mechanisms of injury in wilderness environments
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Advanced wound care and management
-
Fracture and dislocation management
-
Improvised splinting and bandaging techniques
4. Medical Emergencies
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Cardiovascular emergencies in austere settings
-
Respiratory emergencies and management
-
Neurological emergencies and altered mental status
-
Gastrointestinal and genitourinary emergencies
5. Environmental Emergencies
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Hypothermia and hyperthermia management
-
Frostbite and cold injury treatment
-
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke protocols
-
Altitude sickness and high-altitude medical conditions
-
Bites, stings, and envenomations
6. Prolonged Field Care
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Principles of prolonged field care
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Patient monitoring and reassessment
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Pain management in remote settings
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Fluid resuscitation and IV therapy
7. Wilderness Rescue and Evacuation
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Search and rescue techniques
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Patient packaging and evacuation strategies
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Use of litters and improvised stretchers
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Helicopter and air medical evacuation considerations
8. Improvisation and Resource Management
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Improvising medical equipment and supplies
-
Utilizing natural resources for medical care
-
Prioritizing care with limited resources
9. Wilderness Pharmacology
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Medication administration in remote settings
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Managing limited medication supplies
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Understanding wilderness-specific pharmacology
10. Case Studies and Practical Scenarios
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Real-life wilderness medical scenarios
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Hands-on practical exercises
-
Team-based problem-solving and decision-making
11. Certification and Recertification
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IBSC Wilderness Paramedic Certification requirements
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Continuing education and recertification process
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Maintaining skills and knowledge in wilderness medicine
Course Duration:
The course duration for UPEMS is 11 Days, but it typically spans 5-10 days of intensive training, including both classroom instruction and practical field exercises.
Assessment and Evaluation:
-
Written exams to assess theoretical knowledge
-
Practical skills assessments in simulated wilderness environments
-
Scenario-based evaluations to test decision-making and application of skills
Prerequisites:
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Current certification as an EMT-BASIC, EMT-ADVANCED, or PARAMEDIC in GOOD STANDING with the Bureau of EMS and NREMT.
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Basic understanding of wilderness survival skills (recommended but NOT Required)
Instructors:
The course will be taught by experienced wilderness paramedics, physicians, and other healthcare professionals with expertise in wilderness medicine.
Wilderness Course Topic Outline
1. Introduction to Wilderness Medicine
-
Definition and scope of wilderness medicine
-
Roles and responsibilities of the wilderness paramedic
-
Legal and ethical considerations in wilderness care
2. Advanced Patient Assessment
-
Comprehensive patient assessment techniques
-
Vital signs monitoring in remote settings
-
Documentation and communication strategies
3. Trauma Management
-
Mechanisms of injury in wilderness environments
-
Advanced wound care and management
-
Fracture and dislocation management
-
Improvised splinting and bandaging techniques
4. Medical Emergencies
-
Cardiovascular emergencies in austere settings
-
Respiratory emergencies and management
-
Neurological emergencies and altered mental status
-
Gastrointestinal and genitourinary emergencies
5. Environmental Emergencies
-
Hypothermia and hyperthermia management
-
Frostbite and cold injury treatment
-
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke protocols
-
Altitude sickness and high-altitude medical conditions
-
Bites, stings, and envenomations
6. Prolonged Field Care
-
Principles of prolonged field care
-
Patient monitoring and reassessment
-
Pain management in remote settings
-
Fluid resuscitation and IV therapy
7. Wilderness Rescue and Evacuation
-
Search and rescue techniques
-
Patient packaging and evacuation strategies
-
Use of litters and improvised stretchers
-
Helicopter and air medical evacuation considerations
8. Improvisation and Resource Management
-
Improvising medical equipment and supplies
-
Utilizing natural resources for medical care
-
Prioritizing care with limited resources
9. Wilderness Pharmacology
-
Medication administration in remote settings
-
Managing limited medication supplies
-
Understanding wilderness-specific pharmacology
10. Case Studies and Practical Scenarios
-
Real-life wilderness medical scenarios
-
Hands-on practical exercises
-
Team-based problem-solving and decision-making
11. Certification and Recertification
-
IBSC Wilderness Paramedic Certification requirements
-
Continuing education and recertification process
-
Maintaining skills and knowledge in wilderness medicine
The course duration here at UPEMS is 11 Days, but it typically spans 5-10 days of intensive training, including both classroom instruction and practical field exercises.
Course Duration:
Assessment and Evaluation:
-
Written exams to assess theoretical knowledge
-
Practical skills assessments in simulated wilderness environments
-
Scenario-based evaluations to test decision-making and application of skills
Prerequisites:
-
Current certification as an EMT-BASIC, EMT-ADVANCED, or PARAMEDIC
-
Basic understanding of wilderness survival skills (recommended but NOT required)