Advanced wilderness life support course worthwhile?

The Wilderness Medical Society offers this course in conjunction with their semi-annual meetings.
Just wondering if anybody has taken this and can comment on it's usefulness, scope, etc.
Thanks for any insights.

Hey Mark, what's your background out of curiosity? My understanding of AWLS is that it's similar to "continuing education" for medical professionals. I haven't taken that exact course but I took a few month long wilderness courses in Medical School and I did a 10 day course through WMA. I belong to the WMS, I tend to think anything they host to be worthwhile, especially if the course has simulation scenarios and hands on stuff, which I would imagine it does. Sorry not a huge help as I haven't done that specific one, but I tend to think these courses, short or long, are helpful.

Alex Jacques wrote:Hey Mark, what's your background out of curiosity?

ER Doc

Mark E Dixon wrote: ER Doc

Same here. Another resource you might enjoy checking out if you have not already: theuiaa.org/mountain-medici…

I just wanted to pay tribute to you two doctors:

https://youtu.be/pwLn_His9Yw

Mark E Dixon wrote: ER Doc

HEY! Happy birthday! Dunno just when you snuck it in, but saw that big zero on the odometer (wondering why you changed to the Woody avatar). :-)

Best, OLH

Uh, you asked a question, eh? I'd actually offer an opinion, for what it's worth. You have a profession which involves a lot of training, tons of knowledge, but also practical skills. That applies to many of us.

I have not done what you are asking, but, generally, if it's something newish, or an extension of your existing skills, and is interesting to you, classes, seminars, etc are almost always worthwhile, especially if led by folks who actually do whatever it is, a whole heck of a lot.

I've had the run of the mill CPR classes numerous times. All were competently taught, but the firefighters did a far better job. "Trust me. They're gonna barf when you do this. You do not want that in your mouth, because then you'll be barfing. You do not want to go there". Not what the AHA or Red Cross give ya! (Also dates me for how long ago that was).

On the other hand, inflicting a boring presenter on trapped people, who have to sit through irrelevant, but required training? Better be on the clock!

Best, Helen

AWLS is, in my experience, definitely worthwhile for a medical professional (MD/DO, NP, PA, NA, RT level) wanting to gain some out-of-hospital skills. Thought it's titled "wilderness" medicine, they really describe it as "austere environment" medicine. It's very well suited to people who already know what to do, but need to brush up on how to do it where we don't have our usual resources. That can mean wilderness, or roadside medicine, or anything in between. Anywhere it's make do with what you have. For an ER doc, it's great. They do assume a lot though, so it's not worth much to someone who doesn't have both substantial training and experience coming in.

Old lady H wrote: HEY! Happy birthday! Dunno just when you snuck it in, but saw that big zero on the odometer (wondering why you changed to the Woody avatar). :-) Best, OLH

Thanks!

I walked past NCAR often the last couple of years enjoying fun adventures in the Flatirons. So the Woody Allen image seemed kind of fitting.

@ Alex- the DIMM looks great, but $7-10,000 is way more than I wnat to spend!

@ Lee- thanks. May try to sign up for the session in Breck this summer. Have always wanted to go to a WMS conference but never had the time.

Mark E Dixon wrote: Thanks! I walked past NCAR often the last couple of years enjoying fun adventures in the Flatirons. So the Woody Allen image seemed kind of fitting. @ Alex- the DIMM looks great, but $7-10,000 is way more than I wnat to spend! @ Lee- thanks. May try to sign up for the session in Breck this summer. Have always wanted to go to a WMS conference but never had the time.

I'll most likely be there this Summer, hoping to get some climbing in if there's time. See ya there!

Hey Mark,

I am an AWLS instructor for Vertical Medicine Resources. I think the course is worthwhile if your interested. The 20.5 CEUs that it offers (along with FAWM credit) is a lot more interesting than most courses. It is nicely packaged with the Breck conference for WMS. This course is definitely not AHA boring...

We run a climbing/mountain focused AWLS course at the Mazama Lodge at Mt. Hood usually with climbing focused pre-cons or post-con summits of Hood if that is more your style. We offer only one course a year (late June) to the public, the rest are for guides services or private organizations.

Regarding DiMM, I have completed the course through the University of Leicester (UK) and it was well worth the money...and about the same as WMS (with travel included). They are transitioning the course to the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh this year, but with the same leadership. There are four modules that require climbing in...North Wales x 2 (Llanberis - home of DMM), Scotland (Ben Nevis/Fort William area), and the Arolla valley in Switzerland. Great course, great climbing, and good interaction with an international group of climbing medical professionals. You work and climb with IFMGA guides and many accomplished climbers, mountaineers, and expedition medics. Post Grad Diploma in Mountain Medicine upon completion of the modules and an MSc if you choose to pursue.

Happy to answer any questions you might have. Feel free to PM me. Enjoy Breck and the WMS conference. I may be there too.

Bryan

Would it be worth taking at the paramedic level? I have worked urban EMS for several years and just started a new position as a medic for a BLS rural EMS service? Transports and rescues run into hours, not minutes. It's totally different that what I am used too... Do you believe that it would be worth while? Or would I be getting in over my head?

Thanks

Mike Kubes wrote:Would it be worth taking at the paramedic level? I have worked urban EMS for several years and just started a new position as a medic for a BLS rural EMS service? Transports and rescues run into hours, not minutes. It's totally different that what I am used too... Do you believe that it would be worth while? Or would I be getting in over my head? Thanks

I think it would be useful. We have a lot of paramedics that attend our AWLS classes. In fact, many of our private courses are for EMS services operating in remote and mountainous terrain. There are a lot of tips and techniques integrating into the course programming that you will not find in standard EMS courses and specifically relate to caring for patients in remote areas or during lengthy rescues.

Bryan