Expedition First Aid

Advanced Expedition First Aid Training for Expedition Leaders and Explorers

These Advanced 4 Day Expedition First Aid Courses are aimed at training outdoor professionals and travellers who operate overseas in wilderness environments that are far from help.

We have approached this course with our own vast experience of leading overseas expeditions knowing what situations you are likely to face and with what kit you are likely to be carrying. To that end the course is designed for first-aiders, but because you may find yourself in some pretty remote places with few resources readily to hand, with experienced medics and trainers leading this course we go beyond the realms of traditional first aid. We aim to give delegates on this course the skills and the confidence to face a whole host of situations from managing trauma to the very common problems of an upset stomach.

Not the right course? Try looking at our 2 Day Outdoor First Aid Courses.

Expedition First Aid (4 Days) – Course Overview

Day 1

Vital Signs 1 – basic information gathering
The accident procedure – primary and secondary surveys
Airway management
CPR – urban / drowning casualties
Choking
Shock management:

steristrips
haemostatic dressings
tourniquets

Day 2

Head and spine injuries
Chest injuries
Practical sessions:
- moving / lifting / straightening an injured casualty
- helmet removal
- fracture & dislocation management
- the broken leg – use of improvised traction device
Pain management considerations
Soft tissue injuries
Casualty monitoring and note taking
Practical outdoor scenarios

Day 3

Diagnosis – How to take a patient history
Practical Sessions:
- History taking
- Pain management
Common Medical Conditions
- Diarrhoea and issue of antibiotics
- Fever – including Malaria
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy and Seizures
- Heat illness
- Anaphylactic shock and use of Epipen / Anapen
- Abdominal problems (appendicitis, hernias, testicular problems)
- Snake bites
Rescue & Related Skills
- Organising a casualty evacuation
- Working with helicopters
- Radios, communications
- Improvised rescue & stretchers
- Jungle lost procedures & search & rescue
- Medical scenario & rescue exercise

Day 4

High and Cold Environments
Altitude sickness – medication & portable altitude chambers
Hypothermia, frostbite and immersion
Expedition medical planning
Immunisations and Antimalarials
Pre-existing medical cases – group work
Legal issues
Outdoor practical scenarios
Written exam
Debrief

Price: £520

Course fee includes First Aid Manual and First Aid Certificate valid for three years.

Package

Interactive hands on practical training indoors and out
Use of recommended first aid kit
Easy to follow individual course booklet
An accredited, recognised Advanced Outdoor First Aid Certificate valid for 3 years

Current Course Locations

Peak District National Park / Sheffield

Course Leaders

This course is led by Will Legon and Dr Joe Rowles.

Will has led student expeditions and treks for adults to all corners of the globe from South America to Mongolia for well over twenty years and has been teaching Outdoor First Aid since 2010.

Joe is an Emergency Medicine doctor and former Special Forces soldier with an interest in pre-hospital, remote and expedition medicine. He is also hugely passionate about sharing what he knows!

Joe holds a Master’s degree in Austere and Military Trauma Science, Diploma in Immediate Care, is a faculty member for the Diploma in Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine and an Honorary Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Exeter where he is a module lead for the MSc in Extreme Medicine. He co-authored the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh guidelines for medical provision for wilderness medicine and is currently medical director for Survivor USA, the world’s largest reality television show.

Contact us for dates of upcoming courses, either by using our contact page, or by emailing will@will4adventurefirstaid.com

Read our booking conditions here

Guidelines for Medical Provision in the Wilderness Setting: This document was published in December 2015 in the Journal of Extreme Physiology and Medicine and is now available free online.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 242 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
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   Rebekah Cunliffe 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I did a first aid at work course level 3 with Will 4. Adventure and it was excellent. Very practical course meaning the skills you learn really stick in your mind should any event occur. Professional and friendly too!
  
 
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   Adrian Richardson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was a really well constructed course led by a great leader - who was well versed in the many problems that we might face. He had a sense of humour , ensured that we gained confidence in performing tasks in the difficult circumstances we might find ourself in. would recommend
  
 
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   ROBERT SYMONS 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I've done many first aid courses over the years and can honestly say this was the best! Very thought provoking and based on realistic scenarios.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ronnie Holmes 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent Weekend well organised really enjoyed it. Learn loads a brilliant team taught first aid.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andrew Mccarthy 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fantastic training. Really supportive and well informed course leaders. Really glad I chose this course as a Forest School Leader.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Eliza Stawinska 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazing course with Will! Kept it entertaining as well as very informative and plenty of good tips and scenarios of real life situations. Thank you so much Will!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Thomas Holland 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent training course. It was very thorough and informative. Will made the course enjoyable and importantly, rememberable.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Louise Platts 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I highly recommend their training! Will was excellent and made the day fun and very memorable! We had a lot to learn in 1 day and it was delivered in a clever way so we won't forget. Very useful day and I fee much more confident if I ever had to help someone in an emergency. Thanks very much.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Victoria Hurst 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would highly recommend the two-day Outdoor First Aid course. Although the content is to be taken seriously, Stu made it engaging, enjoyable and memorable throughout. The outdoor practical scenarios put everything we learnt in the classroom into practice and massively built my confidence on how to handle real life situations. A brilliant course from start to finish - I’ll definitely be back!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   mop c 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Will has an incredible wealth of knowledge and first hand experience about Outdoor First Aid which makes for a truly indepth-and comprehensive 3-day course. Stretching our minds further than the UK into what it would take for us to be prepared in our over-seas outdoor adventures. With a variation of teaching methods, and practical hands on tasks, we were taken into scenaries where we constantly questioned our strategies and techniques in delivering that immediate care. Whether it's stuck at altitude in the Himalayas, broken femurs in the Highlands, anaphaltic shock offshore, or simply a tweaked ankle in your local park; this course will teach you how to handle a casualty outdoors. Keeping them safe, warm, and alive. I highly recommend this course.
  
 
  
  
 
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