Far From Help Part 2/Advanced Refresher

Course outline & key info

2024 dates are 3-4 June (Bristol) and 2-3 December (Kendal, Cumbria). FFH Part 2 is a two-day course that builds on and refreshes previous WMT training (FFH or Advanced Medicine) by introducing useful invasive skills – those involving needles. Skills taught include wound closure using staples, injecting local anaesthetic into wounds, giving intramuscular injections, moulage/scenario training (usually outdoors), how to reconstitute drugs for injection and how to give fluids subcutaneously to the dehydrated patient via a needle under the skin. Important theory is revisited and there is an end of course written exam. On completion, delegates are awarded WMT’s gold standard Advanced Medicine certificate that is valid for two years.

If you wish to attend FFH Part 2, you must have attended a WMT course within 2 years of the FFH Part 2 course dates (or close to 2 years because new course dates don’t exactly follow a 24 month cycle). Ask WMT if you’re not sure.

CourseDatesDetails
Far From Help Part 2/Advanced Refresher
FFH2 is for alumni to refresh their invasive skills (injections, stapling wounds, sub-cut fluids).
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Delegate feedback

All instructors extremely knowledgeable and helpful.
Fully comprehensive (re: content and materials)
All excellent. Very helpful, easy to understand and very practical (re: instructors)
Thank you very much….especially for the great practical sessions.

Target audience & elegibility

Excellent training by doctors + comprehensive field manual + POM authorisation = one stop shopping for the solo traveller, families, private teams and up to large expedition teams. FFH2 has been attended by hundreds leaders, travelers, explorers, film crew, overland drivers, climbers, divers, field researchers, university staff and many others.You must have completed a WMT Explorer course within 2 years to attend FFH Part 2.

Prescription medicines – POMs

FFH2 training covers what medical supplies to take and enables you to obtain them for two years post-course through WMT’s pharmacy partner so you can add antibiotics, high altitude medicines, strong pain killers and other useful injectable medicines to your medical kit such as adrenaline vials (much cheaper than EpiPens), dexamethasone, Stemetil, Tramadol, lignocaine and more. WMT’s comprehensive Explorer course manual serves as an essential field aide memoire.

Accreditation

WMT issues a certificate which is valid for two years and accepted by most, if not all, UK NGB awards. See also Accreditation.

Outline programme & content

The actual timings and running order may vary course to course depending on the number of instructors and delegates. All content is directly covered or in the extensive course manual. Times are indicative only and START/FINISH times will be confirmed in the pre-course dossier issued for specific course dates.


Day 1 – Invasive training
9.00 Introductions & aims of FFH2 – welcome to alumni
9.15 Training outdoors: trauma scene management, – vehicle scene safety, femoral splints & pelvic binder, patient packaging & moving
11.00 Break
11.30 Lecture – Medical problems 1 – ill patient management, asthma, genital problems, stroke
12.30 Lunch (review of BLS for FFH Part 2 alumni)
13.00 Recap – allergic reactions, i.m. adrenalin
13.15 Intramuscular injections & handling sharps: lecture & demo
Drawing up drugs, reconstituting drugs, injecting
Subcutaneous fluids
Advanced wound management: injecting local anesthetic & stapling wounds
1600 Case-based discussions: fever / malaria rapid test kit & asthma (spacer use, medication)
17.00 Evening work – Triage and assessments 1-6 (FFH2 students)


Day 2 – Application of skills
09.00 Medical scenarios outdoors
11.30 Triage exercise debrief
11.45 Lecture – prolonged field care & advanced pain management: i.m. tramadol / Penthrox
12.30 Discussion – emotional wellness & remote travel
12.45 Lunch
13.15 Lecture – Medical problems 2 inc tropical problems
14.00 Break
14.30 Lecture – advanced med kits & supplies
15.15 Written exam / debrief
16.15 Final questions / certificates / feedback Close & farewell (1630 latest)

Note: some of the skills taught, and the use of prescription-only-medicines (POMs) and injections especially, are not appropriate for use in the UK or where if professional medical support is readily available. It is best practice for laypeople to seek professional medical advice whenever possible before giving prescription medications to a patient in the field.