tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19888373665415854492024-03-05T09:49:16.289-08:00Wilderness Medical ConsultantsWilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16840517547730134581noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-84389714829427021892011-08-19T15:38:00.000-07:002011-08-19T15:43:03.073-07:00Wilderness First Aid for Surfers!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWiLPf4njilC0iNRDIWQYL3WKW5MbXGTeJLnpP2UO-S0kO6t4JCru8vEOq-Nntmivbesj-j7vrGooR8iqbIe9fBSHEPASVbKkOajvuIClW6taDqT5JkhZnkJzKS_PFMKmUy62-At0y78/s1600/Surfing+Nosara+FA+Training-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 155px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWiLPf4njilC0iNRDIWQYL3WKW5MbXGTeJLnpP2UO-S0kO6t4JCru8vEOq-Nntmivbesj-j7vrGooR8iqbIe9fBSHEPASVbKkOajvuIClW6taDqT5JkhZnkJzKS_PFMKmUy62-At0y78/s200/Surfing+Nosara+FA+Training-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642701258831015890" /></a>
<br />Wishing you will be in Costa Rica this November??? If you are come visit us November 17-18 during our free Wilderness First Aid Clinic for Surfers in Nosara. WMC will be offering this course for free to locals in the community. We are so excited!!Wilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727733411770362682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-82786205322059631942011-07-20T07:50:00.000-07:002011-07-20T07:54:17.635-07:00Wilderness Medical Services<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRiO3nhaXW_cu9v4P_2kqWSlwERtTWqFHApxeEDS3lHbmYaq0poKTSxo4EzDijMrxP1HOawCXBPLuO3J4jitJxHFt3sQFzRvM97qHFs_IAIyd7hTK-ThIZACgI3-IQ-gWadFERyKB_0E/s1600/DSCN1201.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwRiO3nhaXW_cu9v4P_2kqWSlwERtTWqFHApxeEDS3lHbmYaq0poKTSxo4EzDijMrxP1HOawCXBPLuO3J4jitJxHFt3sQFzRvM97qHFs_IAIyd7hTK-ThIZACgI3-IQ-gWadFERyKB_0E/s200/DSCN1201.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631447917971471730" /></a>Wilderness Medical Consultants now provides wilderness medical services to remote locations across Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We can staff your remote work site, expedition or recreational group with hard working, rural medics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our medics are familiar with wilderness environments and delayed transport to hospital care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><a href="http://wildernessmedicalconsultants.ca/courses/MedicalServices.htm">Click here</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> to v</span>isit our website to learn more about this exciting new service. <!--EndFragment-->Wilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727733411770362682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-59705978329840215872011-05-14T11:43:00.000-07:002011-05-14T11:44:42.522-07:00Vancouver Sun Interviews Dr. John Peachell About Recent Survival Story.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; "><p>VANCOUVER — Two days after Rita Chretien was found alive in northeast Nevada's remote high desert, her son — still wearing a look of disbelief on his face — told reporters at the hospital he didn't know she had it in her.</p><p>Just goes to show, Raymond Chretien said, "miracles happen."</p><p>Even the doctor sitting next to him was stunned the 56-year-old Penticton woman had survived seven weeks alone with little food or water.</p><p>She beat some "overwhelming odds," he said.</p><p>But wilderness survival experts say while Chretien's case is extraordinary, it is not unprecedented. The human body has an amazing ability to adapt to sudden change, they say. It's just that few of us realize it.</p><p>"We spend so much of our lives having our needs taken care of, we don't really suffer anymore. We're always in these controlled environments," said Sarah Brown, a wilderness survival instructor at Mount Royal University in Calgary.</p><p>"People have lost touch with their relationship with the land. They don't realize what their capacities are."</p><p>Whether marooned on the ocean, caught in a blizzard or stranded at the bottom of a ravine, those who have lived through harrowing, stuck-in-the-middle-of-nowhere scenarios share common traits: They made smart choices and never lost the "will to survive."</p><p>Experts say in order to make smart choices, you first have to remain calm. Panicking will only lead to poor decisions.</p><p>Next, take stock of what's around you and what you have. In the case of Rita Chretien and her husband, Al, who apparently were led astray by their GPS device and ended up driving into the mud, it doesn't appear they were ever in any immediate peril.</p><p>The weather was neither extremely cold nor extremely hot. They had a water source (from a nearby stream), a bit of food (trail mix, candy) and shelter (their 2000 Chevy Astro Van).</p><p>Believe it or not, some people have lasted for several days without water and several weeks — about 60 days — without food, said Gordon Giesbrecht, a professor at the University of Manitoba who studies human responses in extreme environments.</p><p>The next step is to plan: do you stay or go? The general rule of thumb is to stay put and wait to be found but there may be occasions when you have to bail — if, for example, there is an imminent threat of death and there's no chance of immediate rescue.</p><p>According to Giesbrecht, the key questions to ask yourself are: How long do you expect it'll take for someone to initiate a search and find you? How long do you expect to be able to survive by staying put? How far do you have to travel to get help? Are you certain you know where to go and that you can make it there?</p><p>There's a tendency, Giesbrecht said, for people to underestimate how long they can survive and overestimate how far they can walk.</p><p>While many details of the Chretiens' decision-making have not been revealed, Giesbrecht said it appears that Albert Chretien's decision to leave after three days to seek help may have been premature. "You want to provide some reasonable opportunity for rescue," he said.</p><p>Albert Chretien remains missing. While officials continue to look for him, they admit that it is unlikely he will be found alive.</p><p>Once the decision is made to stay or go, the next step is to keep a positive attitude, experts say. It is critical, they say, to fight against letting uncertainty — not knowing when help will come, not knowing whether you'll survive — wreak havoc on your mind.</p><p>"We have a choice where we can slide down the slope of negativity, victimization and self-pity or you can do everything to stay positive," Brown said.