7th Annual Chamonix Summer Course
Expedition Medicine & Field Skills for Diverse Environments
21-25 June 2010 , £475 (£350 med students and nurses)
Ideally suited to doctors, nurses, paramedics & medical students who want to develop their personal skills in the outdoors and their knowledge of the medical challenges in all environments
No climbing or expedition experience required
BOOK NOW!
Introduction
WMT Chamonix courses are incredibly well organised, well thought out and professionally delivered by a world class faculty who are experienced, fun and approachable! WMT’s two directors alone have a combined total of 44 real expeditions (not weeklong charity treks) to their credit. We constantly innovate to refresh our events. Chamonix is a legendary, easily accessible town that is an awesome playground for out of class hours, including fabulous optional mountain sports activities and instruction offered by WMT. More than 50% of WMT course delegates attend by word of mouth. As Dr Alice Mavrogordato said:
“All together a brilliant course and I would highly recommend it!”
The programme and faculty are all subject to confirmation.
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
Saturday & Sunday – designated rendezvous points for early arrivals wanting to meet up with others for a day of adventure or an evening drink
Monday - Issues for all Environments – registration 9.30 for a 10am kickoff
- Welcome & Introductions
- What is expedition medicine?
- Outdoor “bench marking” accident scenario & team building activity
- The legal considerations of being an expedition medic
- Incidence of illness and injury on expeditions
- Preparing the team; including antimalarials, immunisations & team selection and group dynamics
Desert, Jungle & Water Environments
- Heat illnesses & dehydration – wet bulb globe thermometers, military guidelines & electrolyte drinks
- Lurkin’ firkins – snakes, scorpions & other biting beasties
- Working in the jungle – a personal & practical perspective
- Diving expeditions – practical issues for remote areas
- Pre-existing medical problems
- GI disease (diarrhoea, appendicitis, etc)
- Compiling a suitable medical kit – small group work
- Complimentary wine & snacks
- Inspirational lecture
Tuesday - Mountainous & Cold Terrain
- Hypothermia & frostbite – practical guidelines for field use
- Acute mountain sickness – AMS
- Vetting expedition companies
- Discussion - how to further a career in expedition medicine
- Qualifications & training structures for various outdoor activities
- Working in teams in the mountains - preparing a field menu & shopping for provisions & preparing for the night out: kit check & hire of equipment as required
Move to overnight mountain camp location
PM Mountain Camp Sessions
Stoves & cooking in the field
Camping - snow camping/snow caves
Packing light - kit selection, packing & waterproofing
Use of radios – ETHANE report - radio do’s and don’ts
Wednesday: mountain instructional activities
Snow travel & ice axe use
Navigation – map & compass intro & refresher
Ropes/anchors & rescue techniques,
Moving/straightening the injured, improvised splints/stretchers/collars
Return to town c. 5pm
Thursday - outdoors
Living and Travelling in the Jungle & the River & Open Water Environment
The wonders & limits of GPS
Safe river crossings
Vehicle safety & extrication
Jungle camp craft, health & hygiene, water purification
Concludes with multiple casualty scenario practical exercise
Conference close
Final party!
Friday - guided mountain walk to appreciate the local flora, fauna and geography, practise navigation and enjoy the company of fellow delegates and the WMT faculty
Faculty
Course Director
Dr Jon Dallimore MSc MRCGP DCH DRCOG Dip. Mountain Med., WMT Medical Director
Jon has carved out a unique portfolio medical career in travel and expedition medicine. He has completed 22 expeditions and is medical advisor to a number of expedition companies, including World Challenge Expeditions, Trekforce, Greenforce and Tangent Expeditions. In addition, he continues to work as a GP and he is a staff grade doctor in A&E at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. Jon has completed an MSc in travel medicine and the UIAA Diploma in Mountain Medicine, which he now teaches on. Jon is a member of Royal Geographical Society’s Medical Cell and a contributing author of the RGS landmark publication Expedition Medicine. On his most recent expedition Jon made 20 first ascents in Greenland.
