Polar Medicine Course

Norway

Course Dates

  • 17 February 2025 08:30 - 23 February 2025 17:30
  • 24 February 2025 08:30 - 02 March 2025 17:30

GBP £3,149.00


Are you seeking the ultimate adventure to test your expertise? Get ready for the most intense 7 days of hands-on polar medicine training as you’re immersed in Norway’s remote, frozen Arctic wilderness, with temperatures as low as -30°C.

Surrounded by the Northern Lights under vast Arctic Circle skies, our specialist explorers will share hard-won insights that can only come from surviving the planet’s most punishing landscapes:

➕ Essential protocols for managing hypothermia, frostbite, and more
➕ Improvising emergency treatment in brutally cold conditions
➕ Leading rescues across snow, ice and remote terrain

This course will refine your patient assessment, leadership, and teamwork skills by testing your limits. Bring these learnings back to elevate your practice, whether in frigid Arctic expeditions or everyday hospital settings.

Sign-up now for just a £500 deposit.

What to Expect

Our basecamp location instantly transports you into a special polar world. We’re located deep in Norway’s stunning Finnmark Mountains at the remote Ravnastua Mountain Hut, run by the same local Sami family since 1947.

10 miles from the nearest road, you’ll arrive by snow machines as the reality of the remoteness ahead sets in. You’ll learn hardcore survival and medicine protocols that will fundamentally elevate your practice. This polar crucible will imprint skills no textbook can – assessing patients and leading teams in -30°C extremes is training at the edge of boundaries.

Our world-class expedition faculty aren’t just experts…they have lived this lifestyle themselves:

➕ Doctors with extensive ice and tundra medical experience

➕ Expert local guides – masters of Norway’s extreme winters

➕ Renowned polar explorers who’ve survived Antarctica’s brutality

This dream team will imprint their hard-won knowledge into you over an intense week of hands-on extremes training:

  • Introduction to Polar Medicine
  • Equipment and Clothing for Cold Weather Environments
  • Hypothermia
  • Cold Water Immersion
  • Frostbite and Cold Injury
  • Pre-Expedition Medical Screening
  • Common Polar Medical Conditions
  • Risk Assessment
  • Medical Kits for Polar Environments
  • Managing Trauma and Medical Emergencies
  • Wound Care
  • Medical Scenarios and Simulation
  • Pulks and Kit Hauling
  • Tents and Camps
  • Kitchens and Stove Lighting
  • Navigation
  • Weather
  • Terrain and Route Finding
  • 3-Day Polar Expedition

Return home forever changed, overflowing with confidence, resilience and skills that will refine your practice for years to come.

Hear From Past Polar Attendees

We limit this course to 18 participants, ensuring highly personalised attention from our all-star team of polar experts which creates experiences like this: 

“Liv and Elsa, our Norwegian guides, completely exceeded all my expectations. The best bit was our team though, we became a big family over the week, learned from each other and didn’t only survive the cold but managed to have the best time together.”

“That ultimately we all have medical knowledge/skills that are adequate to be expedition medics & the main thing that we need to work on is being comfortable in the environment themselves.”

“Learning about the people that were part of the course, with some of the faculty in particular. Some of their stories were immensely inspiring.”

Be part of the next group to conquer the frozen arctic wilderness.

Key Facts

Is this course right for you?

This course is perfect for healthcare professionals and students interested in applying their clinical knowledge and skills to expedition and polar settings.

It is recommended that participants have attended our Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Course as the Polar Medicine Course builds on the key concepts and principles covered, adapting and applying these to this environment.

You need:

  • Basic navigation skills 
  • A good level of fitness
  • Basic knowledge of expedition planning

Accreditation:

  • Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh

CPD Value: 

  • We estimate 35 hours will be awarded for the completed course

What’s included:

  • Tutoring, accommodation and meals 
  • WEM care package full of essential kit
  • Skis, snowshoes and hauling equipment

What’s not:

  • Travel costs
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal equipment

Your Safety & Kit List Preparation

The comprehensive curriculum and field scenarios are carefully designed to push your limits while mitigating risks.

We take every precaution to keep participants safe by:

  • Rigorous gear checks before all expedition days
  • Mandatory evacuation insurance policies
  • Close coordination with local emergency responders

We recommend that you have completed our Expedition & Wilderness Medicine course (or similar) prior to attending Polar Medicine. This is not essential for you participation, but you should have transferrable outdoor skills to ensure you will get the most from this opportunity. 

Kit List
Temperatures can reach -30°C so having the right gear is critical. Please review our Polar Medicine Kit List and risk assessment guidelines before arriving. 

We’re happy to advise anyone on specific equipment needs to safely enjoy the life-changing experience ahead.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

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