</p><p>Staying positive can manifest itself in many ways. Humour is one, Brown said, recalling the Tom Hanks movie Cast Away in which a FedEx worker gets marooned on a desolate island and spends most of the movie interacting with a volleyball-friend he names "Wilson."</p><p>Aron Ralston, the mountain climber who got trapped by a boulder in Utah and eventually amputated his arm, said his spirits were lifted when he had a premonition of a boy he believed to be his future son.</p><p>In the Nevada case, it appears Rita Chretien took strength from her faith.</p><p>She read the Bible each day, including Psalm 86, which reads in part: "Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, Because you answer me."</p><p>"She felt Jesus was sitting next to her in the van," said Rev. Neil Allenbrand, the Chretiens' pastor for the past 12 years.</p><p>Others have found strength from finding beauty in their surroundings.</p><p>That's what Charles Horton says got him through eight nights in the bone-chilling cold after he broke his leg while cross-country skiing in Colorado in spring 2005.</p><p>During the day, he napped in the warmth of the sun and marvelled at the sparkling snow. Horton says he remembers being brought almost to tears the first night by the stark beauty of the near-full moon and the shadows of the trees.</p><p>"Each night, the coyotes were singing. It was almost like they were singing, 'We've lived another day!'"</p><p>That's not to say there weren't low moments. Horton, then 55, who survived on melted snow, an energy bar and a bit of dried fruit, made a decision on his third day to try to crawl to his vehicle which was a few kilometres away.</p><p>By the sixth day, however, his energy was sapped and he couldn't go any further.</p><p>He entered what he describes as "that wonderful spiral of self-pity."</p><p>"I started crying. I'm going to miss my friends, everyone I love, and die here alone."</p><p>But he was so dehydrated that he couldn't shed any tears. The discovery made him laugh.</p><p>Nine days into his ordeal, Horton — who had lost 30 pounds — was able to flag down a snowmobiler with his whistle.</p><p>By all accounts, Rita Chretien, who continues her recovery in a Penticton hospital, has managed to keep her spirits high.</p><p>Not everyone is so fortunate.</p><p>Dr. John Peachell, medical director at Wilderness Medical Consultants in Golden, B.C., said he's seen people who survived near-death experiences suffer from post-traumatic stress and recurring flashbacks.</p><p>Others, however, come out of such experiences feeling extremely empowered.</p><p>Tanya Rider, of Maple Valley, Washington, was driving home from work in September 2007 when she crashed down a 25-foot ravine. For eight days, she lay trapped sideways in her SUV going in and out of consciousness without any food or water. Her collar bone was broken and she was suffering from kidney damage.</p><p>Rider, 36, says she made it through her ordeal by focusing on her family and her future.</p><p>"I wanted to get back to my husband. We're a team. What is it you want out of life? You have to aim for it," she said.</p><p>"We have a tremendous amount of power within ourselves."</p><span><br /><br />Read more: <a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/Rita+Chretien+wilderness+survival+amazing+unbelievable+experts/4782076/story.html#ixzz1MM0gKv7F" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); font-family: arial; text-decoration: none; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; ">http://www.vancouversun.com/Rita+Chretien+wilderness+survival+amazing+unbelievable+experts/4782076/story.html#ixzz1MM0gKv7F</a></span></span>Wilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727733411770362682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-63158611116126674652011-05-10T21:28:00.001-07:002011-05-10T21:33:58.246-07:00CBC Consults Wilderness Medical Consultants on Recent Survival Story<div id="storyhead"><h1 class="headline">Rescued B.C. woman returns to Canada</h1> <h3 class="deck">Rita Chretien now being treated at a B.C. medical facility</h3> <h5 class="byline"> <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/credit.html">CBC News</a> </h5> <h4 class="posted">Posted: May 10, 2011 10:02 AM ET </h4> <h4 class="lastupdated">Last Updated: May 10, 2011 10:58 PM ET</h4></div><div id="left"><div id="storybody"> <p>A B.C. woman who was stranded in the Nevada wilderness for 49 days has been transferred from a hospital in Idaho to an undisclosed B.C. medical facility.</p> <p>Rita Chretien, 56, and her husband, Albert, 59, got stuck on a logging road in mid-March after taking a detour during a trip from their home in Penticton to Las Vegas to attend a trade show. Her husband, who went to look for help, is still missing, and bad weather on Tuesday stalled the search for him.</p> <p>The couple originally tried to seek help together shortly after getting stuck, Rita Chretien told police.</p> <p>The couple walked about seven kilometres, but turned back and returned to their van, presumably because they were tired, according to the Elko County Sheriff's Department.</p> <p>Two days later, Albert Chretien left their van and headed out to look for help by himself.</p> <p>Rita Chretien was rescued Friday when a group of people out hunting for elk antlers spotted the couple's brown van.</p> <p>She was treated at St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls, Idaho, where she was reportedly in "high spirits," eating solid foods and receiving physical therapy.</p> <p>The hospital confirmed that she was discharged Tuesday.</p> <p>"As the Chretien family makes the journey home with the mother, the family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation for all the prayers and well wishes [they have] received over the past few days," a statement from the hospital said.</p> <p>"They are grateful for the respect for their privacy during their stay which has allowed their family time to celebrate and reconnect."</p> <h3>'Right place at the right time'</h3> <p>A Nevada woman said it was a "miscommunication" between her family members that led them to the B.C. woman.</p> <p>Whitnie Sill-Herman, Troy Sill and Chad Herman spotted the van Friday while they were out riding ATVs and looking for antlers.</p> <p>"We were at the right place at the right time. It's funny, because it was actually a miscommunication between me, and my husband and my dad," Sill-Herman told CBC News.</p> <div class="sidebar"> <h2>Wilderness survival</h2> <p>John Peachell, a doctor who specializes in wilderness medicine, said water is the "absolute key" to survival.