What is Wilderness Medicine?
At its core, Wilderness Medicine is being able to improvise without having improvisation be the plan. Often practiced where a patient is one hour or more from definitive care, resources in wilderness medicine are often limited so responders may have a more difficult time transporting patients or communicating with the outside world. Typically, it is obvious when we are in a wilderness medical environment but sometimes the lines can be blurry. Wilderness medical settings can occur in cities or other areas within sight of civilization if access to the patient is not possible in a timely manner. In short, wilderness medical situations are dynamic, unpredictable, and often times require creativity and quick thinking.
WildMed courses we offer:
- Wilderness First Responder (72 hr.)
- Discover the gold standard WFR certification with Cordillera! Our Wilderness First Responder (WFR) class is an advanced training course that builds on basic first aid skills to provide in-depth medical education for treating injuries and illnesses in remote outdoor environments. This course is crucial if you plan on spending any significant time in remote areas where supplies and resources are limited. For many, their WFR course stands out as a formative experience in their lives. We try to create that experience for every one of our students, and by the end of the class you’ll leave with a whole new perspective on how to approach backcountry emergencies. From jellyfish stings to pneumothorax, we cover it all and exceed most standards required by EMT’s in a densely packed 8 days. We customize every course to meet your needs, so course formats vary widely.
- Wilderness First Aid (16 & 8 hr.)
- Learn the essentials! Taking our WFA classes will provide you with the essential skills for treating injuries and illnesses in remote outdoor enviornments. Students will learn how to assess and manage common wilderness emergencies—including wounds, fractures, sprains, hypothermia, heat illness, and allergic reactions—using improvised techniques and limited equipment. This is the perfect class for those who desire a comprehensive wilderness medical class, but are unable to commit to a full Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course.
- CPR / AED
- Our Wilderness CPR training addresses the unique challenges of providing medical care in isolated locations—such as difficult terrain, extreme weather, limited equipment, and delayed evacuation times. Rescuers learn to use available resources creatively, assess the feasibility of resuscitation given environmental hazards, and coordinate with emergency services for safe patient evacuation.
