What is Wilderness Medicine?

 

Wilderness medicine is practising medicine in any setting where help is far away, such as in remote locations, in extreme weather conditions or in difficult terrain, such as mountains, deserts or jungle.

 

How did it start?

Healthcare practitioners have always worked in harsh environments where definitive care is ‘more than an hour away’, all around the world. However, the concept of wilderness medicine was born in California, where the world’s leading organisation was founded in 1983. This was a group of people who shared a passion for adventure and recognised the need for educating, supporting and researching healthcare in the wilderness. This led to the formalisation of information and teaching about aspects of expedition and disaster medicine, wilderness trauma, search and rescue, cold, heat and altitude illness, and health risks and safety issues in mountains, jungles, deserts and oceans.

Healthcare professionals can pursue careers in expedition medicine for example, or do voluntary relief-work. These require a different skill set to that of a hospital worker, but that isn’t to say that the skills and experience are unconnected. All around the world professionals commonly volunteer their time and skills alongside their normal job, for the benefit of others. In the UK, these include such organisations as the RNLI, Mountain Rescue, Air Ambulances and BASICS doctors.

So what does a student group do?

Dedicated wilderness medicine groups exist in many different countries, including many student groups, like ours, at UK universities. Together we aim to learn about and experience this distinctive type of healthcare. Most of all, we are people interested medicine, particularly pre-hospital and acute care with a passion for enjoying, protecting and exploring the outdoors safely.

Our society aims to give any Newcastle student with an interest in this type of healthcare the opportunity to travel into the great British wilderness, develop navigation skills, receive teaching and build hands-on experience, all in challenging and high pressure scenarios.

Most of all, it is an enthusiastic, fun and a very friendly group of people enjoying their passions together. Why not get involved today?