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.

Mountain Destinations will be hosting the 23^rd annual National Conference on Wilderness Medicine between July 29, 2009 and August 2, 2009 in Big Sky, MT. The objective of this conference is to teach both practical and theoretical skills to medical/outdoor professionals and enthusiasts. After completing this course, participants will have the knowledge to describe, assess, and  treat medical problems and emergencies that are frequently encountered in wilderness settings.

Wilderness Medical Associates’ Curriculum Director, Jeffrey Isaac PA-C, will be conducting a wilderness workshop at the conference on Technology in Wilderness Medicine and Rescue on July 31.

Wilderness Advanced Life Support (WALS)

There will be a Wilderness Advanced Life Support (WALS) course offered as an optional class between July 28, 2009 and July 31, 2009.  The Wilderness ALS course will be conducted by WMA instructors Jeff Isaac, Will Smith, and Fay Johnson.

Useful Resources on the National Conference on Wilderness Medicine:

• View the Big Sky Conference brochure
• Check out the Schedule-at-a-Glance
• Follow WMA on Twitter or check out our Facebook page
• Read more about the Wilderness Advanced Life Support (WALS) course.

Click Here Register Online for the National Conference on Wilderness Medicine.

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

About the Wilderness Risk Management Conference:

The 2009 Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC) will be held in Durham, NC between October 14-16, 2009. The objective of this conference is to effectively educate outdoor/medical professionals and enthusiasts in relieving risks that may occur in the wilderness. This workshop is sponsored by NOLS, Outward Bound, and Student Conservation Association (SCA).

Wilderness Medical Associates is excited to announce that some of our own instructors (Dr. David Johnson, Bill Frederick, Deb Ajango, and Jon Tierney) will be conducting various workshops at the conference. Leading up to the conference, we will be periodically featuring these instructors and  topics included in their workshops.

Resources and Updates About the Wilderness Risk Management Conference:

• View a list of the WRMC workshops
• WRMC Website
• Follow WRMC on Twitter
• Follow Wilderness Medical Associates on Twitter
• Subscribe to WMA blog via email
• View the invitation letter from Chair

]]> http://www.wildmed.com/blog/2009-wilderness-risk-management-conference-wrm/feed/ 0 http://www.wildmed.com/blog/wfr-energy-is-contagious/ http://www.wildmed.com/blog/wfr-energy-is-contagious/#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:35:42 +0000 Admin http://www.wildmed.com/blog/?p=365 Continue reading →]]> 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

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.

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.