</p> <p>"It's necessary for circulation and respiration, and also for converting the food we take in to make it usable energy," Peachell said.</p> <p>Peachell said an individual's metabolism, fitness level and even pre-existing fat levels may also make a difference.</p> <p>The science of survival is somewhat anecdotal, Peachell said, and factors that can't be measured are often at play.</p> <p>"Whether it be religion to fall on or some memory to fall on, or just that whole will to survive — I think is something that we can't measure in a laboratory."</p> <h2>P.O.V.</h2> <p><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourcommunity/2011/05/gps-how-much-do-you-rely-on-your-gps-system.html">How much do you rely on your GPS system?</a> </p> </div> <p>"Usually we'd go for a little bit, and stop and meet, and kind of talk, and have drinks or whatever and continue on," she said. "For some reason, he just kept going. We couldn't catch up to him, and when we did, there she was."</p> <p>Sill-Herman said Chretien signalled to them that she needed help.</p> <p>"Just her opening the van and saying, 'No, no, I'm not OK' is what I remember most," Sill-Herman said.</p> <p>"She just told us she was hungry, she was very hungry, or she was starving."</p> <h3>Call rescue helicopter</h3> <p>Sill-Herman said they knew they needed to get her out of the area. But after spending weeks stuck in the van with a limited supply of food, Chretien wasn't strong enough to ride out on an ATV.</p> <p>Sill-Herman and her family offered Chretien snacks and then rode to a point where they could call in a rescue helicopter.</p> <p>Troy Sill told ABC's <em>Good Morning America</em> that Chretien packed up her items and was ready to go by the time they got back from the nearby ranch.</p> <p>"It was amazing when we got back there what the adrenalin had done for her," he said Tuesday.</p> <p>Sill-Herman said that Chretien actually asked her for a business card or a phone number so she could thank her rescuers.</p> <p>"And I told her, 'Don't worry about that, you just take care of yourself,'" Sill-Herman said.</p> <i><br /></i></div><div id="socialcomments"><div style="height: 100%;" id="sm_2000432983" class="cbccomments show"><div class="wrap"><div id="yui_3_1_1_2_130508843961740" class="articlemeta clearfix"></div></div></div></div></div>Wilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727733411770362682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-83093795755695229242011-02-04T08:12:00.000-08:002011-02-04T08:20:15.885-08:00WMC Winter Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrcK26SOfuvKDz2wAutYvSlT0GIbPmMwjY3hTaFmnlUp0a2hJsfsrUF2XnYsHsU4NxGDOsBC00DadLLIx3Z_lPVKtJpZYw0JLlojVnojtBD4fk-r9K2PWZgKK27qCuasq_5-QKevCkd0/s1600/dsc03229-0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrcK26SOfuvKDz2wAutYvSlT0GIbPmMwjY3hTaFmnlUp0a2hJsfsrUF2XnYsHsU4NxGDOsBC00DadLLIx3Z_lPVKtJpZYw0JLlojVnojtBD4fk-r9K2PWZgKK27qCuasq_5-QKevCkd0/s320/dsc03229-0.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569869268180061762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOmc3M54KEJWs_WcKuVYxStHs3cwWYe7QPi1u9F1-tZNYHbg6oLo7t_6FxuVTdfanDpGO7vIOu714Ho5Yu-7GkBUwVrT5eB6CcRrAn4EqEo-iUTP6IPeXisfNaaZoJ9Z6oF4b9w7RFjY/s1600/P1070081.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOmc3M54KEJWs_WcKuVYxStHs3cwWYe7QPi1u9F1-tZNYHbg6oLo7t_6FxuVTdfanDpGO7vIOu714Ho5Yu-7GkBUwVrT5eB6CcRrAn4EqEo-iUTP6IPeXisfNaaZoJ9Z6oF4b9w7RFjY/s320/P1070081.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569869261929075170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMwvUkX1eK-otSJ5QJGrV1tunJPyU78DgWZmNWNqkGFOpu6NAWUT6lr-vpv4q6x5_DLPg5WgXYr9uDaNKuZ7mfayFfsPLG0YGCiMabv7bpHNIGnVMUpPsJprCgCH5PfUF_u1J46-fC-A/s1600/P1070073.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMwvUkX1eK-otSJ5QJGrV1tunJPyU78DgWZmNWNqkGFOpu6NAWUT6lr-vpv4q6x5_DLPg5WgXYr9uDaNKuZ7mfayFfsPLG0YGCiMabv7bpHNIGnVMUpPsJprCgCH5PfUF_u1J46-fC-A/s320/P1070073.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569869260797467362" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, we hope everyone has been out enjoying the winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is “supposed” to be our slow time but the demands for custom course keep rolling in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At WMC, we started the New Year with a visit to Bragg Creek (outside Calgary) to run a workshop for the Rural Alberta Family Medicine Residents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Following this, a week up at Sol Mountain Lodge to visit with friends, ski and certify the staff in CPR and wilderness first aid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>We are attending the WMS winter meeting in Park City, Utah, next week and then a custom course for the Bow Valley Kayak Club in Canmore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then a custom course for the Department of Oceans & Fisheries on the West Coast, followed by a course for the medical students in Edmonton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pretty soon our regular spring course schedule will be up and running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A lot of bookings have been coming in so it is looking like a fun and busy spring!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We are also training several new instructors to add to our team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Enjoy the rest of the winter, looks like more snow on the way!</p><p class="MsoNormal">John Peachell MD</p><p class="MsoNormal">Pictures from top to bottom: <i>Shelley in the pow at Sol Mountain Lodge, Alberta Rural Family Medicine Group, Member of the Rural Family Medicine group hamming it up for the camera</i></p> <!--EndFragment-->Wilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727733411770362682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-10996899932137071842010-10-26T12:08:00.000-07:002010-10-26T12:18:25.330-07:00WMC's Article for Wilderness Medicine Journal FALL 2010<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WnEINm7O-_1tw4k-yddgyAkxUN89yssH57uA-qj9TdzFVHA2Zy3ARmgWMW1lgV448wNTVulvsJHWpbqBwqK1Y47GpBWBDfjBSkeSxNmgtZ_pTyGdORz7HMY1U3ZkIn43xyu0Kbhla1Q/s320/DSCN1809.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532433977074595666" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvf0UA7zWT7QXhynNPYyO-hkeRO2Su8umLPWncpL-9Ix5lORzVaAWevxhSi9Uuy_NvytIfc7EvmJLl1ueb9DFiNZ4JWQaOAnYGlIU8RGVMp_kMg1y2gtNc8KlI0KzMmpIBmPuE3jQwTQ/s1600/DSCN1810.