Wilderness Medical Training

 

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Winter Chamonix Events for Medics

Chamonix Winter Expedition Medicine -12th year

24-28 January 2011

click to read a BMJ REVIEW

Comprehensive syllabus – engaging lectures & practical sessions – great social & snow sport opportunities - inspring, expert faculty - new hostel half board deal

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL PRICES - £425 (325 for nurses & medical students) - a saving of £25 or £50 if booked by 1st October (must be paid for at the time of booking).

Places are limited to first come first served and we reserve the right to withdraw this special offer at any time without notice.

Prices go up 1st October - £475 (nurses/med students £350)

Held every winter at the foot of Mont Blanc in the French Alps

Chamonix – the Roof of Europe

WMT Chamonix events are aimed at aspiring and experienced expedition medics. Our world-class faculty, programme content, support materials, Chamonix venue and mountain activities are unrivalled.

Starts 3pm Monday & concludes 7.30pm Friday. 4 out of 5 days run 3pm - 7.30pm + one half day outdoors. The rest of the time is free for snowsports! No prior expedition or skiing experience required.

Course themes - each day focuses on a different, important theme:

• Managing injuries in the field
• Medicine in the outdoor environment
• Planning & pre-expedition considerations
• Mountain medicine
• Hot, deep & dangerous environments

The fee includes

  • Diverse programme over five days
  • A bound set of comprehensive notes
  • Lectures, discussions and group problem solving sessions that start on Monday afternoon & continue three afternoons until Friday with an outdoor scenario training session am or pm mid-week  
  • Inspirational early evening lecture programme - the last lecture of the day with complimentary wine
  • Teas/coffees during main indoor lecture programme
  • 40% ski hire discount

The fee DOES NOT include travel, accommodation, any meals, ski passes etc or anything else not expressly mentioned above.

TBC for 2011 key note speaker: we are hopeful that the renowned Dr Manu Cauchy from Chamonix, frostbite expert, author and mountain guide, will join us again to regale the course with tales of moutain rescue and frostbite research.

Past special evening lectures have been about climbing Everest, conducting remote clinic work in Kenya, working with TV crews (Joanna Lumley, Ben Fogle), paragliding in Greenland, working in the Antarctic and other inspiring topics.

Ski pass discounts are available for full time students.

Travel notes: we can never improve upon the information on numerous websites especially www.chamonix.com which is a fantastic for LOCAL info like pictures, webcams, accommodation options and more. For info about getting to Geneva and Chamonix, flights options from anywhere in the world, airport transfers and more visit www.chamonix.net.

For more a more detailed programme, faculty and travel notes click here

Vagabond Hostel Deal

Hostel Half Board Deal - new in 2010 44.80 euros/night (about £38 at 1£= 1.16 euro). For 2010 we hope to confirm shortly that we've once again reached an agreement with the town centre Gite le Vagabond to reserve the entire hostel for WMT delegates for the course week in 2011. In 2010 this was the deal: there's a 4 night minimum stay and the bed, breakfast and dinner rate is just 44.80 euros per night. There are 34 beds in total; 28 are in shared bunk rooms; there's also a double room ensuite for 127.80 euros/night and the Brevent room with 4 single rooms and more living space - 203.60 euros/night between 4. Gite Bunkhouse Le Vagabond tel. 00 33 4 50 53 15 43 between 8-10.30am and after 4.30pm (French time, one hour ahead of the UK). www.gitevagabond.com. Bookings only by phone - 50% deposit required. 2011 PRICES TBC - the above prices are for guidance only.

Click here for the full outline programme, FAQs, faculty, optional activities & travel notes.

"The course had a wonderful energy to it, people with impressive experience, inspirational stories and lots of amusing anecdotes. Congrats on putting it all together so well."
Dr Renee Ford

Read more DELEGATE FEEDBACK

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Summer Chamonix Events for Medics

Chamonix Summer - Expedition Medicine & Field Skills for Diverse Environments - 8th year

Lectures focused on medical planning & environmental medicine - intensive outdoor skill training – very practically oriented - inspiring setting

21-25 June 2010, £475, nurses/students £350 (held at '07 prices) YOU MISSED IT - BUT THERE ARE STILL MANY OTHER MEDIC COURSES RUNNING IN SEPTEMBER!

Date for 2011 coming soon! Email WMT to register your interest.

Held every summer at the foot of Mont Blanc in the French Alps

Starts am Monday and concludes with an informal guided mountain walk Friday. No prior camping, climbing or expedition experience required.

EVENT OVERVIEW (for full course details click here)

WMT Chamonix events are aimed at aspiring and experienced expedition medics. Our world-class faculty, programme content, support materials, Chamonix venue and mountain activities are unrivalled. Doctors, senior med students, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare professionals welcomed.

Lecture themes

• Important health issues for all environments
• Mountainous & cold terrain; conditions & injuries
• Life in the hot zone: the challenges of desert & jungle environments
• Living, working and thriving outdoors

Intensive outdoor practical training includes

• Stove use & expedition catering
• Camping fundamentals: bivouac site selection, snow camping/snow caves
• Travelling light: kit selection, packing & waterproofing
• Use of radios in an emergency
• Safe snow travel & ice axe use
• Navigation essentials: reading the terrain, use of map & compass
• Ropes/anchors & rescue techniques
• Moving & straightening the injured, improvised splints, stretchers & collars
• Helicopter safety
• Use of the high altitude Gamow bag
• Using GPS
• Safe river crossings
• Vehicle scene safety and victim extrication
• Jungle camp craft, health & hygiene
• Water purification

No prior expedition or outdoor experience required.

