Sudden injury or illness anytime, anywhere: Do you know how to care for an injured or fallen-ill loved one during the critical time waiting for an ambulance to arrive?

Never-trained through medical professionals will benefit.

Be Prepared; Train with the best

Mired in an urban disaster zone, rural living or car crash far from hospital, remote travel, or natural area miles from an access point … accidents and terrorism happen, and all-too-often members of a group are not capable of dealing with the emergency. Not only does this lead to improper care of the patient, but it also endangers the entire group. Studies have shown that many recreational accidents are preventable, and that improper care of trauma can compound even the simplest of injuries. Through our involvement in emergency medicine and rescue efforts, we at MEDIC SOLO feel there is a need for training for all people - training which stresses preparedness and prevention; training which encompasses all phases of off-road emergencies; training which focuses on extended care issues in prolonged transport situations. Very few first aid programs actually address the issues of providing emergency care in an urban disaster when 911 is overwhelmed or not reachable, or in a rural, wilderness, or extended care setting. In this course, classroom instruction and Q&A are interwoven with practical work and problem-solving exercises. Hands-on experience -- a most powerful learning tool -- during scenarios comprise ~50% of the class. You come away with actual do-it-yourself care-giving confidence.

Your actual hands-on capability and confidence to render emergency medical care depend on:

1. Curriculum quality


Other Schools' Curriculums

2. Instructor quality


MEDIC often hears sad reports of some other schools' instructors.

3. Class Not Cancelled



Sunflower


10% of Proceeds of Many of MEDIC's Courses Go To Local Nonprofit Community Organizations. How many other schools out there care this much about community and helping out, building meaningful cash donations into the school's basic functioning?


Casual Hiker, Actual Story


Beautiful October day at very popular Old Rag Mountain. Just ~3 miles in, you are expecting to finish hike mid/late afternoon while the sun is still up. Another day hiker injures knee, can't walk out. Rescue request is called in at 2:30pm. Patient reaches ambulance at trail head at 12:30 AM, 10 hours after rescue is called. Temperature dropped to 34 degrees, hiker and her group are thirsty, hungry, cold, in the dark with out light; the injured patient can't exercise to warm up ... If you came across this hiker and group needing help ... would you know how to treat her injury to speed recovery and minimize the potential for long term permanent damage, giving care for 10+ hours while also caring for yourself and the rest of the group which had prepared for only a day hike, without food, sufficient water, warm clothing, sources of light, and shelter? Accidents Happen. " Be Prepared." Register here.

Urban Disaster Preparedness


Earthquake / hurricane / tornado / derecho / tsunami / terrorist / etc. strikes: suddenly you and your loved ones are lost in a wilderness of brick, wood and concrete rubble, and you hear cries for help. It will be hours or longer before an ambulance gets to you because cellphone towers are jammed so you can't call for help; EMS is overwhelmed with countless calls; and/or you're buried and inaccessible ... What can you do to treat injuries and preserve human life during the hours or days it may be before rescuers get to you? Disasters Happen. "Be Prepared." Register here.

Medical Professionals

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) / Credits: Please use this file for your National Registry continuing education hours.

EMT Testimonial:

"I came into this, already having gotten my EMT cert, thinking I wasn't going to learn much but I was wrong. I learned so much. I like how serious the scenarios were taken (i.e. actual body paint used). ... [Instructor] Matt was great. He was entertaining to listen to and was very knowledgeable. He was so organized. I like how he would review the patient assessment system before every scenario. Was very open and accommodating to all questions." - anonymous feedback survey, 10/2014.

RN Testimonials:

"I have a 45-year RN career and this course is in the top 3 of the countless I've taken." - anonymous feedback survey, 9/2017

"Experienced professionals could greatly benefit from how to perform outside of facilities / ambulances etc." - anonymous feedback survey, 2/2019

Nurse making a case for wilderness medicine education:

[Prior to taking a wilderness medical course]: "Driving up a short incline toward a mountain pass, we watched helplessly as the man lost control of his motorcycle on a gravel-filled turn and collided with the guardrail at the edge of a cliff. We immediately pulled over and attempted to help him, but it was no use. He died on a lonely stretch of road far from the nearest hospital. Despite my extensive nursing knowledge and years of education, the care I could provide was limited. I'd read about wilderness medicine, but until that day I hadn't considered my need for it. My feeling of helplessness led me to correct that deficiency and ultimately made me a better nurse. ... The motorcyclist who died is never far from my mind when teaching or learning about wilderness medicine. If I encounter a similar situation, I'd now know exactly what to do: I'd apply the basic tenets of wilderness medicine. ... I've used my knowledge in many different situations and have been thankful for it. I've stabilized and arranged for air evacuation of a trekker in the Annapurna region of Nepal, been the first responder to a climber who fell in West Virginia, ... I've also used my knowledge of wilderness medicine in less-exotic locales to stabilize the cervical spine of a car crash victim outside of my home, remove a tick from my nephew's arm, ..." R. Bryan Simon, RN, CNOR, FAWM in his article "Making a case for wilderness medicine education," 7/2012

Physician Video Testimonial:

Excerpt from Phillip Ricks, M.D.'s 3/2013 video testimonial below : "I did this course principally to get continuing medical education credits … As a physician, I thought I would know it all, really, at least the principles and most of the care, but I was surprised by how much I learned, actually. I especially think that Matt's approach to explaining the pathophysiology behind the injuries and illnesses and therefore the rationale for how you treat, that was the best I've ever been around, period. I would strongly, strongly recommend … single best first aid course I have ever had, bar none."

College Credit Hour; AmeriCorps Education Award


Sterling College in Vermont offers course participants one credit hour for successfully completing (scoring a "C" or better) MEDIC SOLO's Disaster + Travel + Wilderness First Aid certification course, more simply called and known at Sterling as "Wilderness First Aid," in the course category of "Applied Sciences -- Technical Skills." This option is particularly popular among AmeriCorps Education Award recipients.

The process is simple:

  1. Fully register for the course you want to take (including payment which is what secures your spot)
  2. Contact SOLO Headquarters and tell them you're paid up to attend MEDIC SOLO's Wilderness First Aid course in [location] on [dates] and wish to receive a college credit hour.
  3. If you are *not* an AmeriCorps Service Member, you will need to pay Sterling College its one-credit course fee and transcript submission fee ($145 as of January 2020). If you *are* an AmeriCorps Service Member, AmeriCorps should pay the Sterling College fees directly, and should reimburse you for your Wilderness First Aid course fee.
  4. Score at least a "C" in the course, and you're all set -- Sterling College will mail a transcript to your college / university.