Wilderness Emergency Medical Response (WEMR)

The Wilderness Emergency Medical Response (WEMR) program is an advanced, immersive training program designed specifically for individuals who guide groups, lead wilderness adventures, or recreate in remote environments.

Unlike standard, urban-based first aid or CPR courses, the WEMR curriculum is built for environments where calling emergency services is not an option, and professional help could be hours or days away. The entire course is conducted in a rugged, outdoor environment, focusing heavily on leadership, long-term patient care, improvisation, and resourcefulness.

Course Format & Logistics

• Duration: 3 Days, 2 Nights (comprising 30 hours of rigorous course work and field simulations).

• Location: Sapangdaku / Babag Mountains, Cebu, Philippines.

• Environment: Immersive tropical wilderness setting involving wild camping with limited to no urban amenities.

• Physical Demand: High. Participants must be in good physical condition as the course requires a 1-to-2-hour hike into the mountains carrying loaded backpacks, navigating stream crossings, and enduring fast-paced outdoor scenarios regardless of the weather.

What You Will Learn

The curriculum stretches far beyond the basics, blending critical medical response with survival and rescue skills. Core areas of instruction include:

• Accident Scene Management: Establishing leadership, managing panic, and ensuring group safety during a crisis.

• Trauma & Wound Management: Identifying, stabilizing, and treating severe trauma injuries, open wounds, and fractures in the field.

• Extended Care & Patient Stabilization: Managing a patient over long periods when immediate evacuation is impossible.

• Improvised Field Expedients: Learning to utilize available wilderness resources and minimal gear to craft splints, bandages, and stretchers.

• Basic Life Support (BLS): A high-stress crash course on CPR, airway management, and choking.

• Survival & Bushcraft Fundamentals: Essential outdoor skills including knot-tying and fire-making, which are crucial for treating shock, keeping a patient warm, or facilitating transport.

• Legal & Ethical Responsibilities: Navigating leader responsibility and liability in remote environments.

Prerequisites & Age Requirements

Because of the advanced nature of this course, it is not open to absolute beginners.

• Prerequisites: Completion of Wilderness First Aid (WFA), a Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC), or equivalent outdoor activity/first aid training.

• Note: You will be required to upload photos or proof of your prerequisite certificates (JPG/PNG) during registration.

• Age Requirement: Open to ages 17 and older. Minors must be accompanied by a participating parent or guardian.

What’s Included & Gear Requirements

Registration Includes:

• Training venue and expert instructor fees.

• WEMR Event T-Shirt and giveaways.

• “Earnable” WEMR Certificate and training badge

Required Participant Gear (Self-Provided):

Because this is a realistic wilderness camp, participants must be entirely self-sufficient. You must pack:

• Shelter: A highly waterproof tent, tarp, or hammock setup. Tents are highly recommended to keep your medical and personal gear dry during training.

• Clothing: Sturdy hiking shoes or boots (must be worn at all times), a change of clothes, and reliable rain gear as Cebu weather can be highly unpredictable.

• Food & Hydration: Enough food for the duration of the camp. Day 1 meals must be ready-to-eat. Bring at least 1 to 2 liters of drinking water and a reliable water filtration system, though natural spring water is available at the campsite.

• Cooking Kit: Camping stove, fuel, and a personal mess kit.

• Illumination & Power: Flashlights or headlamps with plenty of spare batteries, plus a power bank for electronics.

• Tools & Safety: A sharp knife, bolo, or folding pruning saw (secured in a sturdy sheath), and an Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK).

• Training-Specific Gear: A rated utility rope (static or dynamic, 9mm thickness, 4 to 5 meters long), an orienteering compass, hand gloves, a rated PPE helmet, and a notebook with a pen. An optional rated seat harness can also be brought.

Why Take This Course?

WEMR prepares you for worst-case scenarios. It is highly recommended for mountaineers, search and rescue personnel, outdoor tour guides, and disaster-preparedness enthusiasts. The focus is heavily placed on managing situations with less gear and less-than-ideal surroundings, ensuring that you become a calm, resourceful, and capable lifesaver in any environment.