Wilderness Advanced Life Support (WALS)
What is a Wilderness Advanced Life Support (WALS) course?Wounded Bear Medicine’s Wilderness Advanced Life Support course (WALS) training builds on existing clinical medical skills to prepare providers for high-acuity, prolonged field care scenarios in remote and austere environments. Leveraging evidence-based protocols and hands-on practicum, our WALS curriculum emphasizes advanced patient assessment, clinical decision-making, and the integration of diagnostic tools and team-based care under extended care timelines.Wilderness Advanced Life Support (WALS)
4-5 Day Courses Offered | Private Group Courses Available
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Unlock Your Advanced Medical Expertise in Challenging Environments!
WALS is dedicated to harnessing the latest in medical knowledge and critical thinking. It is tailored for those operating in remote or resource-limited patient care settings. This specialized course was designed for advanced care medical practitioners by ALS Pactitioners. Wilderness Advanced Life Support is the pinnacle offering in Wilderness Medicine.
Advanced Exploration: Jump in to advanced medical care scenarios where resources are scarce and challenges are plenty. This course is meticulously crafted to empower medical practitioners with the skills needed to excel in extreme and unconventional settings.
Elevated Expertise: Geared towards certified or licensed advanced-level medical professionals who engage in or have an interest in rescue operations, mass casualty management, and providing care in remote outdoor or urban disaster environments.
Intensive Curriculum: 36-hour program is thoughtfully spread across 4.5 days to ensure immersive learning. From cutting-edge techniques to controversial discussions, you'll be exposed to the latest trends and technologies that shape modern medical practices.
Dynamic Learning: Experience a constantly evolving curriculum that stimulates your intellect and challenges your capabilities. Engage in robust debates, embrace new ideas, and discover how to apply them appropriately in complex medical situations.
Engaging Environment: Prepare to be captivated by a learning atmosphere that's both rigorous and enjoyable. This course isn't just education; it's an adventure that fuels your passion for medical excellence in the great outdoors.
Scientific Validity: All educational content in this program adheres to rigorous scientific principles. Every piece of knowledge you acquire is carefully reviewed and validated to ensure it aligns with the best practices in the field.
Answer the Call: If you're a medical practitioner seeking to expand your expertise and make a significant impact in challenging situations, this course is your opportunity. Join forward-thinkers and pioneers in the medical field who are driven by a shared purpose.
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Expertly Crafted Curriculum by Medical & Rescue Professionals
At the heart of our Wilderness Advanced Life Support (WALS) program lies a curriculum meticulously crafted by WMA’s in-house team of medical experts, rescue professionals, and dedicated researchers. WMA and Our commitment to excellence drives us to continuously explore and validate the most effective approaches to medicine and training in austere settings.
Rigorous Research, Solid Evidence: WMA takes pride in delving into the research, uncovering evidence, and building a foundation for their distinctive medical approach. The uniqueness of the program is grounded in the solid evidence uncovered, ensuring that every technique and strategy is thoroughly vetted.
Annual Updates for Cutting-Edge Learning: The WALS curriculum is more than just a course outline – it's a dynamic and evolving resource. Yearly updates keep it in sync with the latest advancements, ensuring that you're equipped with the freshest knowledge in the field.
Unrivaled Relevance and Peer Support: Our conviction in the WALS curriculum runs deep. We firmly believe it stands as the most relevant and peer-supported medical curriculum for remote and extreme environments globally. Join a community of professionals who trust and endorse our approach.
Example Outline:
Day 1 – Logistics and Introduction; General Concepts in Wilderness Medicine; Patient Assessment System (PAS) with drills; Critical Systems Summary; Anaphylaxis; Spine Assessment and Treatment with PAS Drills; Wrap-up
Day 2 – Homework Review; Pain Management; Musculoskeletal; Limb Splinting; Dislocation with Reduction Demos and Practice; Wounds/Burns; Thermoregulation; Small Group BLS Simulations; Wrap-up
Day 3 – Homework Review; Altitude; Cold Injuries; Lightning; Medical Aspects of Avalanche; ALS Tools/Appropriate Technology; SAR/Organization/Roles; Night Simulation
Day 4 – Homework Review; Drowning; SCUBA; Toxins/Vectors; Expedition Practitioner/Backcountry Medicine;
Day 5 - First Aid Kits; Medical Legal; Review; Wrap-up
Elevate Your Expertise: Enroll today to tap into a curriculum that is rooted in research, validated by peers, and designed to empower you in the most challenging medical scenarios. Your journey towards mastering medicine in remote settings starts here.
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By the completion of this course participants should be able to:
Understand the challenges and limitations of working in a remote/resource challenged, patient care setting.
Explain principles of preventive care for patients and team members when faced by environmental challenges.
