An Autumn Day

One hallmark of Wilderness Medicine Institute courses is our realistic scenario-driven curriculum. WMI Instructor Daniel Dekay shares an example of a scenario from a Wilderness EMT course going on right now in Yosemite National Park.

   “We got up early, had breakfast and fed the dog, packed a daypack.  Jerry said, “don’t forget to fill the thermos with hot chocolate”….. we were off for a long awaited hike with some friends”.

   Mara, Jerry and several others were taking a bus to Badger Pass area for a long day of hiking and enjoying the crisp sunshine of Yosemite National Park. The bus followed a snowplow as it made its way up the mountain road through yellowing oaks and tall pines.  Dozing in the back as the bus rumbled along, all was well for Mara and Jerry.   

   Suddenly the brakes screeched, the bus swerved, and there was the sound of metal against metal, and breaking glass.  The white Volvo stationwagon had crossed over into the oncoming lane, colliding head-on with the snowplow.  The bus smashed into the back of the plow, throwing many of the passengers into the aisles.   Screams, shouts and chaos ensued.  Through the front window of the bus Mara could see a cloud of smoke coming from the direction of the Volvo.  Many were hurt, some already unconsious, a trickle of blood seeped along the tilting bus floor. 

   Stay tuned to find out how what happens next to Mara, Jerry and their friends.