Posts Tagged ‘wilderness medical associates’

Michelle Murphy, an instructor for WMA, sent in this great photo of her daughter, Scout, experiencing her first paddling adventure on the Damariscotta River in Maine. Alongside Scout is WMA instructor Gabe Gunning.

Don’t forget! At the end of the year, we will select the 3 best submissions. The winners will receive $100 cash prize.  Send in a picture of yourself wearing your WMA course t-shirt to webmaster@wildmed.com in order to be eligible for the prizes.

Ann Dunphy, a lead instructor for Wilderness Medical Associates, submitted this story to us regarding a student from a recent Wilderness First Responder Training:

I just needed to share a beautiful WFR story.  In the morning of day 4, my student Mike came in and told me we saved his mother’s life. He started with “Ann you always say, saving a life one drill at time.”

Mike is in his mid 50′s and called his folks the night before as his mom was scheduled for minor heart surgery.  His dad told him, “your mother fell and hit her head, she’s got a pretty good goose egg.”

Having just learned about TBI/ Increasing ICP, Mike told his dad what to watch for.  Sure enough,  within two hours, she developed a severe headache and vomiting.  His dad would have just let her go to sleep without monitoring her.  She was air lifted out, had neurosurgery, and is doing fine so far.

You just never know when you can impact a student.  As tired as I may get while teaching, this is why I teach for Wilderness Medical Associates.

Ann Maureen Dunphy
WMA Lead Instructor

What a treat to switch gears, hop on a plane and see Wilderness Medical Associates’ training in the field.  For three days I visited WMA sponsors in the spectacular mountains of western North Carolina.  Instead of doing my desk job as General Manager,  I got a glimpse of WMA Wilderness First Responder courses and instructors in full swing.

In the course of meeting with sponsors, I was able to sit in on some Wilderness First Responder classes.  I was quite impressed with the energy and excellent teaching skills of our instructors.  It was exciting to witness our brilliant curriculum taught with hands-on learning and engaging lectures.  To see eager students “get” the PAS system, learn the lingo, and apply it in practice.

It was a gratifying privilege to see the combined efforts of so many people come together in the field – the hard work of the sponsors, instructors, office support team, and diligent students.   I’m so pleased to be part of this successful (and FUN!) program that teaches folks how to prevent and handle back country medical emergencies.

Anne Rugg
General Manager
Wilderness Medical Associates

Click here for the dates of the upcoming MedWAR races! MedWAR (Medical Wilderness Adventure Race) tests your wilderness survival skills through unique events combined with adventure racing.

WMA Canada instructors Dugg Steary and Mike Webster have been responsible for writing, developing, and coordinating all medical scenarios for MedWAR North for the past 5 years. Recently, WMA Canada instructors Aaron Orkin MD and Dave Vanderburgh MD have joined the simulation writing team. Other WMA Canada instructors including Lisa Barrett, James Innes, and Marty Pomerleau have been proctors and race officials at previous MedWAR North events.