Wilderness EMT (WEMT)
Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) is the highest level of civilian certification for backcountry medicine. The first three weeks are spent in the EMT curriculum, building foundational pre-hospital skills and knowledge. The last week focuses on implementing these skills in challenging settings and learning wilderness rescue skills as students earn their wilderness upgrade.
Overview
Emergency Medical Technician – Basic (EMT-B): 240 Hours
This 24-Day course consists of the Department of Transportation EMT curriculum condensed into an intensive, three-week program. Students learn how to communicate with patients, assess airway, breathing and circulation issues, control incident sites, and perform emergency medical techniques. They also learn how to perform proper single-rescuer care with limited patient access and practice safe transport methods. The course includes hands-on, practical skills scenarios, classroom lectures, and clinical observations at local EMS services and emergency departments. American Safety and Health Institute Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR is included. NAEMT certified Emergency Vehicle Operator Safety (EVOS) driving course is also included. More information about this course is available here.
Following successful completion, students qualify to take the North Carolina State EMT Exams and/or National Registry EMT Exam.
Wilderness Module: 40 Hours
This module focuses on patient access, assessment, care, and evacuation in remote environments. Students learn how to provide high-quality care with limited resources and without access to an ambulance. The course builds on the medical training of the EMT-B and expands students’ tool kits. Wilderness topics include search and rescue, survival skills, and rope rescue. Students earn their WEMT certification after successful completion of both courses. More information about this course available here.
Following successful completion of both courses, students gain a two-year SOLO WEMT certification and two-year CPR certification. It is up to each individual student to gain their North Carolina State EMT and National Registry EMT certifications.
What You’ll Learn
Emergency Medical Technician - Basic
- Perform patient assessment
- Respond to airway, breathing, and circulation issues
- Control incident sites
- Perform emergency medical techniques.
- How to perform proper single-rescuer care with limited patient access and practice safe transport methods
Wilderness Module
- Patient access, assessment, care, and evacuation in remote environments
- Providing high-quality care with limited resources and without access to an ambulance
- Search and rescue
- Survival skills
- Rope rescue
Skills & Materials Covered
- Classroom Sessions (Covering the DOT National Registry & NC Requirements)
- Practical Skills Labs (National Registry and NC Psychomotor Test Requirements)
- Clinical rotations at a local EMS Departments (Required for Patient Contact Hours & Skills)
- CPR & AED Basic Life Support Certification for Healthcare Professionals
- NAEMT EVOS Driver Certification (new in 2021)
Upon Successful Completion
- 2-year Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician certification
- Certificate of completion for 240-hour state and nationally-certified Emergency Medical Technician course (qualification for
- NREMT/NCEMS written test)
- NREMT psychomotor testing
- 2-year Basic Life Support certification
- NAEMT EVOS driver certification
Course Topics
- Barotrauma and Marine Bites & Stings
- Case Histories and Mock Rescues
- Dehydration
- Frostbite
- Heat Exhaustion
- Heat Stroke
- Hypothermia
- Musculoskeletal Injuries
- North American Bites & Stings
- Principles of Long-Term Patient Care
- Severe Weather, Lightning & Avalanche
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Wilderness Patient Assessment System
What to Expect
This 30-Day course combines the Department of Transportation EMT curriculum condensed into an intensive, three-week program, with an additional 5 days of Wilderness Module focusing on patient access, assessment, care, and evacuation in remote environments.
Dates
Registration for EMT closes three weeks prior to the start of class. A $400 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking.
Dates | Location | |
---|---|---|
Jan 30-Mar 2, 2025 | Bryson City, NC | |
Jun 12-Jul 13, 2025 | Bryson City, NC | |
Sep 11-Oct 12, 2025 | Bryson City, NC |
Location
Before You Visit
- All course materials
- Professionally trained instructors
Please plan to have clothing appropriate to the season in which you will be taking the class, as you will spend a significant amount of time outside. The following list is to SUPPLEMENT the clothing you will be wearing. If you have trouble locating some of these items please call us as we have a limited amount for a loan.
Recommended Gear List
EMT Intensive course:
• Textbook (provided by SOLO SE)
• Approved clothing for clinicals (see above)
• Waterproof Jacket
• Wristwatch with seconds displayed (cell phone is not sufficient)
• Pens and any other office supplies necessary for studying (notebooks, highlighters, sticky- notes, etc.)
• Clothing appropriate to the weather for hands-on scenarios
Wilderness EMT (as above and…):
• Backpack for carrying gear (medium to large)
• Rain gear (tops and bottoms)
• Layers of clothing (for splinting exercises and to keep yourself warm during scenarios)
• Warm hat or sun hat (depending on season)
• Water bottles (at least 1 quart/liter)
• Head lamp or flashlight
• Footwear appropriate to the terrain (closed toes, no flip flops)
• Insect repellent (seasonal)
• Sunscreen (seasonal)
• Clothing that could be worn on a rafting trip (seasonal)
Additional items (not required):
• Old sleeping bag or blanket
• Footwear you don’t mind getting wet
• Knife
• Plastic tarp or groundsheet (min 6’x 6’)
• Sleeping pad (ensolite or thermarest)
• Personal first aid kit (Band-Aids etc.)
• Some of our scenarios may be water based; if you have your own wetsuit, PFD, water shoes, splash gear etc. please feel free to bring them, although we will supply all necessary gear free of charge
Prerequisites: Due to the intense nature of the course, students must meet the following requirements:
**Update: A full COVID-19 vaccination is required for all students in EMT or WEMT Courses.
- Minimum age of 18 years
- High School Diploma or GED
- No felony convictions
- Childhood vaccinations, Hep B series, and a negative TB test within 6 months of the course start date
- Ability to negotiate all types of terrain, in all weather conditions
There are many factors that may exclude individuals from taking this course. For the safety of students and instructors, all required forms must be completed before the start date. These forms are available by contacting the SOLO Southeast office at 828-475-7215.
NOC is home to two onsite restaurants, and hours vary seasonally. View hours for River’s End Restaurant and Big Wesser. Snacks are available for purchase at the General Store.