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvf0UA7zWT7QXhynNPYyO-hkeRO2Su8umLPWncpL-9Ix5lORzVaAWevxhSi9Uuy_NvytIfc7EvmJLl1ueb9DFiNZ4JWQaOAnYGlIU8RGVMp_kMg1y2gtNc8KlI0KzMmpIBmPuE3jQwTQ/s320/DSCN1810.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532436098499896690" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Taken from the Wilderness Medicine Journal, published by Wilderness Medical Society www.WMS.org.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"WHAT'S IN MY BACKCOUNTRY SKI PACK?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Dr. John Peachell is a critical care physician, ski patroller and Medical Director of Wilderness Medical Consultants in Golden, BC, Canada.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">1) Satellite phone. Simple medical or trauma problems can be life threatening in the winter environment. Must have reliable communication, especially with the shorter days. Could mean the difference between flying out or an emergency bivy.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">2)Repair kit (for bindings/poles). Try skiing in deep powder without a pole and you'll know what I mean.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">3) Guide's tarp. Makes a great emergency shelter to keep you out of the wind and dry. Also good for an emergency stretcher.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">4) Avalanche safety gear (beacon, probe, shovel). Goes without saying.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">5) Map/compass/GPS (need all three). AND know how to use them.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">In addition to the above you should have a well-stocked first aid kit. Use 'hockey' tape. It is one of the best when you need it to stick when it is cold and wet. Always bring extra clothes and food because you never know."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Wilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15727733411770362682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-24444656629653759752010-06-28T10:05:00.000-07:002010-06-28T10:21:35.791-07:00Wilderness Medical Consultants: Outdoor Canada Magazine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgp-o5ye_X2Mi5YxbaUM6O-7mSLyhHPhZP3IJ8tO7GUkDXGIzQAFK84Mowszysc3MCxirk4KqUeXNSY719TOrJ0J5tk1QGQN_UMhrCg8bUgZOiHOpxtThckLI38gICDN0I6YGTCB_NoER/s1600/DSC_0068.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgp-o5ye_X2Mi5YxbaUM6O-7mSLyhHPhZP3IJ8tO7GUkDXGIzQAFK84Mowszysc3MCxirk4KqUeXNSY719TOrJ0J5tk1QGQN_UMhrCg8bUgZOiHOpxtThckLI38gICDN0I6YGTCB_NoER/s200/DSC_0068.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487875747374547202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfmFSyBSOQkF_fErZf0v7itiuYEd9HHyHVKhyphenhyphenHf6yquxtiwee-ogsIw0ROkbJBcYqmEIc8knlDsUmoBpzIhZ3NR6zQLgL8_LtaPjwys4IHN2M16yPO6Tn_GomYCymnUg5fbpHj8dtd-7i/s1600/DSC_0073.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">In the Summer 2010 issue of Outdoor Canada, Wilderness Medical Consultants was asked to send in a first aid tip for this 'Ultimate Danger Guide' issue. Here is a summary of the article.</span><br /></i></span><div><div><br /></div><div>"<b>Survival Supplies - 7 resources to help keep you safe</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>#7</b> CANADA WEST Wilderness Medical Consultants. The only Canadian-based wilderness first aid outfit with a physician as director and lead instructor (John Peachell), this Golden, BC, company teaches courses for both outdoor professionals and weekend warriors. The program blends academics with realistic scenarios, including simulated injuries (see www.WildernessMedicalConsulants.ca)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>SAMPLE TIP:</b> If someone is accidentally shot by an arrow, trying to remove it, either by pulling it out or pushing it through, will likely lead to further injury. Instead, cut the shaft close to the wound, and stabilize it with adhesive tape. Place clean gauze dressings around the shaft to stop bleeding, and then get the victim to the hospital."</div></div>Wilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16840517547730134581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-47443614154134548322010-05-13T11:05:00.000-07:002010-05-13T11:13:41.426-07:00Calgary Herald Feature Wilderness Medical Consultants<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZByIzcBHZ_sC3ccuRgG35Is39uSffiYspteemeIrCJeU4HnEiiL5jnkasHEglrFCULaYfcOWlPtKrnnfRndcPj7O8ULrbG4o3l8mQJLOm0VrXWAkz3eJhyphenhyphenOJD4xni1GywqEYsLKphQHX/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZByIzcBHZ_sC3ccuRgG35Is39uSffiYspteemeIrCJeU4HnEiiL5jnkasHEglrFCULaYfcOWlPtKrnnfRndcPj7O8ULrbG4o3l8mQJLOm0VrXWAkz3eJhyphenhyphenOJD4xni1GywqEYsLKphQHX/s320/DSC_0085.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470817958187668674" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><div class="wrapper_0_20_0_0" style="font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; float: left; padding-right: 20px; "><div id="storyheader" style="font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; width: 620px; "><div class="headline" style="font-family: arial, verdana, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; "><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><br /></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; ">Bringing Safety To The Back Country</h1></div><div class="clear" style=" clear: both; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-top: -1px; font-size:1px;"> </div><div class="subheadline" style="font-size: 11px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; "><h2 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; ">Cardiac surgeon combines passion for </h2><h2 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; ">medicine and adventure</h2><div><br /></div><div>By Lynn Martel, For the Calgary Herald</div><div>May 13, 2010</div></div><div class="clear" size="1px" style=" clear: both; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-top: -1px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-transform: uppercase;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; text-transform: none;font-size:1px;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div><div class="clear" style="clear: both; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-top: -1px; "> </div></div></div><div class="clear" style="clear: both; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; margin-top: -1px; "> </div><div id="story_content" class="para14" style="margin-top: 5px; "><div class="col_480" style="width: 480px; float: left; "><div class="col_460" style="width: 460px; float: left; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><div id="storycontent" class="para18" style="line-height: 20px; color: rgb(70, 70, 70); width: auto; "><div id="page1" style="line-height: 22px; "><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Several years ago, Dr. John Peachell, a cardiac surgeon at Foothills Hospital's cardiac and acute care departments, was backcountry ski touring on the Wapta Icefields north of Lake Louise when he found himself trying to help a skier from another group who had broken his leg.