​WEMS Basic Life Support Course Syllabus
   for licensed EMRs & EMTs

Part 1 
Independent Study Topics

General Topics
  • Wilderness EMS
  • Body Defenses
  • Basic Pharmacology
  • ​Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Patient Assessment System (PAS)
  • Patient SOAP Notes

Trauma Topics
  • Introduction to Trauma
  • Increased ICP & Concussion
  • Skull & Facial Fractures
  • Bleeding & Volume Shock
  • Respiratory Distress & Arrest
  • Stable & Unstable Extremity Injuries
  • Spine & Cord Injuries
  • Dislocations
  • Wounds
  • Focused Spine Assessment
  • Assessing Traumatic Problems

Environmental Topics
  • Dehydration
  • Sun Exposure
  • Heat Illnesses
  • Hypothermia
  • Cold Injuries
  • Drowning
  • Allergies & Anaphylaxis
  • Wilderness Toxins
  • Lightning Injuries
  • Acute Mountain Sickness
  • Diving Injuries
  • Sea & Motion Sickness
  • Assessing Environmental Problems

​Medical Topics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Circulatory System Problems
  • Respiratory System Problems
  • Gastrointestinal System Problems
  • Genitourinary System Problems
  • Diabetes
  • Seizures
  • Ear Problems
  • Eye Problems
  • Nose Problems
  • Tooth & Gum Problems 
  • Assessing Medical Problems

Practice Case Studies
Vertical Divider

Part 2
Practical Session Schedule

Class begins at 8 AM with a mid-day break for lunch around 12-1 PM, afternoon sessions tend to end between 5:30-6 PM. Evening sessions begin after dinner.
​
Day 1
  • Course Introduction
  • Basic Life Support Skills Lab & Simulations
  • 3rd Triangle (PAS) Skills Lab
  • Review SOAP Evaluation Process
  • Traumatic Video Simulation
  • Focused Spine Assessment Lab
  • Traumatic Video Simulation
  • Case Study Homework
Evening Skill Session
  • Adult & Child CPR & AED Skills Lab

Day 2
  • Case Study Homework Review
  • Basic Extremity Splinting Lab
  • Wound Cleaning Lab
  • Traumatic Video Simulations
  • Case Study Homework
Evening Skill Session
  • Injection Lab
  • Allergies & Wilderness Bites & Stings Quiz

Day 3
  • Case Study Homework Review
  • Advanced Extremity Splinting Lab
  • ​Pelvic Binder Lab
  • Dislocations Lab
  • Traumatic Video Simulations
  • Case Study Homework ​

Day 4
  • Case Study Homework Review
  • Spine Management Lab
  • Hypothermia Packaging Lab
  • Improvised Litters & Carries Lab

Day 5
  • Assessing Medical Problems
  • Medical Simulations
  • Mental Health Assessment
  • Mass Casualty Video Simulation
  • Course Debrief & Closing
  • Clean-up 

Part 2
Lab Descriptions

  • Basic Life Support Lab: Addresses all elements of the Scene and Primary Surveys.
  • Adult & Child CPR and AED Skills Lab: Adult & Child CPR, AED, and Obstructed Airway skills are reviewed and refined using mannikins.
  • 3rd Triangle Skills Lab: Addresses SAMPLE History, physical exam, & vital signs and SOAP documentation in preparation for full simulations.
  • Wound Cleaning Lab: Pig’s feet are used for training realistic wound cleaning and removal of impaled objects.
  • Basic Extremity Splinting Lab: Padded aluminum splints are used to improvise effective extremity splints using the buddy & cast splinting concepts. Requires a cut T-shirt roll and a pair of heavy hiking socks; the socks will not be cut.
  • Advanced Extremity Splinting Lab: Common expedition equipment is used to improvise effective lower extremity splints using the buddy, jelly roll, and sandwich splinting concepts.
  • Focused Spine Assessment Lab: How to assess and rule out possible spine injuries in a wilderness context.
  • Spine Management Lab: Lifting, moving, and packaging potentially spine-injured patients in one or more commercial litters. Includes pressure infusion bag for rapid infusion of IV fluids for dehydration or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
  • Improvised Carries Lab: Quick and practical methods for carrying out an injured patient.
  • Improvised Litter Lab: A daisy chain rope litter and stretcher are shown and practiced.
  • Dislocations Lab: Relocation techniques for indirect anterior shoulder, lateral patella, and digits are demonstrated and practiced. Jaw reduction and passive anterior shoulder reduction techniques are demonstrated.
  • Improvised Hypothermia Packaging Lab: Sleeping bags, pads, tarps or plastic sheeting, and water bags/bottles are used to improvise a hypothermia package.
  • Simulations: Role plays incorporating patient assessment & documentation. Makeup is used to increase the reality of traumatic simulations and cutable simulation clothing is required.