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ExpeMed - Expedition Medicine Course

 

Aim

To provide healthcare professionals with the confidence, knowledge and practical skills to plan for an expedition, maintain the expedition's health and manage illness and injuries in a remote location.

Entry Criteria

Healthcare Professional (Doctor, Nurse, Paramedic, EMT, Combat Medical Technician Class 1, Dentist)

Course Overview

ExpeMed™ is the UK's longest established expedition medicine course for healthcare professionals.  Established by Dr Stephen Hearns in 1998, ExpeMed™ has developed a well-earned reputation for being the leading expedition medicine course in the UK and Prometheus has been the sole course provider since 2008.

As well as small-group practical sessions, the course consists of an intense series of interactive outdoor training scenarios to teach and enhance skills of teamwork, communication, leadership and improvisation.  Practical sessions include casualty extrication from vehicles in remote areas, use of improvised stretchers and provision of safe drinking water.  These interactive sessions are interspersed with a small number of superb short lectures outlining key issues such as diving medicine, altitude medicine and heat illness.

The instructional faculty includes highly experienced doctors, paramedics and expedition leaders who are all current and highly respected in their field.  In keeping with Prometheus' reputation for educational innovation, teaching is largely based on realistic practical scenarios delivered in a challenging, fun and highly stimulating way. 

Students will have the opportunity to become a member of the ExpeMed™ Register and be informed of requests for expedition medics.

Course Content

  • Expedition preparation and planning
  • Expedition health protection
  • Trauma management in the field
  • Field resuscitation
  • Pre-hospital management of spinal injuries
  • Improvised splintage
  • Improvised casualty carrying and stretchers
  • Heat injuries
  • Planning an expedition to the tropics
  • Tropical medicine in the field
  • Mountain medicine
  • Cold injuries
  • Drinking water on an expedition
  • Wound management
  • Remote casualty extrication from a vehicle
  • Water safety
  • Primary care for expeditions
  • Medical emergencies in the field
  • Expedition dentistry
  • Joining an expedition
  • Expedition medical kits
  • Medico-legal and practical aspects of medications on an expedition
  • Extensive practical skills training

Certification

Prometheus certificate

ExpeMed™ is listed on the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) website as eligible for their Fellowship programme, Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine™ (FAWM).

This initiative offers a means to identify those who have achieved a demanding set of requirements, validating their training and experience in Wilderness Medicine for the assurances of patients, clients, and the public at large.  Society members enrol in the Academy and, by completing lessons from a pre-established Wilderness Medicine curriculum, as well as receiving credit for specific, identifiable experience; accumulate credit toward becoming a Fellow.  ExpeMed is approved for 21.25 FAWM hours (17.25 of which are FAWM core topics) – 100 credits are needed to achieve Fellow status. 

Duration

 Four Days

Course Dates

Please enquire for details

Location

At Prometheus' residential training facility in Hope-under-Dinmore, Herefordshire

 Cost

£590 plus VAT

Accommodation on a B&B basis is available (ensuite, single rooms) at £50.00pp per night. Please phone the office on +44 (0) 1568 613942 if you would like to book accommodation.

FREE EXPEDITION PLACES

We have been approached by an organisation that is looking for qualified expedition medics to support a number of Kilimanjaro Climbs being undertaken throughout 2013.

We are delighted to tell you that doctors and expedition medics' places are FREE OF CHARGE (a saving of £2,500) and preference will be given to individuals who have attended the ExpeMed course!  All the expedition medic would have to cover are Tanzanian visa, vaccinations, travel insurance and tips.

Doctors should have a minimum of 18 months experience post foundation and Accident & Emergency experience would be desirable but not essential. Suitable applicants may be required to attend an interview with the organisation.