We’ve just come back from our medical course with Expedition Medicine course (thanks Dick, Ronnie, Nish and Chris) and have had a great time.  The day was informative and, in terms of the time available i.e. it being only a 1 day course, had in it enough content to give a kick start of medical & dental knowledge for an adventure. It is geared around providing 1st Aid medical and dental care to yourselves, having the ability to quickly identify an emergency situation and to buy some time whilst help is sought.

It still amazes me how many adventurous people there are out there – you just have to look and you’ll find them. Everyone that we met on the course were amazing – genuine, friendly and the type of people that would give you their last rolo! 

Here we all are together.

Having also done the full 4 day Wilderness Medical Training (FFH/AMRFT) as well (Day 157), we had a bit of a head start. But I can say, hand on heart, that each course has it’s place and a different target audience.

Here’s our attempts at suturing again – streaks ahead of last time on WMT!!! We’d be happy to have these. Next step for Trevor: cross stitching!!!!

So, a comparision: we covered dental assistance in the course at Expedition Medicine that WMT didn’t cover and attending both courses gave us an insight into different drugs that can be used (when sick, of course!!!). But both of us loved the hands-on, real life experience of injections and IVs that we did at WMT. WMT for a 4 day course, takes your knowledge several steps further and is much more comprehensive in subject coverage. It’s geared more around providing 2nd Aid (???) medical assistance and also having the ability to quickly identify an emergency situation.  With WMT you buy yourself more time to get some help. For most “normal” cases and in the absence of medical assistance, you’d probably be able to sort out the problem on your own because there is more theory and training in history taking, diagnosis and relevant medication.

 If you want an overview of expedition medicine with dental included, providing you with enough information to take with you on a journey, then Expedition Medicine is great. If you are relying heavily on yourself for medical assistance and are spending extended time away from emergency help then take the option of WMT. But be prepared, WMT is intensive. As long as you have common sense and an understanding of 1st Aid (you don’t need to have been on a course), you’ll be fine. Both are great fun and there’s time to do some serious networking and swapping ideas with like-minded people.