Contributors Luca Alfatti – Advanced Paramedic & Head of Operations for Medics4Ukraine Luca, a globetrotter and expedition leader, has traversed over 100 countries across 5 continents, combining his passion for travel with his expertise as a paramedic. His award-winning expeditions and community projects have been featured in various publications, showcasing his commitment to adventure and humanitarian causes. Luca’s recent role as Head of Operations for Medics4Ukraine highlights his dedication to delivering medical aid and training to those in need. Nestled along the rugged east c ..read more

Contributor Eoin Walker – Advanced Paramedic Practitioner & Pre-Hospital Lead Eoin has been a paramedic since 2004. He has worked for World Extreme Medicine as the pre-hospital lead for 10 years delivering education across the world from the jungles of Costa Rica to the deserts of Oman to the alpine mountains of Slovenia. The first thing any expedition medic will tell you is that providing healthcare in environments where standard medical facilities are scarce, inaccessible, or fundamentally limited is challenging. They will go on to tell you that this is compounded by changing wea ..read more

Almost every expedition kit includes base layers. As the name suggests, this is your initial layer and, in some cases, the only layer. They could be socks, gloves, underwear, T-shirts, and more. A base layer is meant to be snug against the skin, creating a secondary skin layer on your body. Some may prefer wearing these loosely, but it’s more about personal preference than performance. There are several key functions that base layers serve: Moisture wicking Thermal insulation Sun protection Comfort Odour resistance (for the garment, unfortunately) Base layers are often marketed as suitable ..read more

The humble bivvy (bivouac) is a firm favourite of people sleeping under the stars who need to be weight and/or space conscious. From military to mountaineers, bivvies can be seen in various forms across the world. Typically, a bivvy refers to a temporary, improvised camp using man-made or natural shelter materials. Anything from highly technical materials such as Gore-Tex and Dyneema tarp to tree branches and rocky ledges. Two mainstays of bivvies are the bivvy bag and tarp. These can come in various forms and a broad range of price tags. It is easy to get confused about what is needed or wh ..read more

Contributor Dr. Will Duffin – Joint Medical Director & GP Will is a jobbing Devon based GP, educator and adventure addict. He has provided medical cover for dozens of very different expeditions and projects; including commercial high-altitude treks in The Himalayas and The Andes, a luxury Trans-Siberian private train, a reality TV show in the South Pacific and he has worked with UNICEF out in forgotten corners of Myanmar. Managing the pain of acute trauma in wilderness settings has historically been a tricky area. Many expeditions don’t carry strong opioids due to difficulties with ..read more

An Expedition Medic is quickly becoming one of the hottest career choices for medical professionals. Find out what the role involves, what training is available, and where to find exciting new career opportunities. What is an Expedition Medic? Expedition Medics are responsible for the physical and psychological wellbeing of people during expeditions, often in austere environments where access to medical services is limited, or in some cases, non-existent. Expedition Medics need to evaluate, prioritise, and conduct preliminary treatment of acute injuries or illnesses until emergency evacuation ..read more

Our internationally renowned Expedition and Wilderness Medicine courses are designed to be the most comprehensive introductory training course a medic can be part of. Opening up a new world of extreme medicine, we believe they make the perfect ‘entry-level’ for any aspiring medic looking to mix adventure into their career. Using the hilltops of the UK and Slovenia as your training ground, the WEM faculty team, who bring an incredible wealth of exploration knowledge and working in austere environments to the course, will introduce you to the exciting world of expedition and wilderness medicine ..read more

As an Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant based on the Island of Unalaska/Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, Sarah Spelsberg knows the value of being prepared in remote and challenging environments. One lesson she learned the hard way was the importance of properly purifying water while out in the wild. After falling ill with giardia for two weeks due to improperly purified water, she gained a newfound appreciation for the significance of this crucial skill.  In this blog, Sarah will share her insights on the essential nature of water purification and the techniques you can ..read more

‘Improvise, adapt and overcome’ is the old adage in survival circles. But exactly what role does improvisation have in the coal-face practice of extreme medicine? What Exactly is Improvisation Medicine? “In 2016 my wife and I worked on a paediatric unit of a small regional hospital in Myanmar for 6 months. The store cupboard was filled to bursting with expensive kit that had been donated by various NGO’s and charities. Much of it was gathering dust as there was no way of procuring spare parts or maintenance. However, I was in awe of how the local staff were able to keep things going. They fou ..read more

In expedition & wilderness medicine, medevac happens when you least expect them. At very short notice, you might be expected to travel with a sick patient to the nearest health facility that may even involve an international medevac, meaning you might be jumping on a plane and heading overseas. → Join a World Extreme Medicine training course to learn medevac essentials and more!  It’s important that you’re ready. One way of doing this is to put together a grab bag. Watch Medical Director, Dr Will Duffin, explain what essential items you should include in your grab bag. What is Medeva ..read more