Wilderness Medicine

It’s important to be aware of the different types of heat illness, and their treatment principles, should an emergency arise—take a look at them in this post.

Summer means it’s time to grab your fishing gear and head outside. But have you checked the forecast—and do you know how to manage risk from a lightning strike?

At 6:30 in the morning some of your participants come and tell you that their tentmate is complaining of abdominal pain. As the WFR-trained course leader, you go to their tent to investigate.

Discover why the NOLS Wilderness First Responder course is transformative, equipping you with skills, confidence, and a new perspective on handling accidents.

In 1990, two people started a business that was remarkable for 2 reasons—most important because the business was dedicated to teaching wilderness medicine. Read on and celebrate NOLS' anniversary with 30 years of wilderness medicine history.

Five days into sea kayaking with friends in Prince William Sound, Alaska you feel lousy; some diarrhea, some vague abdominal cramping, not much appetite. You assume it's a touch of the flu and don't say anything. See what happens next and test your knowledge with this case study.

You and a friend are on a long run in the foothills of the Laramie Range in Wyoming. It’s a hot day. Four hours into the run your companion stumbles, slows, staggers, and sits on a log. He says he “feels awful.”

A trip participant has trouble on a rappel. When they are safely on the ground, you begin your patient assessment. Test your wilderness medicine skills with this case study.

When we travel into the backcountry with someone who has diabetes, it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, know how to provide treatment, and understand when we should evacuate someone.

When symptoms are hard to define, the skills of decision-making and problem solving become more important. Test what you know in this case study!

After months of planning, NOLS Wilderness Medicine will start running courses for the first time since suspending courses in March due to the global pandemic .

Do you know how to prevent, recognize, and treat a non-freezing cold injury (NFCI)? Test your wilderness medicine skills with this case study.

Knowing the SOAP note steps can help communicate accurate information to providers, which is especially useful now that more providers prefer a phone call before coming in with an ailment or injury

To reduce the strain on local health care facilities during a global crisis, you can step up and use your first aid training to treat some injuries at home.

Do you know the proper protocols for a patient with a suspected spine injury?

To reduce the strain on local health care facilities during a global crisis, you can step up and use your first aid training to treat some injuries at home.

See why a former camp counselor thinks all camp staff should have wilderness medicine trainings!

Take this Wilderness First Aid quiz to test your knowledge about basic WFA skills.

NOLS grad Kimberly Blazzard unexpectedly put her wilderness medicine skills into practice on a solo trip on the Appalachian Trail.

Do you know how to test an ankle injury for usability?

In March 2019, NOLS Wilderness Medicine and Landmark Learning partnered to hold a Wilderness First Aid course at UNC-Greensboro.

NOLS Wilderness Medicine Curriculum Director and Senior Instructor Tod Schimelpfenig shares first aid tips with Popular Science magazine.

The RV rental company Outdoorsy recommends NOLS Wilderness Medicine training as one of their top five picks for using paid time off.

In February 2019, Outside recognized NOLS Wilderness Medicine instructor Liza Howard for her outstanding ultrarunning performances. She says balancing a busy schedule of work, running, and parenting is key to her success.