Wilderness EMS Upgrade

This 5 day course is designed for EMS personnel who wish to enhance their training for service in search and rescue, disaster response, law enforcement, remote site work and wilderness expeditions. The WEMS curriculum builds on your EMS training and experience to emphasize medical judgment, risk benefit analysis, and the leadership role in managing medical emergencies in the remote field setting. The course is ideal for an intact group with a common mission.

Please be advised that this training includes some material that is beyond the typical EMS scope of practice.  You may need extended authorization from your medical director. The minimum age for participation is 18 years old at the time of course start. Medical certification is a prerequisite; EMT, RN, PA, MD, DO. Upon successful completion of the course, EMT’s will receive the WEMS certification.  Other practitioners will receive a course completion certificate. All wilderness medicine texts and teaching materials are included in the course tuition. The minimum instructor credential is EMT-I. This course earns 45 CME hours through CAPCE.

Cost varies by location, elective content, and time of year. Please see the WMA website page for WEMS.

To those in the field...

Medical Officer, Ltd. is based in Crested Butte, Colorado USA and proudly offers medical training programs certified by Wilderness Medical Associates International. Photo: Mike Gibbs, Black Canyon Rescue.