Wilderness Medicine and Humanitarian Work

Last week, Aaron and I sat in on the Wilderness Medicine
Institute’s Staff Meeting Sept. 8-10. I enjoyed the hearing the WMI Instructors
discuss the challenges and successes in delivering effective and useful
curriculum to students.

Laura “Glad”
McGladrey held a dynamic session all about how to handle working at remote
clinics in disaster areas. Glad handed out slips of paper to each WMI staff member
with all types of ailments written on them, from “can’t sleep” to AIDS. Staff
then brainstormed what supplies and assistance would be necessary for a successful
clinic in a disaster area without many resources. It was a reminder to me that,
like climbing or rafting skills, medical training can only useful when a person can
secure a warm shelter and clean water.

Rachel Harris, NOLS Development Intern, also attended Glad’s
presentation. Check out her article, “Do You Have What It Takes? Advice on Humanitarian
Work from the Field” in the fall issue of The Leader, out in November.