Chamonix – the Roof of Europe

Fabulous, authentic mountain town – countless summer activities – easily accessible from Geneva airport - stunning adventure haven – thriving social scene

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Course features

• Robust educational event & a bound set of comprehensive notes

• 1.5 days of lectures

• 2.5 days of intensive outdoor training including an overnight high mountain bivouac

• 1 day informal guided mountain walk

• End of conference party

• A great selection of mountain training activities

The fee includes

• Lecture programme,all outdoor instruction & comprehensive notes
• Refreshments & snacks during lectures
• Evening welcome drink & snacks
• Group cooking equipment
• Comprehensive advice on kit selection

The fee DOES NOT include travel, accommodation, any meals, lift passes etc or anything else not expressly mentioned above.

Click here for the full outline programme, FAQs, faculty, optional activities & travel notes.

2009 Delegate Feedback

My overwhelming opinion was that the course was BRILLIANT! Nikki Biggs

Thoroughly enjoyed the course  … super week away. Tom Reese

With regards to feedback, what can I say? As far as experience is concerned, that week certainly ranked in amongst the top ones in my life hitherto. From sleeping in an igloo one night, to having to trek to the top of Mont Buet the next, topped off with an invigorating ice extravaganza day under the cool French guides Luc and Gerome, I am indebted to you and the rest of the WMT staff for organising such a splendid course! I met many inspiring role models during the course and I believe this is the sincerest complement I am able to give. Yassar Mustafa

Read more DELEGATE FEEDBACK

This is an annual event held in June

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Jungle Medicine UK

Jungle Medicine

NEW DATES 25-26 September 2010 - £275 fully inclusive, nurses/students £205 (limited places), held in Oxfordshire

No prior camping or expedition experience required

Event Overview

After a successful pilot programme in 2008 and sold out courses in spring 2009 and 2010,we have now nailed the formula for a great course and we are pleased to be running this inspiring jungle themed course again for the second time this year. This 2-day course is packed with really important medical topics and essential outdoor practical training, including setting up and living in an overnight camp and cooking on open fires. This will be 2 days of intensive learning and group camping aimed at equipping medics with the fundamental skills and knowlege required for comfortable jungle living. Remember, 33% of UK expeditions are to the tropics. This special course is delivered by expert jungle medic Dr Harvey Pynn and jungle master Dominic Hall (of Fieldskills).

Intensive outdoor practical training includes:

  • Fire lighting
  • Expedition catering
  • Camping fundamentals: site selection, hygiene, field toilets
  • Kit selection, packing & waterproofing
  • The safe use of machetes
  • Setting up tarps & hammocks (bashas)
  • Jungle lost procedures & search & rescue
  • Water collection & purification
  • Improvised stretchers

Lectures include:

  • Flora & fauna hazards in the jungle
  • Managing wounds in the tropics
  • Fever in travellers - treating malaria
  • The dangers of heat illness
  • Snake bite management
  • Dealing with diarhoea
  • Devising a jungle medical kit

The fee (inclusive of VAT @ 17.5%) also includes:

• Lecture programme, all outdoor instruction & notes
• Use of hammocks, machetes etc.
• Refreshments, snacks & meals (lunch to lunch inclusive)
• Group cooking equipment

All you need to bring for the weekend is a sleeping bag, some "gardening" clothes, a rain coat, torch and a sensible pair of shoes!

The fee DOES NOT include travel, personal equipment or anything else not expressly mentioned above.

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Mountain Medicine UK

Mountain Medicine

11-12 September 2010 dates - £275 fully inclusive, nurses/students £240 (limited places), North Wales

No prior camping, expedition or climbing experience required

Event Overview

Piloted with great success and sold out in 2009, we are pleased to offer Mountain Medicine again in 2010. This course is packed with really important medical topics and essential outdoor practical mountain training. This will be 2 days of intensive learning and group work aimed at equipping medics with the fundamental skills and knowlege required for comfortable mountain travel and work. Remember, 33% of UK expeditions go to the mountains. This special course is delivered by expert mountain medics and instructors and is essential training for anyone off on their personal epic mountain adventures, accompanying a team or for those doing mountain rescue work.

Outline agenda:

Friday night - arrive pm - accommodation provided (no meals)

The Saturday & Sunday programme includes:

Intensive on the hill training:

  • Security on steep ground
  • Party leadership
  • Water purification and human waste disposal
  • Radio communications
  • Introduction to use of GPS
  • Safe river crossing
  • Medical kits and safety equipment – group shelters, walking rope, blizzard bags
  • Bearings, macro/micro navigation
  • Moving, straightening, lifting of injured casualties and improvised splints
  • Rope stretchers – practical exercise
  • Mountain weather and helicopter safety

Lectures:

  • What is expedition medicine and course overview
  • Choosing and packing personal equipment
  • Mountain navigation theory – maps, grid references, bearings, navigation strategies
  • Avalanche safety
  • Thermal injury – hypothermia, frostbite, cold water immersion
  • Acute mountain sickness – prevention and treatment. Use of portable altitude chambers
  • Joining an expedition
  • Saturday inspirational evening lecture

The fee (inclusive of VAT @ 17.5%) includes:

• Lecture programme, all outdoor instruction & course notes
• Use of technical group equipment
• Refreshments, snacks & meals/food (breakfast Saturday to lunch Sunday inclusive)
• Accommodation (bunkhouse) - exact venue to be confirmed

All you need to bring for the weekend is a sleeping bag, suitable outdoor clothes, a rain coat, torch and a sensible pair of trekking shoes. A full kit list will be issued. Full mobility and a moderate level of fitness is required.

The fee DOES NOT include travel, personal equipment, tents or anything else not expressly mentioned above.