US NREMT Paramedic Course

RMI is starting a paramedic course that certifies with the National Registry of EMTs based in the United States. This course is offered here in Ireland and in Texas.
Students who finish this course will be able to sit for the NREMT Paramedic exams.

Survival Medicine

   This week RMI was asked to give a talk on the medical aspects of survival. It is a subject that can range from the gun toting, fear-based, bunker living survivalist found in Montana and it can mean the permaculture, polytunnel living, hippy types.
   Survival Medicine is found somewhere between these two very different approaches to surviving the coming emergency.

Duct Tape and Safety Pins

Wilderness and Remote Medicine is practised in difficult environments with limited or no medical kit. A good medic will know how to improvise medical kit from common items found in an expedition ruck.

Paramedics in Northern Iraq

Here is an article about what civilian paramedics are facing while working contract work in Iraq. They face geographical hardships, working with limited kit and resupply but most importantly, the have to be continually aware of landmines.
Landmines are everywhere.

Wilderness Medicine Seminar for Irish Medical Students

   Last weekend on 27-28 October, Remote Medicine Ireland hosted 81 medical students from around the country for a weekend of Wilderness Medicine.
   The Emergency Medicine Student Society of Ireland asked RMI to conduct a weekend out in the wilds of Wicklow mountains. RMI gave them a weekend of fun and learning.

New RMI Instructor

Remote Medicine Ireland is pleased to announce that we have a new potential instructor Maria O'Connor. She joins us from County Cork but is originally from Ballybunion area of North Kerry.

Intro to Travel Medicine

If you find yourself in remote and exotic locations around the world it is important for you to know about Travel Medicine and what wee beasties are out there that can cause you harm.

Medical Kit List

In Wilderness, Expedition and Remote Medicine you don't always have a lot of medical kit with you. The kit you carry is what you have.
Here is a list of essential medical kit.

Foot Care for Adventure Racing

   There are the adventurous few who enjoy giving their feet a pounding while filling their head with endorphines. For these hardy folks it is important to keep your feet well cared for.

Prolonged Field Care

   For the wilderness and remote medic, casualty evacuation is often a long process. Sometime you may have your patient for a few hours or you may have them for several days while waiting for the weather to clear.

RMI begins to offer ExMed courses

   Over the past couple of weeks, RMI and the UK based ExMed have been negotiating terms for RMI to begin offering some of the ExMed flagship courses.

Clinical Procedures Course

In July 2012, Dr. Hagmann ran a procedures course for Deployment Medicine International. An RMI instructor was there to help Doc with the course.

RMI Paramedic Course

   This coming August, 2012, RMI will launch our first AREMT Paramedic programme. At the moment we have nine students enrolled and ready to start their adventure.

Degree for RMI courses

Diploma in Remote Medicine
Bachelors of Science in Remote Medicine
Master of Science in Remote Medic Practitioner




June 2012 
   RMI had a meeting with the faculty of the Limerick branch of Middlesex University. We are now another step closer to getting this academic option off the ground. We will be negotiating over the next couple of months until all of the RMI Core Faculty can gather for an academic meeting during the August RMI courses. During this meeting we will discuss and design each of these three degree options for RMI courses.

WFA for Scouts

Last weekend RMI taught a Basic Wilderness First Aid class for the Darrynane Scouts in Darrynane beach. There were 27 students ranging from 8 to 14 years of age.

Wilderness First Aid Level 3

   Last weekend RMI offered our first WFA3 course here in Killarney National Park. We had students come in to gain their certification requirements for either mountain leader or level three kayaking instructor.

Wilderness First Aid Course

RMI offered a WFA course this past weekend in the Killarney National Park's Education Centre. During this course nine students enjoyed fantastic Kerry weather and earned their certificate in Wilderness First Aid.

Becoming a Remote Medic

Here at RMI we focus on the certification process to become a medical professional. We offer courses ranging from the First Responder up to the Paramedic level.
But getting that certificate is just the beginning.........

Improvised Stretchers

For those who find themselves deep into the wilds of Ireland and around the world, it is important to know how to do many things with what little equipment that you carry.

Traction Splints

For Remote Medics, dealing with a mid shaft femur fracture can be extremely challenging. Luckily there are some options for dealing with this injury.

Remote EMT Course March, 2012

In March 2012, eight students attended the Remote Emergency Medical Technician course held in Killarney National Park. The students enjoyed spectacular weather for March. The sun was out for most of the five days of class. 

WEFR Course February 2012

WEFR students and RMI Instructors

   In February 2012, eleven students and six past student helpers attended the Wilderness Emergency First Responder course held in Killarney National Park. The students enjoyed spectacular weather for February. The sun was out for most of the nine days of class. 

Most common ailments and treatments in Remote Medicine

   In the practise of Remote and Austere Medicine you will find yourself without a lot of kit, in suboptimal locations, without a great light source, and with rain pelting down from all angles. In this unfortunate situation you will still be required to provide the best medical care that you can. 


   This is some good information given by a doctor practising in Central America. He is one of the coauthors of Remote and Austere Medicine: An Introduction. 


   Below are the results of his experience in the provision of health care in various remote and austere locations. He treated nearly two thousand people over a 15-month period. The record keeping was a bit unreliable at times, but the following summary is reasonably accurate.


The Top 20 injuries:

1. Minor musculoskeletal injuries (ankle sprains most common)
   
2. Upper respiratory tract infections
   
3. Allergic reactions/Hay fever/Anaphylactic reactions/Rashes
   
4. Minor open wounds
   
5. Gastroenteritis/Vomiting/Diarrhoea
   
6. Sexual health/Contraceptive problems
   
7. Skin infections/Cellulitis
   
8. Mental health problems
   
9. Dental problems
   
10. Abdominal pain (2 confirmed acute appendix + 1 gangrenous gall
    bladder; no cause found. Renal or biliary colic were most common)
    
11. Flu/Viral illness
    
12. Chest infections
    
13. Major musculoskeletal injuries (fractures/dislocations)
    
14. Asthma
    
15. Ear infections
    
16. Urinary tract infections
    
17. Chest pain
    
18. Syncope/Collapse/Faints
    
19. Early pregnancy problems
    
20. Burns
    

Top 12 prescribed drugs:

1. Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)
   
2. Loratadine (and other assorted antihistamines)
   
3. Diclofenac (and other assorted antiinflammatories)
   
4. Combined oral contraceptive
   
5. Flucloxacillin
   
6. Throat lozenges
   
7. Augmentin
   
8. Loperamide
   
9. Nystatin (and other antifungals)
   
10. Hydrocortisone cream
    
11. Ventolin inhalers
    
12. Morphine 
    
    
    
                       excerpt from Survival and Austere Medicine: An Introduction.
                                                      Download it here

How to become a Remote Medic

   Many students who come through RMI courses ask this question. There are many pathways to the practice of medicine in remote and austere conditions. Let's discuss a few of the most common options.

Bosnia Clinical Experience

   In January, 2012, an RMI instructor traveled to Sarajevo to have seven days of clinical experience on the ambulance service. The location has a large call volume of 999 calls as well as general practice treatment.

Blister care

   For the adventurous types foot care and treatment for blisters are a large part of our medical practise. Blisters can be debilitating and bring to an end an expedition.

Survival Blanket Review

   For those who spend a lot of time out in the rugged areas of the world, hypothermia is one of the constant threats that we face. As a Remote Medic it is important to have the best kit available to treat hypothermic casualties.