Prepare for your course
Overview Hybrid course preparation Course logistics Required equipment Infectious disease awareness & prevention
WMTC courses are rigorous. Most students may find them mentally, physically, and emotionally demanding — and rewarding. Students must attend and actively participate in all class sessions to be eligible for certification.
Class time may exceed ten hours per day plus evening work. Students should be comfortable reading technical information, writing clearly, and communicating easily with others. Students should be physically capable of lifting and carrying at least 50 pounds without injury and moving safely outdoors in rough, challenging terrain and environments without supervision. Simulations may occur in water, on rocks, on uneven terrain, on steep slopes, on snow, and in rain, snow, wind, or bright sun. Students are responsible for wearing functional outdoor clothing that will protect them from the environment.
During simulations, skills practice, and some demonstrations, students will act as patients and rescuers; this requires students to touch and be touched by others during a patient exam and subsequent treatment. Lifting and moving patients, thorough bleeding checks and physical exams are necessary for patient assessment. Students must wear underlayers — shorts, swimsuits, jog bras, etc. — under simulation clothes to protect their personal space.
Lastly, medical training can bring up tough topics — especially for those who have been a part of or witnessed accidents. Students should feel physically and emotionally safe during a course. Talk with the WMTC office or instructors about any safety concerns. Most students will experience some stress during a course, likely during initial simulations. A small amount of stress that resolves with debriefing and time away from the situation is normal. Seek support for ongoing anxiety before it becomes debilitating.
Hybrid course preparation
Hybrid courses are taught through both an Online Module an In-person Session. The Online Module provides the foundation for the In-person Session and is delivered online with minimal or no instructor contact. During the Online Module, students work at their own pace to learn anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and how to assess patients using our field manual, patient notes, and the same clinical patterns that physicians use. In the In-person Session, they learn the hands-on skills required for treating patients in real-world incidents. The Online Module requires access to a reliable high-speed internet connection. Hybrid course Sponsors must send each student a copy of the Wilderness Medicine Handbook for use during the Online Module.
Hybrid course students have options for how they register and move through a course. In most cases, we recommend registering for both the Online Module and the In-person Session of a hybrid course at the same time by finding a course on our schedule. Below are a few reasons why a student might consider registering for the Online Module before separately registering for the In-person Session at a later time:
- They would like to get started on the Online Module and there currently are not any In-person Sessions that fit your schedule.
- They have time to complete the Online Module now, but are unsure if you will have time later.
- They are unsure about taking the In-person Session.
Course logistics
The course contact or sponsor, is the best resource for logistical information. Expect to receive an email with information regarding lodging, parking, meals, camping, etc., in the weeks before the course or practical session begins. We recommend contacting the course sponsor if you haven't heard anything and want to start planning your course.
Most course days begin at 8 am and end around 5 or 6 pm, with a break for lunch. There will be evening work, and some courses or In-person Sessions have evening classes. Remember to check the course syllabus and schedule accordingly.
Required equipment
Please bring the following supplies and equipment to standard courses and In-person Sessions of hybrid courses. In some cases, the course sponsor may ask students to bring additional supplies to be used during skill labs or simulations.
Hybrid Courses Only
All Courses
Simulation Clothing. We understand that not everyone has old clothing lying around. Thrift stores are a great option. Keep the weather in mind when you choose your simulation clothing. Bring heavier shirts, pants, and sweaters or jackets for cool climates or rain, and lighter clothing if it's hot.
Hybrid Courses Only
- Ann Jons Case Study. All hybrid students must read the Ann Jons case study, assess and document Ann's signs and symptoms along with your assessment and treatment using our patient notes, and come prepared to discuss it on Day 1. Students receive access to this during the Online Module.
- Wilderness Medicine Handbook. Hybrid students must also bring their handbooks to the In-person Session. We recommend using a permanent marker to write their names on the cover. Students can also purchase the Digital Wilderness Medicine Handbook, which offers lifetime updates and much more in-depth information than the paper version. (Standard course students receive their print handbook on day 1 of their course.)