Course Manager
Barry Roberts BSc BEd, WMT Commercial Director
Barry has 22 expeditions to his credit. These expeditions have varied enormously in their scope, including scientific research, community and adventure based projects. Baz is an active adventure sportsman who is a ski mountaineer, advanced diver, araglider pilot and skydiver. He climbed Everest in May 2004 on this 11th visit to the Himalaya. He is formerly a Director of Raleigh International. Baz also runs All Terrain Ski in Chamonix and recently co-wrote and published www.stayingaliveoffpiste.com. He has lectured widely about his travels to corporate and public groups throughout the UK and in Rome, Oman, Dubai and Romania.
Luc Bellon – Mountain Guide
Luc is a Chamonix based internationally qualified mountain guide and ski instructor with an extensive background in mountain rescue as a former mountain policeman with the PGHM. He has worked extensively with Barry running All Terrain Ski in Chamonix and on the last two summer conferences.
Venue The conference is non-residential and the indoor, lecture based component of the conference will be held at the Bicentenaire lecture room adjacent to the Musee Alpin, close to the river, near McDonalds. Places are strictly limited to ensure a quality teaching environment in the outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is on the summer programme?
There are 4 themes which involve lectures and/or outdoor practical training:
- Important health issues for all environments
- Mountainous & cold terrain; conditions & injuries
- Life in the hot zone: the challenge of desert & jungle environments
- Living, working and thriving outdoors
Who attends WMT Medics' Courses?
Typically our courses attract a great mix of doctors from PRHO’s to consultants in varied specialties. We also welcome medical students, nurses and paramedics. Some people have little or no expedition experience and some are very experienced. Many people come alone and make new friends. Others have come in big gangs of medical schoolmates! The course is designed for any medical professional interested in expedition and travel medicine regardless of their level of expedition experience. You do not have to have any previous mountain or expedition experience but a reasonable level of fitness is required.
What feedback did previous Chamonix courses get?
WMT takes great pride not only in the educational value of our products but also in the smooth administration of our courses and the attention to detail that makes WMT events a special experience. See the delgate feedback page.
How does WMT’s Chamonix course differ from our competitor's courses?
For one, it’s held in Chamonix! What a great opportunity to attend an educationally robust course AND to recreate in the mountains before or after the event. Secondly, we teach expedition medicine, including broad ranging topics and practical skills applicable to all environments. This isn’t a mountain rescue, mountain first aid or mountain medicine course for doctors and we believe there’s little point in discussing complicated rescue equipment that YOU WON’T HAVE with you!
How easy is it to get to Chamonix?
Very easy! Many low-cost airlines fly from numerous UK airports directly to Geneva. Chamonix is 60 miles from Geneva and it costs about £50 for return transfers. Groups will find it cheaper to hire a car for the week.
What about organising hotel/chalet accommodation?
See below for travel and accommodation advice with loads of contacts for accommodation. You can also check out www.chamonix.net and www.chamonix.com for hotels and other accommodation. Camping is also an option. We’ll probably offer a chalet package too this year!
What’s the social side of the conference like?
Exhausting! The week can be as full on as you want to make it! There’s no shortage of organised or informal options to drink and eat together. We always organise a fabulous end of course dinner too. We'll put all delegates in email contact with each other before the course so you can organise pre or post course adventures together.
Can I bring a partner?
Certainly and many people do. They are welcome to join in on the optional evening lectures (for free), the end of course dinner and any special optional outdoor activities that are offered (at additional cost).
What does the fee include?
The fee is inclusive of tuition, refreshments, notes, a conference certificate, materials, mountain guides and climbing equipment/other outdoor material (pots, stoves and fuel) but cable cars, food for camping out and other personal equipment (such as a bivy bag, rucsac, sleeping mat and bag) are not included but we'll give you comprehensive advice on kit. A limited number of discounted places are available for nurses and medical students.
How do I book a place to come?
Application is only via the online BOOKING FORM.
How do the winter and summer courses differ?
The winter course is mainly based indoors either AM or PM so you have half a day free to ski everyday. The summer course involves 4 full days (2 outdoors) including an overnight mountain camp. The content of the winter programme is mostly medical; the summer course is roughly 60% outdoor skills and 40% lecture based medical content. There are no prerequisites for either course.
Travel & Accommodation Notes
These details are not exhaustive – check out www.chamonix.com, www.chamonix.net and www.chamonixexperience.com for other local services, information or web links to some of the contacts below. WMT cannot be responsible for any of the services or prices listed which are given in good faith as a guide only.