</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Stranded in the middle of winter on glaciated Mount Gordon, 15 kilometres from the Icefields Parkway, the situation quickly escalated into a potentially critical one.</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"A broken leg is rarely life-threatening in the city, but it is life-threatening in that environment," Peachell says. "What's different about wilderness first aid is it's not only the victim who is affected by the problem. When it's 15 below, everyone is at risk for hypothermia. Every year, rescuers get killed trying to help people in the outdoors."</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Knowing how to handle a medical emergency in the backcountry is something all climbers, hikers, paddlers and skiers should be prepared to face, Peachell says. And to help prepare people to handle such emergencies, last year Peachell launched his business, Wilderness Medical Consultants, which he runs with his fiancee Shelley Secord, a trained wilderness EMT.</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Peachell and Secord are experienced mountaineers and Alpine Club of Canada</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">amateur trip leaders who spend about a quarter of their time pursuing outdoor adventures -- which makes it natural for them to gear their first-aid courses specifically toward people working and playing in remote wilderness environments. Offering a specially designed curriculum that can be applied to a variety of outdoor situations, Peachell and Secord travel regularly from their home in Golden, B.C., to Whistler, Vancouver, Revelstoke and the Calgary/Canmore/ Banff corridor to share their expertise.</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Being members of the Wilderness Medical Society, and experienced and avid climbers themselves, adds to their ability to effectively teach wilderness specific skills, Peachell says.</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"I spend so much time outside, and I find it challenging in the wilderness," he says. "You never know how long you'll be with the patient. And most of the time your first-aid supplies will be limited, especially if you're on a trip where you're carrying everything on your back. Without lab tests and tools, I like that you have to improvise. You can't just send someone for a CT scan if you think they have a head injury. I really like the challenging nature of situations like that."</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In addition to classroom sessions and nightly homework assignments outlined in Wilderness Medical Consultants' student manual, courses include numerous lifelike scenarios, complete with novelty shop protruding bone injuries dripping with fake blood.</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"If you don't give the students wounds that look realistic, they don't think about details like putting gloves on," Peachell points out. "Plus, it's more fun for them -- I think they take it more seriously."</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">While the scenarios can be fun, the courses cover a lot of serious content, too, including legal obligations, waivers and basic physiology.</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">But for Peachell, who is currently completing an international diploma in mountain medicine, teaching wilderness first-aid courses provides a great avenue for him to combine his passion for medicine and outdoor adventure.</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"I love being outside and exploring new places and interesting environments, especially stuff outside that involves science -- avalanche terrain, technical rock climbing, glacier travel, scuba diving. Not just put on your skis and go, but you have to think about navigation, terrain and problem solving," he says.</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">"And I enjoy the challenge of having to improvise with whatever is at hand to make splints, or provide first aid when you're dealing with the challenges of the outdoor environment, like extreme temperatures. It's really rewarding teaching people how to deal with those challenging situations."</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Plus, he admits, running the business provides him and Secord with a great means of pursuing just one more adventure together.</span></p><p style="text-align: left; width: auto; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">To learn more, visit wildernessmedicalconsultants.ca</span></p><div class="copyright" style="text-align: left; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald</span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span>Wilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16840517547730134581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-83448996892255192852010-03-05T10:25:00.000-08:002010-03-05T10:38:38.356-08:00Wilderness Medical Consultants in Northern Canada<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xHoo7dkA07G-wU4BiWmUFr9S5wdVvrDOo5eQFFMIMNKG-EknYOG1Pfs995WPAKxK289eXheAlB2WDEMOilkoRu91TecDDJLNmoHz9vWkG0XOcX4fNHPMTxLWXCvH-X2UYMEgbmWAyFf7/s1600-h/DSC_0021.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xHoo7dkA07G-wU4BiWmUFr9S5wdVvrDOo5eQFFMIMNKG-EknYOG1Pfs995WPAKxK289eXheAlB2WDEMOilkoRu91TecDDJLNmoHz9vWkG0XOcX4fNHPMTxLWXCvH-X2UYMEgbmWAyFf7/s320/DSC_0021.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445220987580203234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5FrhYFIh7tIPNJd0aDLwO-qmCEbPkuemONK2Hd2xuE2sYkW5BTcbV1pUsLuMKtOeiDdKX2kZQx30AvfZIZMIhYYcvWN8ZkJSw8FLP2_TG06HfSZHxoHzpUT1S2eLU14DQ9xLiSvgg7ah/s1600-h/DSC_0006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5FrhYFIh7tIPNJd0aDLwO-qmCEbPkuemONK2Hd2xuE2sYkW5BTcbV1pUsLuMKtOeiDdKX2kZQx30AvfZIZMIhYYcvWN8ZkJSw8FLP2_TG06HfSZHxoHzpUT1S2eLU14DQ9xLiSvgg7ah/s320/DSC_0006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445220901265070242" /></a><br />In February 2010, Wilderness Medical Consultants travelled to Fort Providence, NWT, to teach Wilderness First Aid to outdoor education teachers and students. Many of us think of wilderness activities to include hiking, backcountry skiing and camping. To this group, their town of Fort Providence was the definition of Wilderness, “More than one hour from definitive medical care”. The town is located 3 hours south of Yellowknife and has a population of just over 700.