The Wilderness EMS (WEMS) Upgrade course is an exciting opportunity for licensed prehospital care professionals and healthcare practitioners to expand their skills in unique environments! Participants will learn to assess, treat, and manage patients in wilderness and austere settings, covering essential topics such as preventing environmental illnesses, managing pre-existing conditions, trauma assessment, pain management, and prolonged field care. This course encourages you to embrace new challenges beyond traditional settings, empowering you to provide exceptional care in any situation.
This course is an ideal professional upgrade for:
- SAR members
- Ambulance or hospital personnel
- Ski patrol
- Guides
- Wildland fire personnel
- Military personnel
- Medical support for endurance events
- Medical support for expeditions
The hybrid WEMS course format consists of 8 hours of self-paced online material, followed by a 37-hour in-person, practical component spanning four consecutive days.
Course Details
Hours: 45
Length:
- 8 hours of online work
- 37 hours (4 days) in-person
Certification:
- WEMS (3 year certification)
- WAT (2 year certification)
Prerequisite:
- Current CPR/AED
- Current medical professional license
Credits: Three college credits are available through our partnership with Colorado University – Denver. More info…
CE Hours: WEMS Upgrade courses are eligible for up to 40 EMT continuing education hours with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and the Colorado state EMS office. Review WEMS CEU Itemized List for a breakdown of available hours, and reach out to learn more about EMS continuing education with DMM.
Overview – Wilderness EMS Upgrade Course Content
- Urban Vs Wilderness Medicine
- Wilderness Medicine Guidelines
- Wilderness Recreation Law & Liability
- Wilderness Risk Management
- Patient Assessment
- Basic Life Support
- Complex Airway Management
- Supraglottic Airways
- Micromedics
- Multisystems Trauma
- IV Therapy In The Backcountry
- Dislocations
- Pain Management
- Spine Injury Management
- Vacuum Spine Board
- Complex Backcountry Medical Problems
- Backcountry Medication Management
- Wilderness Anaphylaxis Training
- Genitourinary Issues
- Mental Health Illnesses
- Complex Environmental Medicine
- Avalanche Burial Resuscitation
- Professional Incident Documentation
- Backcountry Communication Devices
- Professionally Calling A Rescue
- Basic vs Expedition First Aid Kits
- Improvised Litters & Carries
- Incident Management
- Leadership & Critical Thinking During An Incident
- Psychological First Aid
Wilderness EMS Upgrade (WEMS) Course Schedule
Provider: Desert Mountain Medicine Headquarters
Format: Hybrid
Cost: $875