All Courses
Simulation Clothing. We understand that not everyone has old clothing lying around. Thrift stores are a great option. Keep the weather in mind when you choose your simulation clothing. Bring heavier shirts, pants, and sweaters or jackets for cool climates or rain, and lighter clothing if it's hot.
- Underlayers. In traumatic real-life incidents, rescuers need to look under outer layers to look for wounds and may need to cut a patient's clothing to assess and treat injuries. The same holds for simulations, as instructors use makeup, including fake blood, to make simulations realistic. In anticipation of being a patient in a simulation, all students should bring underlayers (that will not be cut or removed) to protect their personal space. In cold weather, long underwear will suffice; warmer weather requires sports bras, tank tops, shorts, or swimsuits. Rescuers are also instructed not to cut under layers or outdoor gear like rain or warm layers. Also bring:
- Two Pairs Long pants. Looser pants like scrubs or sweatpants work well. The pants may be cut during simulations.
- Two long-sleeved shirts. Long-sleeved T-shirts, button-down shirts, or hoodies work well. The shirts may be cut during simulations.
- Two T-shirts. The T-shirts will be cut during a skill lab or simulation.
- One pair of heavy, full-height socks. The socks are used for padding in the splinting labs and will not be cut.
- Cut T-Shirt Roll. Make a T-shirt roll and bring it to class. Directions are in the Wilderness Medicine Handbook and this video. Take your time, be careful, and roll it neatly. The finished roll is roughly 4-5" wide and about thirty feet long.
- Outdoor Clothing. Dress appropriately: Most skill labs and all simulations will be outside. Beyond lying on the ground and potentially getting dirty, these layers won't otherwise get damaged in simulations.
- Classroom Footwear. Have a pair of shoes for the classroom and one for outside (outdoor shoes must be closed-toe); it may be rainy, snowy, or muddy outside.
- Watch or smartphone capable of measuring seconds. For taking a patient's pulse and respiratory rates during simulations.
- Water shoes. To protect your feet during water simulations.
- Notebook or paper. For taking notes.
- Colored pens or pencils. Instructors will use colored markers during lectures, case study reviews, and discussions to help organize the material on a whiteboard or patient poster; some students find it helpful to do the same in their notes. Bring a pencil and something to sharpen it with to write on our patient notes.
- Old clothing. During skill labs, students will be on the ground, likely get dirty, and may not want to wear their best outdoor gear.
- Small backpack. To wear during simulations.
- Insect repellent. (DEET/Picaridin) and spray insecticide (Permethrin) as dictated by the course site and season.
- Water bottle. For use during simulations and some skill labs.
- Mug for hot drinks.
- Snacks.
- Headlamp. For night simulations — this is especially important during late fall and winter courses.
- N-95 or KN-95 face masks. For minimizing transfer of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 variants and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Optional but recommended for students older than 60 or those with underlying medical conditions; at-risk students should discuss their situation with their healthcare provider before registering for a course.
