The Prolonged Field Care course is designed to provide candidates with additional skills and knowledge to better prepare them for the unique challenges of providing long-term care to casualties in remote environments.

These challenges include:

1. A greater likelihood of injury or illness - because participants are likely engaging in more adventurous activities and / or in more challenging environments.

2. A greater severity of injury or illness - because of the nature of those activities and / or environments

3. The added complications of long-term care - because participants are likely to be further from definitive care in therms of time, distance and access.

We will also cover the medico-legal issues of medication, invasive techniques and the provision of medical care abroad. This course will NOT cover invasive surgical procedures but will increase the participants capabilities and competencies in a relatively short period of time, not due a greater reliance on equipment, but with wider knowledge and deeper understanding.

Course Contents

Part One - Epidemiology of Injuries and Illnesses in Remote Environments

Part Two - Prolonged Field Care Principles

• Prolonged Field Care - an acronym for long-term care and monitoring

• Long Term monitoring including:

  • Basic vital signs

  • Blood pressure

  • Blood glucose

  • Urinalysis

  • Rapid Diagnostic Testing

• Hydration and Dehydration

• Managing infection

• Sanitation in camp

• Heat Illness and Hypothermia

• Medication - the administration and medico-legal issues

Part 3 - Medical Skills

• Managing Diarrhoea

• Managing Ankle Injuries

• SAM Splint Mastery

• Common Eye Injuries and Illnesses

• Spinal Injuries in Remote Environments

• Emergency Dentistry

• Intramuscular Injection

• Wound Management

Part 4 - Prolonged Field Care Scenario

• Each candidate will assess, diagnose, treat and monitor a different casualty over the two day duration of the course.