Perform an accurate patient assessment when access to advanced diagnostics are not available
Utilize useful medical and basic rescue equipment often available in a remote/resource challenged patient care setting.
Via case studies and in practice during patient-oriented drills, demonstrate decision making ability for treatments and evacuations in remote resource/challenged patient care settings.
Decide which medications and equipment that might be useful and appropriate in a variety of remote/resource challenged patient care settings.
This course has been approved for Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine (FAWM) credits through the Wilderness Medical Society. Actual credits awarded depend on personal credit needs and history.
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Pre-course Study Guides will be sent to learners two to four weeks prior to the first day of the course. Each participant is asked to take an online pretest and complete case study assignments prior to the beginning of the course. During the course, mornings are generally devoted to homework review and lectures while the afternoons focus on skill stations and patient scenarios. Skill labs include basic and advanced techniques and equipment for common problems as well as critical systems emergencies. There will be an ongoing dialogue about mission-specific, appropriate technology/medications for remote/resource challenged setting There will also be videotaped scenarios using moulaged patients; one of these is done at night.
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Physicians, physician assistants, nurses and other ALS certified professionals may receive up to 36 hrs of AMA PRA Category I Credit through the Wilderness Medical Society.
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the Wilderness Medical Society and WMAI. The Wilderness Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Wilderness Medical Society designates this educational activity for a maximum of 36 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses: Most State Boards of Registered Nurses accept AMA Category 1 Credit as meeting continuing education requirements for license renewal. Nurses should check with their state board regarding use of CME Credit.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants accepts Category 1 CME approval from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Paramedics: The course is registered for 36 hours of continuing education credit through CAPCE.
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Participants must be ALS-trained with current certification, i.e.: EMT-P and ALS trained EMT-I, Physician Assistant (PA), Registered Nurse (RN), or Physician (MD or DO). Others admitted on a case-by-case basis. Following registration, we will send students the course ID number and password to access their online pre-course materials two to four weeks prior to the first day of their course.
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All teaching materials will be at no additional cost. Students will receive the following books on this course:
Wilderness and Rescue Medicine: A Practical Guide for the Basic and Advanced Practitioner
Water resistant SOAP Notebook
The Field Guide of Wilderness & Rescue Medicine
Wilderness Medicine Workbook
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Dr. Will Smith | Lead Instructor
William ‘Will’ R. Smith, MD, Paramedic, is a highly accomplished medical professional with a specialization in wilderness, rescue, tactical/combat, and disaster medicine. He is board certified in Pre-hospital EMS and Emergency Medicine and has extensive experience providing consulting, teaching, and patient care in various settings worldwide. He has practiced medicine on six continents, including locations like Baghdad ER and Easter Island.
Dr. Smith is the President and Medical Director of Wilderness & Emergency Medicine Consulting (WEMC), LLC, which offers a wide range of consulting services in the fields of wilderness and emergency medicine. He has been actively involved in overseeing medical operations, medicolegal case reviews, medical education, and planning comprehensive medical and rescue strategies.
Additionally, Dr. Smith holds the position of Emergency Department Physician and Full-Time Senior Partner at St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson, WY. He has held leadership roles in various committees and has supervised medical residents, students, and staff.
His military experience includes serving in the United States Army Reserve as a Colonel (COL) in the Medical Corps (Emergency Medicine). He has been involved in disaster response strategies and has served as the Disaster Medicine Branch Chief at the US Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) HQ. He has also contributed to various military medical efforts around the world, including deployments in Kuwait and Iraq.
Dr. Smith's educational background includes Emergency Medicine Residency from the Medical College of Wisconsin, Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Washington School of Medicine, and a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology/Pre-Medicine from the University of Wyoming.
He holds numerous certifications, licenses, and fellowships in emergency medicine, wilderness medicine, and EMS. He is also an accomplished speaker, author, and instructor, having presented at various national and international conferences and authored peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.
In addition to his medical roles, Dr. Smith is an experienced outdoorsman, with skills in mountaineering, diving, search and rescue, and ski patrol. He has received several awards and recognitions for his contributions to the field of wilderness and emergency medicine.
Overall, Dr. Smith's extensive experience, expertise, and dedication to his field make him a leading authority in wilderness and emergency medicine, both in medical practice and education.
Chris VanHouten | ALS Instructor
Chris is a nationally registered critical care paramedic with 30+ years of New York City Emergency Medical Service (EMS) experience.
Chris served as northeast regional (Region 1) faculty for the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) program, the pre-hospital battlefield medicine course used by all branches of the U.S. military as well as NATO. He instructs TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care) and LEFR TECC (Law Enforcement and First Responder Tactical Emergency Casualty Care) courses for local, municipal and federal high-risk law enforcement teams, as well as members of the Department of Defense. Part of his obligation as faculty for PHTLS and TCCC is providing oversight, instructor development and training site evaluations. He is also a faculty member for the NAEMT EMS Safety program.
