Wilderness Medical Team - Enhancing Backcountry Rescue Operations

SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Aug 13, 2024 - The Wilderness Medical Team, a specialized unit within Wyoming Regional EMS (WREMS), is making significant strides in enhancing backcountry rescue operations through rigorous training, strategic partnerships, and innovative medical practices.

Advanced Training and Physical Fitness

All members of the Wilderness Medical Team are certified in either Basic or Advanced Wilderness Life Support, depending on their licensure level. This advanced training includes comprehensive classroom education on various assessments, risk factors, disease and injury types, and treatments specific to the wilderness environment. In addition to their medical training, team members must meet national standards that ensure they possess the physical fitness required to operate safely in challenging wilderness conditions. For example, they must be able to hike quickly over extended distances while carrying heavy equipment loads, ensuring they do not pose a risk to themselves or other rescuers.

Extensive Hands-On Skills and Partnerships

The team engages in extensive hands-on skills training focused on survival, search and rescue operations, and regularly performs functional exercises with Sheridan Area Search and Rescue (SASAR) to maintain a strong working relationship. Through this partnership, the Wilderness Medical Team mobilizes immediately whenever SASAR is activated. SASAR retains command of the incident, while the Wilderness Medical Team integrates seamlessly into their operations. In rescues where there is a known patient and location, the team inserts into the backcountry alongside SASAR to begin patient care immediately. During searches with unknown whereabouts and conditions of the subject, the team stages at a location where they can rapidly deploy if the subject is located or if a SASAR member is injured.

Specialized Equipment and Medical Practices

The team carries specialized equipment tailored for wilderness environments, including extra supplies, medications, and adapted medical practices to ensure effective treatment in remote settings. With a roster of 15 members, including 7 advanced life support providers and 8 basic life support providers, the team is well-equipped to handle a variety of medical emergencies in the backcountry.

Operational Success and Commitment

After extensive planning and training with SASAR, the Wilderness Medical Team began responding to calls in June 2023. Since then, they have responded to 8 incidents in 2023 and 11 incidents in Sheridan County in 2024, in addition to being deployed to 2 other incidents in surrounding counties. In 2024 alone, the team has completed over 410 hours of hands-on training, excluding individual education and work conducted on their own time or while on shift. As they continue to respond to emergencies and refine their skills, the Wilderness Medical Team remains committed to providing exceptional care and support in the most challenging environments.

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