Wilderness Medicine Course
Wilderness Medicine Course
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Course Topics
Course Topics
• Medical Gear Discussion and Proper Use
• Improvised Interventions using Common Backpacking Gear
• Patient Assessment
• Vital Signs
• Airway Management
• Identification of and Treatment for Bleeding
• Wound Packing and Pressure Dressings
• Infection Prevention
• Improvised Wound Closure Techniques
• Use of Tourniquets
• Identifying and Treating Shock
• Principles of Splinting
• Handling Breaks, Sprains, and Strains
• Ankle Splints
• Lower Leg Splints
• Knee Splints and Braces
• Femoral Splints
• Wrist and Forearm Splints
• Upper Arm Splints
• Stabilizing Shoulder Injuries
• Finger Splints
• Pelvic Injuries
• Back and Neck Injuries
• Types of Burns and Burn Treatment
• Blister Prevention and Care
• Handling Bites and Stings
• Cold Weather Injuries
• Hot Weather Injuries
• Environmental Injuries
• Improvised Litters and Stretchers
• Legal Aspects of Medical Care
The Wilderness Medicine Course provides practical skills for managing common wilderness injuries, especially in remote areas where immediate access to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is limited. This course prepares you to rely on your own training and abilities until formal medical care can be reached, potentially hours or days later.
Gain knowledge and skills in treating common wilderness injuries with specialized medical tools while also utilizing common backpacking and camping items from your own kit in emergency situations.
CPR with AED is required for this course (unless already current). Portions of that course will be taken online before arrival at the course, and the hands-on testing will be completed by all students upon arrival. Further instructions will be emailed to students to coordinate this.
The textbook for this course will be Medicine for the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to First Aid and Medical Emergency by Paul. S. Auerbach. The cost of this book is included in the tuition. A copy will be furnished to the students upon arrival.
This course is well within the commonly accepted Minimum Guidelines and Scope of Practice for both Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder. Students who successfully complete this training both physically and academically will be issued a Wilderness First Responder Certification (70 hours) from the Gray Bearded Green Beret, LLC, once training is completed.
The GB2 Wilderness Medicine Course is the preferred Wilderness Medicine Course for the GB2 Instructor Training Program certification.
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Important Notes
This course is a field course that requires students to spend the training day in a remote and primitive setting. There will be limited access to electricity or running water, and restrooms will likely be limited to portable toilets on-site.
However, camping is provided on-site, and students will be allowed to either construct their own shelters or use a tent or hammock system. Students will have access to their vehicles during the course before and after the training day and often for lunch as time permits.
It is important to be prepared for harsh weather conditions and embrace the challenging field conditions, including cold, rain, wind, and snow. Safety will be a top priority maintained by the course cadre and staff.
Safety is our top priority, and it is essential for students to remain dedicated and engaged throughout the course. We will not give up on you if you do not give up on yourself. However, if a student decides not to continue training or does not participate, they will be immediately escorted back to their vehicles and must leave the training venue. Please note that there will be no refunds or credits for the course, and students may not leave and come back at a later time (with some exceptions determined by the cadre).
Upon arrival, ensure that you are physically prepared for the course and have all the required equipment.
Participants are responsible for bringing their own food and snacks for the duration of the course. Going off-site to get food will likely be limited to the evenings after training or mornings before training starts. Lunch breaks, when available, will likely be shorter in duration and not long enough to go off-site to eat. Additionally, it is highly recommended to bring electrolyte replacements, either commercial or homemade.