What WMT says
Chamonix in summer provides the ideal backdrop to this intensive five day course which combines wilderness medicine with the varied skills needed to work, thrive and live in diverse environments including the mountains and jungle. With a core teaching team comprised of medics, expedition leaders and mountain guides, WMT packs a broad lecture programme, outdoor training sessions and an overnight high altitude mountain bivouac into a demanding and fun programme. Of all our courses, this one has the widest attendance, attracting delegates from across Europe and beyond, including medical students, a large proportion of nurses, doctors, consultants, physiotherapists and paramedics. Now in its 10th year, this popular annual programme is rich in learning, inspiration, expert medical advice and outdoor skill training. Organisations that might "employ" expedition medics increasingly expect candidates to have done a course of this high standard which is held only once a year in Chamonix in June.
What students say
A fun-filled, inspiring big kids holiday with enough medical theory to stimulate our brains.
It was a perfect mix of theory and practise, with a very healthy daily dose of vitamin D in the outdoors.
It was refreshing to be amongst so many people like-minded professionals who wanted more from their careers than the 4 walls of a hospital.
The course covered so much, at a good pace.
I think the course tested the comfort zone of quite a few people which is good. However, no one was made to feel awkward, inadequate or left out which is testament to the excellent abilities of the faculty as tutors and leaders.
Who's invited?
Doctors of all grades, nurses, medical students or anyone else with an interest in expedition and wilderness medicine are welcome to attend. No prior expedition experience is required. On one end of the spectrum we get quite experienced expedition doctors attending to ensure their knowledge is up to date and to get formal training under their belt, and at the other extreme, people attend who are simply fascinated and curious about this field of medicine and are exploring alternative career paths.
2013 Faculty
The 2012 team is to be confirmed.
What’s covered on the course in Chamonix?
Each day is themed as follows:
Monday - Issues for all Environments
What is expedition medicine?
Outdoor “bench marking” accident scenario
The legal considerations of being an expedition medic
Incidence of illness & injury on expeditions
Preparing the team; including antimalarials, immunisations & human dynamics
Desert, Jungle & Water Environments
Heat illnesses & dehydration – wet bulb globe thermometers, military guidelines & electrolyte drinks
Lurkin’ firkins – snakes, scorpions & other biting beasties
Working in the jungle – a personal & practical perspective
Diving expeditions – practical issues for remote areas
Pre-existing medical problems
GI disease (diarrhoea)
Compiling a suitable medical kit – small group work
Inspirational lecture
Tuesday - Mountainous & Cold Terrain
Hypothermia & frostbite – practical guidelines for field use
Acute mountain sickness – AMS
Outdoors - Jungle living & the river environment
Navigation 101 - with map & compass
Safe river crossings
Vehicle safety & extrication
Jungle camp craft, health & hygiene, water purification
Wednesday - Final lectures & mountain bivouac phase
Expedition opportunities & vetting expedition companies
Discussion - how to further a career in expedition medicine
Menu planning, shopping for provisions & preparing for the night out
Stoves & cooking in the field
Snow camping & making snow caves
Packing light - kit selection, packing & waterproofing
Use of radios – ETHANE report - radio do’s and don’ts
Thursday: mountain activities
Snow travel & ice axe use
Advanced navigation + GPS
Ropes/anchors & rescue techniques,
Moving/straightening the injured, improvised splints/stretchers/collars
Concludes with multiple casualty scenario practical exercise
Friday: mountain hike
In small teams, we offer a range of supervised mountain walks
Final party!
Saturday: optional glacier trekking & ice climbing
Why not stay another day and join our fully qualified mountain guide team on a high mountain glacier trekking and climbing experience (at additional cost).
Inspirational Lectures
These very personal talks are a real highlight for many delegates so it's worth saying more about them. Firstly, they are always accompanied by first-class images and often other media. Secondly, it is the highly personal, often intimate, nature of these presentations that delegates love. You will be laughing, and crying, as our team tell you about their exploits, hardships, successes and failures in the jungles, high on Everest, conducting life-changing eye operations, running the Marathon du Sable, fighting polar bears in Greenland, treating tragic frostbite, working with the Porter Protection Group in Nepal or accompanying actress Joanna Lumley up the Nile or Ben Fogle in the jungle! Often heart warming, inspirational, humbling, humble, honest, revealing, frank, frightening and occasionally cringeworthy, it's no surprise these talks are so highly rated.
CPD
We estimate that this programme is valid for approximately 30 CPD credits.
Download more information
Download this file for more information about this great Chamonix course!
RGS Expedition Health Research
A Royal Geographical Society study of 1263 medical complaints on expedition found that more than half (51%) were classified either as gastrointestinal upsets (30%) or medical problems (21% - infections, headache, malaria etc.). 8% of complaints were fauna related. Not surprisingly, 4% of problems were feet related. Orthopaedic problems accounted for 19% of complaints, closely followed by environmental problems at 14%. Even minor illnesses left untreated, such as diarrhoea, blisters or sunburn, can slow a whole team down, reduce productivity and enjoyment and threaten the success of an expedition. More serious illness or injury can derail the expedition's plans and result in evacuation that can be difficult and protracted. There is much for the expedition medic to consider and prepare for.
Course Images