We suggest you fly into Geneva. The motorway leading to the French border is only a few hundred metres from the airport. The French border is about 10km from the airport. You can exit the airport on the “French side” but this is not as convenient if you don't know your way around.
Visas
Depending on what passport you hold you should make sure you do not require a visa for Switzerland and/or France. If you require a Swiss visa you can consider exiting the airport from the French side to avoid having to get one.
Geneva Car Hire
Although the bus service around the Chamonix valley is good, a car can be very handy for maximising your time on the slopes. Bear in mind too that a return minibus transfer from the airport is £50+ that could be put towards car hire. It is 100km from the airport to Chamonix and about £6 return for road tolls if you take the motorway-peage (recommended). The ski station car parks are generally at low altitudes so driving to the slopes isn’t too scary. Best to rent chains with your car just in case.
www.holidayautos.co.uk
Warning – be careful if you are tempted to hire a car from the FRENCH side of the airport – it can involve more hassle and cost if you end up returning it to the Swiss side, although if can be cheaper to hire overall.
Scheduled Flights to Geneva
Allow 1½ hours to get to Chamonix by transfer minibus.
Chamonix – Geneva Airport Transfers – about £25-£30 each way depending on number of passengers and time of booking
Trains These are time-consuming ways of travelling between the airport and Chamonix and not recommended.
Tourist Offices
Chamonix tel. 00 33 4 50 53 00 24
French Government Tourist Office tel. 0891 244123
Accommodation
Ask where the your accommodation is in relation to the Musee Alpin which is in the town centre! Accommodation is not available at the course venue. Beware of properties adverstised as being in Chamonix when in fact they are in the "Chamonix Valley" and in one of the outlying villages like Les Houches, Servoz, Taconnaz, Les Pras or Argentierre for example! If you want to enjoy the nightlife, then you really need to be in Chamonix town.
For central hotel reservations via the tourist office contact reservation@chamonix.com, visit www.chamonix.com or telephone 00 33 4 50 53 23 33. The following hotels are within central Chamonix. Their star rating is noted to give you an idea of the price range the hotel is in (bear in mind that some French hotels given 3 stars are really only 2+ stars according to UK standards). Some 2 stars may not be en suite. 2 star hotels B & B can cost £40, 3 stars up to £60 (per night).
Mercure Coralia 3 stars email 8983-GM@accor-hotels.com
Point Isabelle 2 stars pointe.isabelle@telepost.fr
La Vallee Blanche 3 stars info@vallee-blanche.com
La Croix Blanche, 3 stars croix-blanche@chamonixhotels.com
Touring Hotel 2 stars, tel/fax 00 33 4 50 53 59 18
El Paso – La Cantina (no star rating) tel 00 33 4 50 53 64 20
Au Bon Coin 2 stars hotel@auboncoin@wanadoo.fr
Mont-Blanc 4 stars (by the tourist office) mont-blanc@chamonixhotels.com
Park Suisse 3 stars parkhotelsuisse@telepost.fr
Richemond 2 stars richemond@wanadoo.fr
Prieure 3 stars Prieure@chamonixhotels.com
Hotel Gustavia hotel@hotel-gustavia.com, www.hotel-gustavia.com, telephone 00 33 4 50 53 00 31
Gite – Bunkhouse Le Vagabond – shared rooms and a few doubles – tel. 00 33 4 50 53 15 43 between 8-10.30am and after 4.30pm www.gitevagabond.com
Camping The tourist office produces a guide to accommodation, including camping called Les Carnet de l’Hebergement. The following is for reference – WMT does not get directly involved in booking independent accommodation for delegates.
Camping – close to the town centre
L’Ile des Barrats tel/fax 00 33 4 50 53 51 44
Les Arolles tel. 00 33 4 50 53 14 30 email jean-luc.burnet@libertysurf.fr
Les Molliasses 00 33 4 50 53 16 81 email jean-luc.burnet@libertysurf.fr
Private Apartment Hire
Groups might consider hiring a self-catering apartment for the week. See reservation@chamonix.com or www.chamonix.com for apartment rental agents. See also www.holiday-rentals.co.uk and www.alpinebeds.com.
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