<br /><div><br />Popular activities in this community include ice fishing, snowmobiling, trapping, logging and hunting. It is common for individuals to travel long distances from town in the winter to engage in these activities so our focus for this group revolved around cold management and evacuation strategies. Medical tape doesn’t have the same adhesive properties in -30C as it does at room temperature and managing wounds outside with thick outer clothing proved to be a challenge. The group perfected the skill of working efficiently to ensure that wounds were given the proper first aid and their patient did not experience hypothermia.<div><br /></div><div><span style="font-weight:bold;">Student Comments From the Course</span><br /><br />“Thank you so much John and Shelley. No kidding, this is the best course I’ve ever taken. This course was educational, fun, exciting and memorable. I feel so much more confident as a leader in a first aid situation.” Teacher from Fort Simpson<br /><br />“Honestly, it was all done professionally, the best first aid course I have taken” Teacher from Fort Providence<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TIPS for First Aid in Cold Weather Environments</span><br /><br />1. For cuts on fingers try using sterile gauze and a finger condoms. Finger condoms are made from latex and roll over your finger to secure the gauze in place. Band-Aids may not stick in cold weather and tape can be too constrictive, leading to increased risk of frostbite.<br /><br />2. Check for frost nip regularly. Pick a buddy and have them check you for any signs of frost nip on your face and ears. These areas often go unchecked and could lead to frostbite if unattended. If you have frost nip warm the area until the discolouration is gone. Often an ungloved hand can warm the area quickly but be careful not to leave your glove off for too long.<br /><br />3. For mountaineers you may recall a time when your hand that was gripping your mountaineering axe got extremely cold. The metal from the head of the ice axe can quickly absorb large amounts of heat from your hands, even through the warmest gloves. To limit this heat loss, cut a 10cm square of closed cell foam and drape it over the top of your tool. Use athletic tape to secure the foam in place. If placed in position properly it should not interfere with the function of the axe.<br /></div></div>Wilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16840517547730134581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-22021455179075310102009-08-09T11:40:00.000-07:002009-08-09T11:49:22.582-07:00Wilderness Medical Consultants Student Shares A Story<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJE554PBvInFMjxeta5nWWOkoIwKGhJx_PMRMJ6nbFrqPd7UivBYZuNH3koTTa8kxCC2LAzEO9RmEauIUB-EtrEd8rSv_12OGFeYgRjltrA-eyZpRkx2qGzNFWzJLN4yLYMI2fMWGzbCz/s1600-h/DSC_0028.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJE554PBvInFMjxeta5nWWOkoIwKGhJx_PMRMJ6nbFrqPd7UivBYZuNH3koTTa8kxCC2LAzEO9RmEauIUB-EtrEd8rSv_12OGFeYgRjltrA-eyZpRkx2qGzNFWzJLN4yLYMI2fMWGzbCz/s320/DSC_0028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368037608908973058" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Five Days of Disaster<br /></span><span style="font-style:italic;">By Mark Lane</span><br /><br />My outdoor trips are great. Well, usually they are great. I’ve climbed the wrong summit; suffered an unplanned bivy; survived rain, snow, whiteout and lightning. But these are mere trifles - seeds to grow tall tales for the campfire or pub - compared to my last club trip. Heinous, frightening, epic: these words don’t begin to describe it. Blood, pain, and disease are more appropriate. Five days of unrelenting disaster that changed me forever. Let me tell you about it.<br /><br />The first day, all 17 participants met at the Canmore Clubhouse. I could write a whole story about their personalities, but will let you meet them through our adventure. Our leaders were John Peachell and his wife, Shelley Secord. I had heard John was a cardiac surgeon, but he looked like a climber to me, deriving his energy from a continuous intake of caffeinated beverage. Shelley, on the other hand, appeared to have an abundance of natural energy. Although she let John lead, she was quick to jump in if he strayed too far from the path. With John’s leadership and Shelley’s shepherding we set out on our journey. The day was uneventful and we arrived at our destination on schedule, with plenty of time for dinner and relaxation before bed. So far, so good.<br /><br />On the second day we started early and all was going well until the people at the front of the group came to an abrupt stop. “Hey, check out this dummy sleeping on the trail!” someone called. “Maybe he’s not sleeping,” Mike responded as he knelt next to him, “Dude, are you okay?” Getting no response, Mike bent low over the victim. After ten seconds he exclaimed loudly, “Hey, this guy isn’t breathing!” Kazue sprang into action. She slipped a medical barrier mask over the victim’s nose and mouth, and gave him a couple of measured breaths. Mike, wasting no time, had already moved on to a pulse check. “His heart has stopped,” he announced, and immediately started cardio pulmonary resuscitation. John encouraged a steady rhythm and efficient transitions between Mike’s chest compressions and Kazue’s rescue breaths. Rod, our technical guru, pulled a portable radio from his pack and sent out a call for help. Several minutes later the drama came to a close as a bright red rescue helicopter thundered to a landing in a cloud of dust and debris. The rescuers, looking smart in their orange jumpsuits, casually stepped out and took charge. We helped load the victim into the rescue basket and soon were watching the helicopter sink from sight down the valley, heading toward Banff.<br /><br />The victim’s hiking day was over, but ours was still young. After a leisurely lunch we hit the trail with gusto. Maybe too much gusto. As we were powering up a hill Jason suddenly clutched his chest and sat down, breathing heavily. Ray stepped forward and carefully questioned him about his medical history. It turned out that Jason had had an angioplasty several years earlier and was taking nitroglycerin. Unfortunately, he had made the mistake of leaving his medication in his car. Again Rod’s radio crackled to life and again the red rescue helicopter with the sharply dressed rescuers came and went, this time whisking Jason to civilization. After the helicopter had disappeared, the group agreed that we had had enough excitement for one day, and settled down for the night.