This program focuses on teaching the specialized skills of wilderness rescue medicine. Student learning focuses on technician level rescue skills through rigorous field training in a wilderness setting. The Wilderness Emergency Medical Services (WEMS) program provides students with the confidence and competence to rescue and provide medical care to patients in wilderness or austere environments. This program goes well beyond a typical WEMT course providing ample training in rope skills, survival, outdoor leadership, as well as rescue in alpine, rock, & water environments. The program bridges the gap between medicine and outdoor education, perfect for aspiring guides or EMT’s who need the essential rescue skills for their outdoor career. Our WEMS program instructors are all professional wilderness rescuers who routinely work in EMS and search and rescue.
The WEMS program prepares students to work with organizations such as Search & Rescue, ski patrol, outdoor education and guide/outfitter companies, government agencies such as the National Park Service Bureau of Land Management, special operations units, & other agencies that require wilderness rescue medicine knowledge and skills alongside pre-hospital EMS training. The curriculum includes a blend of outdoor education courses and a co-requisite of an EMT, Paramedic, or RN certification. Credits earned in the WEMS program can also be applied to the Associate of Arts Degree in Outdoor Education or the Certificate of Completion in Outdoor Education .
Students will need a current EMT-Basic, Intermediate, or Paramedic certificate or RN license to enroll in the Wilderness EMT Upgrade course (EMS 162 ). Students can enter the program with a current EMT-Basic, Intermediate, or Paramedic certificate or RN license or take their EMT course at CMC while enrolled in the WEMS program.
Graduates of the program will receive a Certificate of Occupational Proficiency in Wilderness Emergency Medical Services.
The Wilderness EMS Certificate is offered at Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge. All students are encouraged to work with the WEMS Director, Brian Taylor, 970-453-6757 ext. 2624 for recommended course sequencing.
CMC also offers certificates in EMT-Basic , EMT-Paramedic as well as an Associate of Applied Science in EMT Paramedic .
This certificate program is not eligible for federal student aid funds.
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