Wilderness Medical Associates

 Functional Position Description For Wilderness Medicine Providers

The following qualifications, competencies and tasks are required of wilderness medical providers. Wilderness medical certification will only be issued to those students who fulfill these requirements. Students who participate in a course and pass all written and practical exams but do not meet the following qualifications, competencies and tasks may receive a certificate of completion in place of a certification.

 qualifications

1.      You must be at least 18 years of age or provide written proof of parental consent if you are under 18 years of age but at least16 years of age. Except for Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certifications, no one under the age of 16 may be certified. Generally, a high school education or equivalent is necessary to master the knowledge and skills required of wilderness medicine providers. 

2.       You must be able to communicate orally via radio and telephone. You must have the ability to interpret written, oral, and diagnostic form instructions. You must have the ability to read English language manuals, road maps, and road signs (U.S. courses only). You must have the ability to calculate weight and volume ratios. You must have the ability to interview patients, family members, and bystanders. You must have the ability to document in writing all relevant information in the prescribed format. You must have the ability to converse in English with co-workers and other rescue personnel (U.S. courses only). 

3.       You must have the ability to lift, carry, and balance up to 150 pounds on your own or 300 pounds with assistance. You must posses good manual dexterity, with the ability to perform all tasks related to the highest quality patient care. You must have the ability to bend, stoop, and crawl on uneven terrain; to work in confined spaces; and to withstand extreme environmental conditions. 

4.       You must have the ability to use good judgment and remain calm in high stress situations. 

5.       You must successfully complete both written and practical Wilderness Medical Associates exams.   

competency areas

1.       You must demonstrate competency in assessing a patient, handling emergencies, and utilizing Basic Life Support equipment and procedures 

2.       You must demonstrate the ability to perform CPR, control hemorrhaging, properly assess and stabilize an injured spine, manage fractures and other musculo-skeletal injuries, reduce simple dislocations, cleanse and dress wounds, and manage environmental emergencies.   

description OF tasks

This is a generalized summary of tasks a wilderness medical care provider may perform.

• Accesses patient. 

• Determines the nature and extent of illness or injury, takes pulse and blood pressure, assesses respiratory status, observes changes in skin color, searches for medical alert identification. Establishes priority for emergency care. Renders appropriate care to competency level. 

• Extricates patient from an entrapment, if necessary, using accepted rescue and medical techniques, procedures, and devices. Assists in evacuating patient to an ambulance or medical facility. Uses accepted emergency medical techniques, procedures, and devices. 

• Reports nature and extent of illness or injury to ambulance personnel or receiving facility via radio. Establishes on-line medical control as needed. Continually reassess patient during evacuation and provides care as needed. 

• Reports both orally and in writing to ambulance or hospital personnel.