Wilderness and expedition medicine
Wilderness & Expedition Medicine
Expedition medicine is concerned with maintaining physical and psychological well-being during travel to remote environments. Remote areas are places where access to specialized medical services is difficult or impossible, and the responsibility to address medical problems falls on expedition members. Expedition destinations may include mountainous regions, tropical areas, deserts, marine zones and even polar locations. In the setting of adventurous travel, wilderness medicine attempts to minimize the risk of injury and disease by proper planning, preventative measures, sensible behaviour, and acquisition of the relevant medical skills.
The scope of expedition medicine includes:
Expedition preparation to minimize ill health and injuries
This includes assessment & reduction of risks related to the area of travel and to individual expedition members
Team selection
Arrangements for medical back-up and access to specialist advice
Working during the expedition to diagnose, treat and manage health problems and injuries
Acute illnesses and injuries
Psychological well-being, access to food, water and sanitation also form part of the adventure medic’s duties.
Managing expedition emergencies and potential evacuations
Advising on health issues upon conclusion of the expedition
Expedition medicine may provide exciting opportunities and experiences to doctors interested in emergency medicine. This offers the chance to develop and practice one’s pre-hospital skills and become an efficient physician in challenging environments. In many cases, work as an expedition medic can be carried out periodically and per occasion, while allowing the physician to continue training and pursue alternative employment opportunities while not out on expeditions.
What is required to become an expedition medic in Ireland?
MBChB or MBBS (or equivalent)
Active IMC registration
Current ATLS or Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support qualification
A good level of physical and psychological fitness
Indemnity Insurance
It would be wise to complete educational courses & attend training activities relating to expedition & wilderness medicine before signing yourself up for this role.
Training opportunities include, among others, the Irish WildMed course hosted in Mayo, training via WEMSI-international courses, various postgraduate diplomas & MSc programmes in wilderness & expedition medicine.
The WildMed course in Mayo, Ireland
WildMed Ireland aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to expedition & wilderness medicine to doctors, paramedics, nurses and medical students interested in the discipline.
The three-day course addresses the key theoretical and practical components of expedition medicine by utilizing the magnificent surrounding mountains and ocean environments. The material is delivered by expert faculty in a hands-on fashion, making use of high-fidelity simulations. Topics covered on the course include wound care, fracture splinting, airway management, retrieval of C-spine injuries from the water, surf lifesaving basics, drowning, hypothermia, mountain safety, basic rope skills, radio communication, human factors, haemorrhage control, altitude sickness, expedition preparation and tropical medicine. Guidance is also provided on how to prepare for a career in expedition or humanitarian medicine.
The course is hosted at the BigStyle Atlantic Lodge in Mayo and includes delicious homemade meals, yoga sessions, surf lessons and access to the sauna and hot tubs.
The course concludes with an exciting high fidelity mountain rescue moulage in which your newly acquired skills will be practiced and applied.
This course is certainly a wonderful local introduction to wilderness medicine and will equip you for your potential future endeavors. Above all, serious craic!
Interested? Check out wildmed.ie