The hybrid RED MED course is designed to provide current healthcare professionals with a knowledge framework and experience to prepare for RED MED operations and to safely integrate into any Rescue, Expedition or Disaster management team.

This course is ideal for healthcare professionals who are currently working in or striving to work with Rescue, Expedition and Disaster Response Teams in wilderness and austere environments.

The course reviews the fundamentals of risk management, personal preparation and operational planning, along with a review of specific illnesses and injuries often seen in remote and austere environments.

Concept

The hybrid RED MED course include online learning modules, followed by an on-site adventure-based course. The online course provides the core content and additional reading, whilst the on-site phase uses the flipped-classroom approach: we work as a group, learning and developing through discussions, skills sessions and scenario-based exercises in context.

Key topics:

The course includes the following topics through a pre-course distance review of the didactic material, onsite lectures, table top exercises, and real-world scenarios in context, whilst travelling around Guatemala in 4 x 4 vehicles, on foot, in rafts and helicopters:

Location: Guatemala

Duration: 8 days

Dates: 15-22 May 2025 (Arrive 14th May. Depart 23 May)

COMPLETING THIS COURSE YOU WILL:

• Learn the latest practical hands-on wilderness medical skills for patient assessment, stabilization and evacuation.

• Learn the essential preparatory and safety information to integrate into and operate with a rescue, expedition or disaster response team

• Practice your skills in live scenarios

• Current WMS FAWM candidates will be eligible to receive FAWM credits*

• Earn 47.75 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™ **

“This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) and SOS Medical Services. The WMS is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.”

International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC) Certified Wilderness Paramedic (WP-C)

SOS Medical Services is an approved continuing education provider for WP-C® Board Certification renewal having met the standards and requirements set forth by the International Board of Specialty Certification for their Rescue, Expedition & Disaster Medicine (RED MED) course.

RED MED Online is approved for a minimum of 16 contact hours of continuing education for WP-C® and online approved review courses

UK Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Credits

This course has has been approved by the UK CPD Group for 47 CPD credits.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Flipped-classroom approach with group scenario-based exercises

• Skills stations

• Jungle survival camp

• White Water raft down the Cahbon river through jungle clad canyons

• Climb to volcano to 3,976m (13,044 ft)

• Participate in a search and rescue operation on the flanks of a volcano

• Experience live venomous and non-venomous snake demonstration from local herpetologist and tropical medicine doctor

• Enjoy an energetic and experienced team with additional discussions on altitude medicine and jungle medicine and operational planning

• Community clinic* (add on 2 days for this activity. We’ll coordinate and manage a clinic in a remote underserved community, providing primary care and education) (subject to the incidence of COVID-19 at the time)
  
  
  
  

INCLUDES:

• RED MED Course certificate

• WMS Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) credits*

• 47 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits

• RED MED uniform patch

• RED MED Manual

• Airport transfers

• 9 nights lodging, guiding, meals, manual, rafting and helicopter flights (as indicated on the itinerary);

Excluded: All Flights to Guatemala, airport taxes, travel insurance, gratuities, alcoholic beverages. Also, does not include additional days of travel or global rescue insurance.

COST:

Trip Cost: US $2,800

Accommodation & Additional single supplement costs:

Throughout the course, the allocated accommodation will be shared. This is not only due to limited hotel space in the remote areas we will visit but also to enhance the group atmosphere and dynamics, meet new people and share the experience. If you wish to have a single room for the duration of the trip, please notify us and we will attempt to facilitate this. The additional charge for single supplement is: $250

HEALTH/VACCINATIONS

See CDC vaccination guidelines for Guatemala: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/guatemala.htm ) and consider Malaria prophylaxis. 

INSURANCE:

All participants must have medical and evacuation insurance covering all activities for the full duration of the course. We recommend Global Rescue.

Delegates should be aware this is intended to be a wilderness course in every sense of the word. The team in some parts of Guatemala will be self sufficient. This is not a package holiday and the RED team cannot control mother nature. Should our plans be affected by floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions and the like, we will continue with alternate plans in true expedition spirit, affecting self rescues and problem solving along the way.