Wilderness Advanced Life Support - WALS

Summary

Training for physicians, residents, and other advanced care medical practitioners. This program provides effective education in the application of critical thinking and techniques for use in low resource settings.

The Wilderness Advanced Life Support (WALS) is WMA International’s most advanced level course. Our 4.5 day (36-hour) course is open to certified or licensed advanced level medical practitioners involved in rescue, mass casualty, and remote outdoor environments or urban areas in disaster or crisis. This constantly-evolving course is highlighted by discussions of new and innovative ideas and the appropriate application of technologies. The learning environment is challenging, stimulating, and fun.

Description

Course Content

The WALS curriculum is written in-house by a team of medical and rescue professionals and researchers. We do the research and find the evidence supporting this unique approach to medicine in austere settings. The curriculum is comprehensive, complete, and kept current on an annual basis. This is the most relevant and peer supported medical curriculum for remote and extreme environments in the world.

Day 1 - Logistics and Introduction; General Concepts in Wilderness Medicine; Roles and Responsibilities; Patient Assessment; Critical System Problem Recognition Drill; Critical System Summary; Spine

Day 2 - Homework Review; Musculoskeletal; Limb Splinting; Dislocation Reduction Demo and Practice; Skin, Soft Tissues and Burns; SAR/Organization; Small Group BLS Simulations

Day 3 - Homework Review; Thermoregulation; Cold Injuries; Altitude; ALS Treatments and Meds; Appropriate Technology; ALS Tools and Medications; Night Simulation

Day 4 - Homework Review; Expedition Practitioner/Backcountry medicine; Toxins; Bites and Stings; Lightning; Near Drowning; Diving

Day 5 - Homework Review; Summary for the Course; Medical Legal; First Aid Kits; Wrap-Up; Final Exam

Included Materials

All teaching materials will be at no additional cost. Students will receive the following books on this course:

  • Wilderness and Rescue Medicine: A  Practical Guide for the Basic and Advanced Practitioner
  • SOAP Notebook
  • The Field Guide of Wilderness & Rescue Medicine
  • Wilderness Medicine Workbook

 

Continuing Education Credits

Physicians, physician assistants, and other ALS certified professionals may receive up to 36 hrs of AMA PRA Category I Credit through the Wilderness Medical Society. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the Wilderness Medical Society and WMA International.  The Wilderness Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  Physicians can also receive up to 36 hours of Mainpro-C credit through the College of Family Physicians of Canada. This activity has been reviewed as eligible for 28.5 credits toward the Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine registry, a program of the Wilderness Medical Society. A list of the specific topics eligible for credit is available on request.

Nurses: Most State Boards of Registered Nurses accept AMA Category 1 Credit as meeting continuing education requirements for license renewal.  Nurses should check with their state board regarding use of CME Credit.

Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants accepts Category 1 CME approval from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

Equipment

We ask our sponsors and course hosts to provide low level outdoor equipment and any specific gear relevant to their employees when in remote and austere environments. Wilderness Medical Associates International will supply a specific equipment list to cover simulation and classroom needs.

Prerequisites

Participants must be ALS-trained with current certification, i.e.: EMT-P and ALS trained EMT-I, Physician Assistant (PA), Registered Nurse (RN), or Physician (MD or DO). Others admitted on a case-by-case basis.