Wilderness Physical Therapy Educators

in partnership with Idaho State University

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Course Four

Medical Problems in the Backcountry

0.4 CEU - $125

An essential aspect of wilderness physical therapy is responding to emergent circumstances in remote environments.

‘Medical Problems in the Backcountry’ provides you with critical skills and knowledge regarding illness and emergencies in wilderness/backcountry settings.

Case studies and scenarios are used throughout this course to demonstrate situations where you might encounter someone who is unwell or showing signs of illness in the wild.

Enroll

To enroll, you will be prompted to first make an ISU profile. From there, you can login and take the course.

Course Topics

  • Altered Mental Status

    Identify common causes of altered mental status and treatment approaches in a wilderness environment.

  • Chest Pain

    Recall the key components of the SAMPLE history and examination of a person with acute chest pain. Learn first response treatment approaches for backcountry environments.

  • Abdominal Problems

    Describe the examination and treatments for common GI and GU problems encountered in the backcountry. Recall evacuation criteria for acute abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

  • Respiratory Problems

    Learn the key questions to ask a person with respiratory problems and discuss first response treatment options for acute respiratory problems.

  • Allergic Reaction and Anaphylaxis

    Review key signs of allergic reactions, including key findings to look for in a SAMPLE history and examination. Discuss clinical presentation of poison ivy, oak, and sumac. Identify anaphylactic shock and how to assist patients in self-administering their EpiPen.

  • Acute Neurological Problems

    Discuss signs and symptoms of acute stroke. Learn seizure management in a wilderness setting. Recall key findings to look for in headache from a serious condition and evaluation criteria for headaches.

  • Blood Sugar Emergencies

    Describe the physiology, clinical presentation, key concerns on examination, treatment approaches, and complication associated with hypoglycemia. List key equipment and medications that a person with diabetes mellitus should carry in the backcountry.

  • Burns and Smoke Inhalation

    Describe the mechanisms of injury for burns. Discuss burn evaluations and treatments in a wilderness environment. Review airway burns and smoke inhalation.

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Meet your Wilderness PT Educators

The Wilderness Physical Therapy Educators have over a century of experience in physical therapy between our team members. Our team boasts impressive experience both inside and outside of the clinic stretching from military, research, and children’s classrooms to yoga shalas, cliff tops in US national parks, and national conferences. Despite our colorful PT adventures, we found that our real passion lies in helping people like you find a way to live their dream of incorporating their corporate healthcare job with their passion for the outdoors. We can’t wait to assist you on this exciting adventure.

DJ, Karen, Darren, & Paul

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Questions?

We look forward to assisting you. Please email us at info@wildernesspted.com or see our FAQ page.

FAQ