This page seeks to clarify the situation regarding WMT Explorer courses with respect to expedition medic competencies, accreditation, the UK Health and Safety Executive and National Governing Body awards and BS8848.
Here’s a useful summary:
- WMT Explorer courses are the informal industry standard, supported, recommended and endorsed by the likes of the Royal Geographical Society/IBG and World Challenge Expeditions.
- There is no qualification structure in the UK for the level of medical training that WMT offers for overseas travellers, however there are recent guidelines (2015) related to expedition medic competencies which are relevant to laypeople. WMT courses are designed to align to this new guidance. See the paper published in the Journal of Extreme Physiology and Medicine which is available free online.
- To our knowledge no UK NGB has ever rejected WMT training. (The BAIML awards CDP points for WMT courses).
- British Standard 8848 is very clear that the medical cover on a trip must be commensurate with the venture.
- WMT issues its own certificate and with it authorises its students for two years to obtain the medications we teach you about.
- Beware of official sounding course titles! Only emergency medical technician (EMT), nurse or paramedic carry a legal distinction in the UK. Some training providers label their courses with impressive sounding made up titles but don’t be fooled! Examine the content and ask about the qualifications of their instructors.
- WMT’s Explorer courses are widely recognised as the informal industry standard for people undertaking adventurous travel to overseas locations and our client list speaks for itself in this regard.
Are WMT courses HSE approved? The UK Health & Safety Executive NO LONGER approves first aid courses or awards its “kitemark” to courses. The HSE is only concerned with domestic UK policy so WMT training for laypeople operating in remote, overseas destinations is outside the HSE’s remit, with the exception of offshore installations (e.g. oil platforms) and diving operations. Within the UK, the HSE says that organisations must determine their own first aid cover needs based on a risk assessment, number of employees etc. and choose an appropriate syllabus delivered by a competent provider.
BS8848 Expedition groups, including schools and university researchers and commercial operators should familiarise themselves with the guidelines set out by BS8848 with regard to medical preparations and training for overseas activities (referred to as ventures). BS8848 clearly states that the medical cover you should have must be commensurate with the needs of the venture. Please see our web page BS8848.
WMT & UK NGB Awards. Though they are much more advanced, we have sought to align our Far From Help and Advanced Medicine courses with the syllabus requirements of the UK National Governing Bodies for registrants of outdoor instructor qualifications. There is no independent licensing body in the UK for the delivery of WMT-type training but our courses are accepted by the British Canoe Union (BCU), British Association of Ski Instructors (BASI), International Mountain Leader (IML), Mountain Leader Training (MLTUK) and Royal Yachting Association (RYA) as meeting the requirement for award holders to have a certain level of first aid training. Some organisations award CPD (continuing professional development) credits for WMT training that is above and beyond their pre-requisite first aid training, e.g. BAIML awards one CPD point for Far From Help and two for Advanced Medicine. At no time in WMT’s history have we been made aware that a student has had their WMT training rejected by any NGB.
Are WMT courses “certified”? There is no body in the UK that “certifies” WMT-type training. Certification from WMT is in the form of an A4 certificate, valid for 2 years, during which time we will also endorse the acquisition of the prescription medications discussed on your course.