WEMT Course Under Way

With the passing of the equinox our WEMT courses take a turn for better environmental challenges.  Case in point?  Snow!  That’s right, even here in the high desert the weather can add extra challenges to the task of providing quality patient care. 

Today is day 6 of our fall WEMT course here in the Lander hometown.  Our 30 students learned their patient assessment system last week, and had the opportunity to hone their skills in the balmy late summer 70 degree weather.  Over the weekend, however, the front moved in and we were greeted with the first snowstorm of the season!  Not wanting to miss the opportunity to challenge themselves, the students asked if we could delay class in order to head outside into the storm.  Little did they know, that was the plan from the moment the white stuff started falling. 

As they geared up to head out on their rescue, sleeping bags and plastic tarps were added to the equipment arriving on scene.  After a few minutes of adjusting to the challenges of performing assessments on wet, cold patients, the lightbulbs went on and the tarps were put to use as mini-shelters.  Each rescue team found itself ensconsed in the steamy light of its newfound plastic cave, and the assessments proceeded apace.  The injured horsepackers were assessed, treated and sent on their way.

The class returned inside to learn about musculoskeletal injuries having had a nice teaser of tomorrow’s topics– environmental challenges!