Alpine Medicine Course
Chamonix
23 September 2024 08:00 - 27 September 2024 17:00GBP £1,895.00
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Alpine Medicine Course, in the Chamonix Valley, offers medical professionals an unparalleled opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and skills in the field of alpine medicine, while experiencing the breathtaking scenery and unique challenges of the French Alps during the summer season.
Participants will learn about altitude medicine, crevasse rescue, avalanche rescue, wilderness first aid, and other alpine medical issues in a range of simulated scenarios. Join us for an unforgettable learning experience in one of the most stunning locations in the world.
Sign-up now for just a £500 deposit.
Other Alpine Medicine course locations:
Key facts
Embark on an exciting five-day adventure as you delve into the rich history of alpinism in the area and progress to hands-on training with expert members of the regional rescue team, the PGHM, High Mountain guides, and our passionate faculty.
Our course offers a unique blend of mountaineering skills, expedition medicine training, and first-hand experience with altitude and cold weather conditions, providing participants with the confidence and knowledge necessary to handle medical emergencies in high-altitude environments.
Join us for this summer season alpine course and discover the world of specialist expedition medicine.
- Location: Mont Blanc, Chamonix
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 alpine settings.
It is recommended that participants have attended our Expedition and Wilderness Medicine Course as the Alpine Medicine Course builds on the key concepts and principles covered, adapting and applying these to this environment.
CPD Value:
- We estimate 30 hours will be awarded for the completed course by the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
You need:
- Navigation skill
- A good level of fitness
- Basic knowledge of expedition planning
- Basic level of mountaineering
What’s included:
- Tutoring, accommodation and meals
- Ropes and climbing hardware
- Lift passes
What’s not:
- General travel costs
- Travel and health insurance
- Personal equipment
- Walking / climbing axes
- Harness, belay plate and carabiner
- Helmet
Travel insurance with mountaineering cover is essential for this trip. We recommend a suitable policy through the BMC or Austrian Alpine Club.
What to expect
You’ll start with a day of theory, workshops and a scheduled tour of the PGHM base before heading into the mountains to learn practical mountaineering skills, rescue techniques and put your newly acquired wilderness medicine knowledge to the test.
Throughout the week we’ll head out into the high mountains to learn how to move safely over glaciated, rock and mixed terrain. You’ll then spend a couple of nights in the high mountain refuge, using a ‘winter room’, fully immersed and making the most of staying at altitude in an alpine environment.
Throughout the course, content will be delivered through short, focussed lectures which are built upon, enhanced and challenged through intense, case-based scenarios. As groups, you’ll discuss and evaluate your performance allowing you to build your skills through each scenario.
Both the medical and expedition content is integrated to replicate the challenges of real expeditions. You’ll find this helps shape your thought processes and enable you to function in extreme and resource-poor environments.
Course content
During the course we’ll stay at an Auberge de Jeunesse, where we are able to use the grounds and teaching spaces for various workshops and skill sessions. The five days are spent learning but you’ll also have some time to explore Chamonix throughout the course.
We’ll kick things off at 9am on the 23 September, so we have arranged an night at the hostel if you arrive the day before. We finish at 3pm on the final day, giving you plenty of time to arrange onward travel.
Key sessions within this course:
- Expedition Planning for Alpine Environments
- Risk Assessment
- Personal Equipment
- Technical Equipment
- Avalanche Risk and Assessment
- Avalanche Rescue
- Medical Management of Avalanche Victims
- Trauma in Technical Alpine Environments
- Terrain Assessment
- Crevasse Rescue
- Overnighting in Alpine Environments
- Cold Injury
- Acute Mountain Sickness
- HACE & HAPE
- Navigation
- Rescue and Extrication in Technical Terrain
- Alpine Trauma Simulation
- PGHM Tour and Case Studies
What you need to know
Please note, all kit below is a guide. There is an endless amount of kit on the market and a huge variance in personal preference and needs. If you have any questions get in touch with the WEM team or consider our friends at The Climbers Shop & Joe Brown who can provide the necessary equipment tailored to your needs.
You need to be prepared for sun, wind and snow! When heading out into the mountains you must be fully prepared for all possible conditions. If you have any questions about kit, just give us a call or send an email.
- Hiking / Mountaineering boots – minimum B1 or B2 rated (will fit crampons)
- Base layers, upper and lower – merino or synthetic
- Light mid layers – thinner layers with zips/ hoods allow for greater thermal control
- Softshell trousers
- Hard shell jacket – Waterproof and breathable material. Gore-Tex or Neoshell recommended. No ski jackets with built in insulation
- Hard shell trousers – Waterproof and breathable material. Gore-Tex or Neoshell recommended. No trousers or salopettes with built in insulation.
- Light insulating jacket – synthetic or down
- Warm insulating jacket – synthetic or down
- Liner Gloves – merino, silk or fleece
- Lightweight glove
- Warm waterproof gloves
- Mittens
- Socks – Wool or synthetic.
- Beanie
- Neck gaiter / Buff
- Gaiters
- Casual clothes
- Crampons – compatible with your boots
- Walking axe – walking or alpine type
- Helmet
- Climbing harness with adjustable leg loops
- Belay plate and carabiner
- Ski goggles
- Gaffa/duct tape
Other gear:
- Backpack: 40 – 50 litres
- Head torch
- Compass – Silva Expedition Type 4
- Sunglasses – wrap around, minimum category 3 lenses
- Sun protection – SPF 50
- Lip balm (with SPF)
- Water bottle
- Camping bowl, mug & spork
- Electrolyte tablets (optional)
- Snacks of choice for daytimes (optional)
- Penknife
- Personal medical (paracetamol, ibuprofen, Compeed, etc.) / first aid kit
- Small bottle of hand sanitiser
- Pack Towel
- Dry bags
- Sleeping bag liner and/or light sleeping bag (for mountain hut)
- Money/cards for mountain hut
Talk To Our Team
If you wish to learn more or have any additional questions, we invite you to book a 30-minute discovery call with our team.
→ Click here to book a discovery call.
The call will be with the team who organise our courses, and work closely with our medical teaching faculty. They are best placed to really explain what our attendees get out of attending a course with us.
Register for a time that suits, and we look forward to speaking with you soon.
Prefer email? Then feel free to contact us or message us via our website live chat.
Learn From...
Jim Walmsley