<br /><br />Day three dawned cold and dreary, reflecting the mood of the group. Despite our unease, the morning passed uneventfully and we were beginning to think the worst was over. Then Mike, turning to talk to the person behind him, tripped, tumbled over a small cliff, and crashed into a grove of trees. Francis immediately ensured everyone else was safe, then climbed down to Mike and methodically checked him from head to toe. Despite the distraction of Mike’s incessant complaining about pain in his leg and numbness in his toes, Francis completed his exam, diagnosing a broken femur. He enlisted Laurie’s help to treat it while he went on to monitor and record Mike’s vital signs. Laurie deftly fashioned a splint from several trekking poles and an avalanche shovel and soon had Mike immobilized from toe to shoulder. This time the rescue professionals were overheard muttering something about poor group management before they loaded Mike into the helicopter and thundered down the valley.<br /><br />A sense of impending doom settled over the group as John got us moving. Although he insisted we were doing well, the feeling permeated the group, with, it turns out, good reason. Shortly after moving out, Jodi vomited twice in rapid succession and sat down heavily, hugging her abdomen. Dan stepped up and quickly checked her out. “I think she’s got a ruptured appendix,” he said, to which John replied, “So, what’s your plan?” “Evacuate!” everybody cried, but evacuation wasn’t in the cards this time. Rod’s radio didn’t have the correct repeater frequencies, so we set about protecting Jodi from the elements and treating for shock, hoping she would survive the night.<br /><br />Day four arrived abruptly with the scream of the rescue helicopter’s turbine engine. Rod had figured out the radio during the night and put in a rescue call for Jodi. Robert, succumbing to the temptation of a rapid exit, announced that he had had enough and was leaving with Jodi. “I’ve got to look after my dog,” he said weakly as he shook hands all around and jumped into the helicopter. The rest of us determined to stay the course, come hell, high water, or some, as yet, unimaginable accident. Peter seemed close to the edge of insanity, hiking not only with a full pack, but carrying in his arms a tarp, sleeping bag, foam pad, first aid kit and hockey stick, “Just in case someone breaks something.” Maybe he was insane, or perhaps prescient. In any case, he was better prepared than I. Moments after the helicopter left, I tripped on a protruding root and pitched down a steep scree slope. Something snapped sharply and an exquisite pain flooded my ankle. As I lay screaming in the dirt, Julius calmly sat down and began writing in his book while Kristin and Carsten roughly poked and prodded my body, relaying their findings to him. When Kristin calmly commented, “Cool. His tibia and fibula are BOTH sticking through his skin,” I freaked out, “I’m in serious pain here and you guys are writing a novel!? Fix my ankle!”<br /><br />“Helicopter’s here,” Rod said, and shortly afterwards I was airborne, swapping climbing stories and trying to barter for morphine from the rescue technicians. My trip was definitely over, but the others were still out there. Paranoia reigned the rest of the day. What terrible surprises were yet to be revealed?<br /><br />It wasn’t long until they found out. That afternoon, as Shelley led the group over a small rise in the trail Kazue called out, “It’s John, he’s bleeding all over the place!” Sure enough, John lay shivering on the ground, babbling about a bear and bleeding from the chest, forearm, head, and throat. Carsten immediately took charge, and the group, now accustomed to working together, quickly and efficiently identified and assessed John’s multiple injuries: bleeding from the right side of the chest, sucking chest wound on the left side, open fracture of the right radial and ulnar bones, lacerations to the top of the head and left side of the throat, broken left ankle, and pending shock. The ground was soon littered with the paraphernalia of the rescue – backpacks, first aid kits, splinting material, tarps, sleeping bags and foam pads – as everyone tackled the job of keeping John alive, stable, and comfortable until advanced medical care became available. This time the group was close enough to the highway that the professionals came by ambulance, giving the red helicopter with its orange-suited rescuers a much needed break.<br /><br />Later that afternoon, Shelley played a video she had made of John’s rescue. Despite the stress of the day everyone was in good spirits, laughing and joking as they analyzed their performance.<br /><br />Day five arrived with a general feeling of anxiety mixed with excitement, with many reporting nightmares or insomnia. How bad could the final day be? Really bad. Despite the relative safety of the hospital, I broke both forearms and was impaled by broken glass. Everyone else had at least one serious and a couple of minor injuries each, except for Shelley, who was unhurt. Come to think of it, Shelley was the only one who wasn’t injured on the entire trip. Mere coincidence? Hmm.<br />That afternoon, we regrouped at our destination with surprisingly high spirits. As we made our goodbyes before leaving for home, many said that the trip had been their absolute best. Some even promised to return in September for John and Shelley’s next five day trip.<br /><br />My mother told me a million times not to exaggerate, and I sometimes heed her advice, although clearly not in this case. None of the injuries mentioned in this article were real; they were simulations designed to reinforce theory and build practical skills in a realistic outdoor environment. We were on a 40 hour Advanced Wilderness First Aid course run for the Alpine Club by Wilderness Medical Consultants of Golden, B.C., John and Shelley’s company (<a href="http://wildernessmedicalconsultants.ca/">www.WildernessMedicalConsultants.ca</a>). The course took place April, 2009 at the Club’s Canmore clubhouse, which proved an ideal venue, providing classroom space, nearby outdoor terrain suitable for scenarios, and accommodation for those needing it.