Receive 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, February 25, 2023 | 7:30 am to 3:45 pm |
Sunday, February 26, 2023 | 12:15 pm to 3:45 pm |
Monday, February 27, 2023 | 12:15 pm to 3:45 pm |
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 | 12:15 pm to 3:45 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.
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.
To register for AWEP, you must be registered for the main conference.
Saturday, February 25, 2023
7:30 am - 8:00 am
Continental Breakfast
8:00 am - 8:15 am
Introductions, Course Overview
Scene safety
- Initial (primary) patient assessment with wilderness approach to the "A, B, Cs"
- Triage and prioritizing care
- Techniques for rolling and moving a victim
- Single rescuer considerations
- Scene management and roles of team members
- Communication & scene management
10:15 am - 10:30 am
Break
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Packaging, Lifting, Moving Patients in the Wilderness or Austere Environment
- Clearing and protecting the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spin in the wilderness
- Improvising a cervical collar
- Assessment of pelvis and hip, diagnosis, and management
- Long term evacuation considerations
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Lunch on Own
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Rescue in the Backcountry: Improvised Medical Trauma Care (with 15” break)
- Carries and evacuation techniques
- Cocoon wrap with litter construction
- Considerations for packaging and carrying a patient
2:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Break
2:15 pm - 3:45 pm
Improvised femoral traction splints
- Shoulder reduction and stabilization

Sunday, February 26, 2023
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
Improvised Trauma & Ortho Care
- Use & application of tourniquets
- Improvised splinting using malleable aluminum splints
1:15 pm - 2:30 pm
Wilderness Rescue - Ropes & Knots
- Introduction to ropes & knots for rescue & medical care
- Making an improvised harness
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm
Break
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
Airway Management & Fluid Resuscitation Skills
- Airway management considerations
- Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways
- Vascular access
- Intraosseous (IO) needles

Monday, February 27, 2023
12:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Backcountry Soft Tissue and Wound Management
- Considerations for cleaning wounds in the back country
- Wound closure techniques for those that suture and for those that don’t
- Blister Management
- Equipment and supplies for a wound care kit
12:45 pm - 2:30 pm
Intro to Commercial Rescue Systems with Practice Stations
- Demonstration of a vacuum litter for evacuation
- Active bleeding station
- Ortho station (shoulder, pelvis, femur, C-spine collar
- Airway station
- Cocoon wrap with litter construction station
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm
Break
2:45 pm - 3:45 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

Tuesday, February 28, 2023
12:15 pm - 1:30 pm
Scenario Dress Rehearsal - Dry Run
- Command incident and scene management
- Division and use of equipment
- Communication and prioritizing evacuation of victims
- Debrief dry run scenarios with Q & A
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Aeromedical
- Landing zones
- Safety when working around a helicopter in wilderness environments
- Preparing a patient for helicopter evacuation
2:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Break
2:15 pm - 3:30 pm
Scenarios
- Participants will be responsible for assessing, stabilizing, and managing multiple victims with simulated injuries or illnesses using commonly available backcountry equipment
3:30 pm - 3:45 pm
Summation and Exam Instructions
- Instructions for online test
- Distribution of AWEP patches and farewell

UPCOMING CME DESTINATIONS BY DATE
The National Conference on Wilderness Medicine - Santa Fe
May 31 - June 4, 2023
Skills Course Rafting & Mt. Shasta
June 10 - 16, 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
Jan 27 - Feb 3, 2024
Classic Patagonia - Torres Del Paine
Jan 24 - Feb 4, 2024
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
Japan Ski & Snowboard Adventure
Feb 25 - Mar 2, 2024
Mar 17 - 24, 2024
Apr 1 - 11, 2024
Apr 14 - 24, 2024
Apr 25 - May 12, 2024
The National Conference on Wilderness Medicine - Santa Fe
May 29 - June 2, 2024
Skills Course Rafting & Mt. Shasta
June 8- 14, 2024
The National Conference on Wilderness Medicine - Big Sky
July 27 - July 31, 2024
June 3 - 8, 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
Sept 19 - 27, 2024
Oct 6 - 16, 2024
Oct 6 - 20, 2024
Oct 13 - 24, 2024
Oct 21 - Nov 4, 2024