Chris also provides instruction for EMT's and Paramedics, including new provider and recertification education for civilians as well as the SOF Community. Additional instructor certifications include but are not limited to: EVOC precision and performance driving, NAEMT PHTLS, AMLS, & EMS Safety programs, AHA BCLS, ACLS, PALS, and FEMA general topics instruction. He is also a contracted Wilderness Medicine Instructor.
Chris has recently developed a tropical/jungle medicine program to address DoD medical asset requirements to render aid in tropical and sub tropical locations.
Chris provides medical support for numerous local and federal law enforcement agencies. He is currently assisting in the development and delivery of custom tactical and austere medical programs for the DoD, Law Enforcement and EMS agencies that are in the process of developing and enhancing tactical medical response elements. Additionally, he has developed "team medical support" training with occupational health components as well as extended care considerations.
His free time is spent exploring wilderness and outdoor locations, hunting, fishing, scuba diving, studying ancient archeological sites, and performing mission medical work.
Anthony Stevens | Subject Matter Instructor
Wounded Bear Owner and WMA Lead Instructor. Wilderness EMT, Tactical EMT, and Teton County SAR volunteer. International Expedition Leader and Instructor.
Read full bio on our about page
KC Bess | Subject Matter Instructor
Wounded Bear Owner and WMA Lead Instructor. Wilderness EMT and Teton County SAR volunteer. Swiftwater, High Angle Rope, Static Ice, and Motorized Boat Instructor.
Read full bio on our about page.
Take Your Medical Expertise Outside!
Wilderness Advanced Life Support
Wounded Bear Medicine & Wilderness & Emergency Medicine Consulting offer you the pinnacle of education in wilderness medicine: Wilderness Advanced Life Support course. The most advanced level course offered by Wilderness Medical Associates International (WMA), WALS is designed to elevate your existing medical skills and knowledge to unparalleled levels. WALS has been tailor-made for certified and licensed advanced level medical practitioners like you who are driven by a passion for learning about and providing top-notch care in:
remote outdoor environments
crisis-stricken urban areas
rescue operations
mass casualty management
wilderness adventures
This course will equip you with the expertise to handle a spectrum of situations – from remote wilderness incidents to urban disaster environments. WALS empowers you to confidently manage medical emergencies in extreme contexts. Whether you're currently involved, or aspire to be part of such critical situations, WALS is the course for you!
WEMC Owner and WMA Medical Director, Dr. Will Smith, will be the lead Instructor for WALS courses.
Register for a Wilderness Advanced Life Support Course
Don't miss this chance to fuse your medical expertise with your sense of adventure. Be part of an experience that will leave you better equipped, more confident, and deeply inspired! Secure your spot now and unleash your potential, – are you ready to answer the call?
Sign up now to receive your early bird discount, regular rates will take effect after July 31st.
Bring a Wilderness Advanced Life Support course to your location
Contact Wounded Bear Medicine to learn more about hosting a WALS course in your home area.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Wilderness Advanced Life Support is a clinical training program that prepares medical providers and experienced responders to manage complex, high-acuity medical and trauma scenarios in remote settings where extended care and delayed definitive treatment are anticipated.
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WALS training is intended for licensed healthcare providers, including physicians, medical residents, nurses, PA’s, NP’s, RT’s, and ALS-level pre-hospital providers who are responsible for advanced patient assessment, management, and clinical decision-making in remote environments.
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WALS focuses on advanced assessment, diagnostics, and prolonged patient care using higher-level clinical skills and tools, whereas Wilderness First Responder emphasizes fundamental assessment and basic life-saving interventions for non-medical responders.
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WALS training generally requires participants to be licensed medical providers (e.g., paramedics, nurses, physicians) or to have equivalent clinical training and experience, as well as current ACLS/BTLS/ITLS credentials where applicable.
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Topics typically include advanced airway management, cardiac monitoring and interpretation, pharmacologic interventions in austere settings, advanced trauma assessment, decision algorithms for prolonged care, and team-based patient management under delayed evacuation timelines.
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No. Because WALS incorporates advanced clinical skills, it is designed for trained medical professionals or highly experienced field medics. Non-medical responders should enroll in Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid.
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The WALS course offered jointly by Wounded Bear Medicine and Wilderness Emergency Medical Consulting is a 5-day intensive course combining lecture, simulation, and field scenarios involving extended care timelines.
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Yes. WALS training prioritizes realistic patient assessment and management through hands-on scenarios, case studies, and clinical simulations that reflect delayed evacuation and limited resources.
All course content follows Wilderness Medicine Associates curriculum standards and emphasizes practical decision-making in remote environments.
Soap Notes
Medical Prep for Your Off-Road Adventure
Pre-made kits can be a great way to go but be sure you know what everything is for and where it is in the kit.