<br /><br />John and Shelley make an excellent team, with an efficient, clear and practical style. Their knowledge and experience in the medical and climbing environments, combined with their passion for teaching, prove an unbeatable combination. I highly recommend the course for anyone going into the backcountry, especially those leading groups or undertaking multi-day trips.<br />oreWilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16840517547730134581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-11313652246303209352009-04-26T07:01:00.000-07:002009-04-26T07:18:59.151-07:00Read What Our Students are Saying!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfo5orDJOG2cltH3Is0wvyB9hf6-4i_RYbSOMqGEdye0rwdX9yJGUUTU7Kowj8rR6Jhfrxt5xhCF-Biqqmlf0azxz455R-Ah6mVroucNyzGB1vk_zUA75X4PgsHxMuqtAsvz1z0TAhYNl/s1600-h/DSC_0022.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfo5orDJOG2cltH3Is0wvyB9hf6-4i_RYbSOMqGEdye0rwdX9yJGUUTU7Kowj8rR6Jhfrxt5xhCF-Biqqmlf0azxz455R-Ah6mVroucNyzGB1vk_zUA75X4PgsHxMuqtAsvz1z0TAhYNl/s320/DSC_0022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329004044094369730" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Wilderness Medical Consultants</span> certified their first 40hr Wilderness First Aid Class last week in Canmore, AB. We had such positive feedback from this course that we wanted to share with you some of the student comments about the course. You can also view a video from the course on our facebook page at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46403749418">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46403749418</a>.<br /><br />Student Comments from just ONE course!<br /><br />"Best of the Wilderness First Aid courses. Where else can you be taught by a current MD with a huge amount of wilderness experience who is also a great teacher? I've taken several courses and this one definitely gets my vote." <span style="font-style:italic;">J. Straus</span>s<br /><br />"The course was a great learning experience. I hope many others will be able to attend it in the future and gain the valuable knowledge of wilderness first aid to increase the safety of their own and other's trips to the backcountry." <span style="font-style:italic;">C. Moldenhauer</span><br /><br />"Very good job! Very satisfied!!" <span style="font-style:italic;">F. Labbe</span><br /><br />"The instructors were extremely knowledgeable! It was great that you not only are extremely strong medically but are both active in the mountains." <span style="font-style:italic;">R. Norman</span><br /><br />"The instructors were knowledgeable and the combo of lived experience made the course so much more relevant, useful and applicable. Great job tying in lived experiences and practical scenarios with medical experience." <span style="font-style:italic;">L. Fownes</span><br /><br />"The instruction was great. The text is excellent and the slides follow the text. One of the most organized courses I've ever taken on any subject." <span style="font-style:italic;">J. Marshall</span><br /><br />"One thing that will get this course aside and above others is the instructors' medical and wilderness experience. Examples from these reinforce concepts and help students remember." <span style="font-style:italic;">M. Lane</span>Wilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16840517547730134581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-65011430842423663062009-02-14T07:45:00.001-08:002009-02-23T17:44:15.052-08:00Spring DEAL for ACMG guides<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKN4ovycJ6W6a3KWW8P-Bio-LDiL9jaNjCgHp4zmTe1-6-3yrRLrPwLPest9kwOoT7V2btMCIGjr2dDY3Qb5vuJxrMzAExZrye2DO3O1UWlsUIKFwXJTjmX2vS2kxIc0C4UfZ56UfwowiE/s1600-h/DSC02766_1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKN4ovycJ6W6a3KWW8P-Bio-LDiL9jaNjCgHp4zmTe1-6-3yrRLrPwLPest9kwOoT7V2btMCIGjr2dDY3Qb5vuJxrMzAExZrye2DO3O1UWlsUIKFwXJTjmX2vS2kxIc0C4UfZ56UfwowiE/s320/DSC02766_1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302681955470031218"></a><br />All ACMG guides or aspiring ACMG guides can take our our Wilderness First Responder Recertification course on April 28-30, 2009 or June 28-30, 2009 for only $299 and our full 80hr Wilderness First Responder course on June 18-27, 2009 for only $615. All courses listed here are offered in Canmore, Alberta. This will likely be a one time deal to help promote the start up of our new company. Don't miss the opportunity to be taught by a trained surgeon, who will also keep you on the edge of your seats laughing. Please visit our website at <a href="http://wildernessmedicalconsultants.ca">www.WildernessMedicalConsultants.ca</a> to register and don't forget to add in our comment box that you are an ACMG guide.Wilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16840517547730134581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988837366541585449.post-48587212931467040772009-01-22T13:46:00.000-08:002009-01-22T14:14:14.620-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Advanced Wilderness First Aid for ACC Members</span></div></div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zOtA3CffFrBU20PwEiaQu7GTe2tUDdF0EtLnRY6T2VCfXBeo4gd_-nmAtxImp3LculY29dM0haq1CP7SEt6MbKAjQh5lpopZvIF9l0tg9ncrTBIsc5exvHdmlNL3D0Tca_mKsnkNPnch/s1600-h/Arm+Splint.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zOtA3CffFrBU20PwEiaQu7GTe2tUDdF0EtLnRY6T2VCfXBeo4gd_-nmAtxImp3LculY29dM0haq1CP7SEt6MbKAjQh5lpopZvIF9l0tg9ncrTBIsc5exvHdmlNL3D0Tca_mKsnkNPnch/s320/Arm+Splint.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294241500612936146" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></div><div>Wilderness Medical Consultants is offering Alpine Club of Canada members an advanced wilderness first aid course on April 17 - 21, 2009 for a discounted rate. ACC members of the Rocky Mountain section will also have this course subsidized by their section so they will save even more! </div><div><br /></div><div>This course is designed for trip leaders and outdoor enthusiasts recreating in the backcountry in areas where hospital care is not easily accessible. Students will learn how to implement long-term care and stabilize patients until rescue is available or additional help arrives.</div><div><br /></div><div>To register or find out more information about our Wilderness First Responder courses visit <a href="http://www.wildernessmedicalconsultants.ca/" target="_blank">www.WildernessMedicalConsultants.ca</a> or register on our <a href="http://www.wildernessmedicalconsultants.ca/signUp.php" target="_blank">Sign Up</a> page.</div></div></div>Wilderness Medical Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16840517547730134581noreply@blogger.com