Advanced level intensive and hands-on training taught by leaders in Wilderness Medicine including, Howard Donner, MD, Sheryl Olson, RN/BSN, Eric Weiss, MD, and Larry Moore, MD.
Students will learn practical techniques and practice them in mock scenarios. Successful completion of course leads to AWEP Certification®.
AWEP Schedule At A Glance
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Saturday, July 29 | 7:30 am to 3:00 pm |
Sunday, July 30 | 2:00 pm to 5:45 pm |
Monday, July 31 | 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm |
Tuesday, August 1 | 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm |

Note: The AWEP schedule is designed to dovetail with the schedule of the main conference presentations.
AWEP Detailed Schedule

Course tuition: $545
Includes: 15.5 additional AMA PRA Category 1 Credits® all supplies, syllabus, breakfast, patch, and certificate
The AWEP Certification® Course is scheduled so that students will be able to attend all plenary sessions at the National Conference on Wilderness Medicine. Note: To register for AWEP, you must be registered for the main conference.
The AWEP Certification® Course is valid for 4 years and is the highest wilderness medicine certification we offer. AWEP is scheduled so that students will be able to attend all plenary sessions at the National Conference on Wilderness Medicine. Note: To register for AWEP, you must be registered for the main conference.
Saturday, July 29
7:30 am - 7:45 am
Introduction and Overview
7:45 am - 9:45 am
Initial Patient Assessment & Stabilization, Scene Management
- Scene management
- Field triage, examination, and assessment
- Treatment Priorities
- Stabilization of injured or ill patients
- Introduction to patient packaging
- Long term evacuation considerations
9:45 am - 10:00 am
Break
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Packaging, Lifting, Moving Patients in the Wilderness or Austere Environment
- Patient movement and transfers
- Clearing cervical spine injuries in the field
- Improvising effective cervical collars
- Pelvic fracture; assessment and management
- Hip dislocation; assessment and relocation technique
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Lunch
12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Rescue in the Backcountry: Improvised Trauma Care
- Carries and Improvised evacuation techniques, cocoon wrap with liter construction
- Improvised litter construction, packaging and carries
- Considerations for packaging and carrying a patient
- Femur fracture and improvised femoral traction
- Management of common backcountry orthopedic injuries; reduction and splinting
1:15 am - 1:30 pm
Break
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Rescue in the Backcountry: Improvised Trauma Care Continued

Sunday, July 30
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Backcountry Soft Tissue and Wound Management
- Considerations for cleaning wounds in the backcountry
- Wound closure techniques for those that suture and for those that don't
- Equipment and supplies for a wound care kit
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Intro to Commercial Rescue Systems
- Active bleeding and vacuum evacuation techniques
- Demonstration of a vacuum litter for evacuation
- Active bleeding station
3:30 pm - 3:45 pm
Break
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Airway Management and Fluid Resuscitation
- Airway emergencies in austere environment
- Vascular access including intraosseous (IO) techniques and fluid replacement systems
- Dehydration and hyponatremia
4:45 pm - 5:45 pm
Care of Traumatic Injuries in the Wilderness
- Assessment of a victim with head trauma
- Concussion management in the wilderness
- Management of chest injuries including pneumothorax
- Abdominal assessment and evacuation considerations

Monday, July 31
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Wilderness Rescue Part: Ropes and Knots
- Introduction to ropes and knots for rescue and medical care
- Making an improvised harness
3:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Improvised Trauma and Ortho Care
- Use and application of tourniquets
- Improvised splinting using malleable aluminum splints
4:15 pm - 4:30 pm
Break
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Practice Stations

Tuesday, August 1
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Scenario Training With Dry Run
- Scenario dress rehearsal
- Real-time critique
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Aeromedical (0.5 hr)
- Landing Zones
- Safety when working around a helicopter in wilderness environments
3:30 pm - 3:45 pm
Break
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Patient Scenario and Debriefing
- Participants will be responsible for assessing, stabilizing, and managing multiple victims with simulated injuries or illnesses using commonly available backcountry equipment
4:45 pm - 5:15 pm
Scenario Debriefing
5:15 pm - 5:30 pm
Online Exam Instructions, Summation

UPCOMING CME DESTINATIONS BY DATE
Mar 25 - Apr 1, 2023
Apr 7 - 17, 2023
Apr 20 - May 7, 2023
The National Conference on Wilderness Medicine - Santa Fe
May 31 - June 4, 2023
Skills Course Rafting & Mt. Shasta
June 10 - 18, 2023
The National Conference on Wilderness Medicine - Big Sky
July 29 - Aug 2, 2023
Aug 27 - Sept 6, 2023
Sept 1 - 6, 2023
Deluxe African Safari: Zimbabwe
Sept 2 - 12, 2023
Sept 6 - 16, 2023
Sept 21 - Oct 2, 2023
Oct 1 - 15, 2023
Fly Fishing for All Levels - Northern California
Oct 8-13, 2023
Oct 8 - 18, 2023
Fly Fishing for All Levels - Northern California
Oct 15-20, 2023
Oct 22 - Nov 5, 2023
Oct 23 - Nov 3, 2023
Fiji Multi-Sport
Jan 27 - Feb 3, 2024
Classic Patagonia - Torres Del Paine
Jan 24 - Feb 4, 2024
Northern Patagonia Adventure
Jan 25- Feb 2, 2024
The National Conference on Wilderness Medicine - Big Sky Ski Resort
Feb 10 - 14, 2024
Japan Ski & Snowboard Adventure
Feb 18-24, 2024
Marc 17-24, 2024
Apr 1-11, 2024
Apr 14-24, 2024
Apr 25 - May 12, 2024
Skills Course Rafting & Mt. Shasta
June 8- 16, 2024
The National Conference on Wilderness Medicine - Big Sky
July 27 - July 31, 2024
Deluxe African Safari: Zimbabwe
July 29 - Aug 8, 2024
Sept 1 - 6, 2024
Sept 1-11, 2024
Sept 11-21, 2024
Sept 12 - 23, 2024
Hiking Tour of Provence
Sept 19 - 27, 2024
Oct 13 - 24, 2024
Oct 21 - Nov 4, 2024