Infectious disease awareness & prevention
Animal- and Insect-borne Infectious Diseases
Wilderness medicine courses taught by WMTC may be sponsored or hosted by organizations in different parts of the world. Wilderness medicine courses involve skills practice, demonstrations and simulations that typically require you to be outdoors for significant portions of time in diverse geographical regions; some wilderness medicine courses may be held partially or entirely in a field setting. As a consequence of climate change, many areas or regions around the world have experienced, and may experience in the future, changes in seasonal temperature which may result in an area or region experiencing lower or higher average temperatures, potentially resulting in extended temperate seasons, or other changes in or deviations from historical climate and weather patterns. Such changes in climate may contribute to the unpredictable migration, movement or changes in habitat and behavior of animals and insects carrying infectious disease. You should be aware that there is a potential risk of exposure to animals and insects carrying infectious disease in any season, and you may be exposed to such animal or insect vectors while participating in a course. You are responsible for your physical health and safety during a course, and should take steps to be informed as to any potential risk of exposure to animal or insect vectors which are known to, or could potentially transmit an infectious disease in the area in which a wilderness medicine course is being held prior to attending that course. You are responsible for taking such precautions as are prudent and reasonable to protect yourself from such exposure while traveling to and from, and while in any outdoor setting during a course. For information on protecting yourself from an infectious disease, please refer the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID). It is the responsibility of every individual registering for, and participating in a wilderness medicine course taught by WMTC to be informed about the potential risks associated with the activity and to take the necessary precautions to ensure their personal safety. As a participant in a WMTC course, you have the responsibility to ask questions and address any concerns related to your health and safety prior to and during a course with the course instructor(s), the sponsoring organization and the WMTC office and to work toward a reasonable resolution of those concerns.Food- and Water-borne Infectious Diseases
Good personal and group hygiene will help prevent many food- and water-borne diseases:- Wash hands with soap and water and/or use a hand sanitizer after “patient” contact, before eating, after going to the bathroom, and before food preparation. Hand washing also helps prevent the transmission of other infectious diseases like common cold and flu.
- Avoid coughing on other people, sharing water bottles, putting hands into snack bags.
- Wash all raw fruits and vegetables with soap and potable water; wash all cooking utensils and pots in hot, soapy water and sanitize, do not cook or clean-up if you are sick.
Air-borne Infectious Diseases
Transmission of air-borne respiratory diseases — COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Influenza, etc.—occurs via respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, and aerosol clouds. The risk of disease transmission depends on the amount of virus in the local community and it increases in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces and with the amount of face-to-face skill lab and simulation time. Surgical and cloth masks do not provide adequate protection; buffs and bandanas are useless against all but the largest respiratory droplets. N-95 and KN-95 respirators protect both the wearer and others.WMTC Health Recommendations and Policies
If you feel sick, please stay home. Unfortunately, you may not know you are sick when you leave home as there is a 1-6 day incubation period for common communicable diseases before you begin to experience symptoms. And, you could leave home healthy and contract a disease as you travel to the course site or during your course. As a result, we cannot guarantee your health during a course.To help you stay healthy and get the most out of your course, we strongly recommend you:
- Stay up-to-date with your COVID, Influenza, and RSV vaccines.
- Consider wearing a N-95, or KN-95 respirator when acting as a rescuer during simulations. A proper mask will protect both you and your patient. If you wish to wear a mask or respirator, you must provide your own.
- Consider visiting the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) websites for alerts on emerging diseases and information on how to protect yourself.
- Discuss the decision to attend a course with your physician before registering for the course if you have pre-existing health issues.
- Pay close attention to your personal and group hygiene, food preparation, and cleanup. Gastrointestinal illnesses are difficult to contain once loose within a closed group.
- Consider purchasing trip insurance in the event that sickness or other covered circumstances impact your participation in an in-person course. There are no refunds once you register and pay for a course.
To help protect everyone associated with your course, you must:
- Respect an individual's decision to wear a mask during a course.
- Leave the course and see a physician ASAP if you get sick. They will determine if you can or should continue with the course.
- Leave the course if you test positive for a respiratory virus UNLESS a physician clears you to return. If you leave the course due to a respiratory illness, the course instructor or a sponsor representative will notify all persons in close contact with you of the results of your test. If the course continues, everyone associated with the course, including support staff, must wear a new N-95 or KN-95 respirator for the remainder of the course. Please be prepared and bring a new respirator for each day of the course in case someone tests positive for a respiratory illness.
- Wear an N-95 or KN-95 respirator if you suffer from a seasonal allergy and are actively sneezing and coughing; allergy symptoms can mask a contagious respiratory illness.
- Wear gloves (provided) during skill labs and simulations and properly dispose of and wash or sanitize your hands immediately afterward.
