AMC Wilderness Medicine Conference

April 20, 2019Department of Emergency Medicine

Director: Richard Trierweiler, MD, MPH, FAWM

Background

There is an increasing number of people involved in outdoor activities. According to S. Curtis et al

the number of activity days has increased from 105 to 140 billion from 2000 to 2007. According to

the 2017 Outdoor Industry Report, from 2007 to 2016 the number of people backpacking increased

from 6.6 to 10 million, people hiking increased from 30 to 42 million and trail running has increased

from 4.2 to 8.6 million. Backcountry.com reports that participation in adventure tourism has

increased 65% from 2009 to 2012. According to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, visitors to the

Adirondacks increased from 11.9 to 12.4 million from 2016 to 2017. With more people getting into

the wilderness, all would be better served by having familiarity with wilderness medicine to treat and

prevent the inevitable injuries that will occur with increased participation in wilderness activities. I

was not able to find any wilderness medicine conferences in Upstate New York or in the Capital

District Region, so this conference is fulfilling the need for a local conference and method of

disseminating information on wilderness medicine in the area.

Education

We will provide FAWM (Fellowship of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine)

credits for this event. The theme rotates over three years to maximize credits offered

for FAWM candidates.

Schedule

The conference will be at Double H Ranch on April 20th 2019. This location is ideal since it is in

the woods to allow workshops to take place outside and the cost will be minimal. It will also allow a

recruiting venue for the Double H Ranch which provides outdoor opportunities for medically complex

children who otherwise may not have them.

Schedule:

AMC Wilderness Medicine Conference

April 20th 2019

At Double H Ranch, 97 Hidden Valley Rd., Lake Luzerne, NY 12846

8AM Registration, continental breakfast.

8:30 AM Intro -- Dr. Trierweiler

8:45: Double H Ranch statement and recruiting

Lectures

9:00 Soft Tissue wounds/Burns: Dr. A. Crockett

9:30 Toxicology: Dr. Long

10:00 Diving/Baro Trauma: Dr. Thibodeau

10:30 Heat Injuries: Dr. Coleman

11:00 Animal attacks: Dr. S.Crockett

11:30 Marine envenomation: Dr. Lou

12:00 Ophtho: Dr. Perlmutter

12:30 Lunch (with water treatment demonstration)

Workshops (pick three)

13:30 Session A

1500 Session B

1630 Session C

- Improvised splinting, litters and transporting: Drs. Swinburne & Kleinschmidt A and B

- Intro to rope rescue or SAR: John Rollhauser A and B

- Medical kits, bug out bags, survival kits: Dr. Trierweiler C

- Splinting and ortho care: Dr. Chow B and C

- Lightning MCI: Dr. Schlein B and C

- Dental care: Dr. Drugh A and C

- Pediatrics in the Wilderness: Dr. O’Conner A

~1800 end

Registration

$20 for students/residents/EMS

$100 for attendings

$50 for other healthcare providers

Includes breakfast and lunch.

https://webadvisor.amc.edu/

Click on continuing education, then on “register and pay for continuing education,” then select the

wilderness medicine option.

References

Climate Weather and tourism, Bridging Science and Practice; S Curtis et al. Research Gate Jan 2009

2017 outdoor industry report; https://outdoorindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-Outdoor-Recreation-

Participation-Report_FINAL.pdf

Backcountry.com and industry report. https://www.slideshare.net/PaulBarnhurst/backountrycom-outdoor-

industrycompetitive-analysis

http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2018/07/n-y-tourism-industry-saw-increases-in-2017-

including-the-adirondacks/

All photos by R. Trierweiler or S. Reighart

Theme

Wilderness Medicine (WM) is the specialty of delivering care in remote places with

limited resources where access to definitive care is delayed (often defined as more

than one hour). WM overlaps with sports, family, emergency, international and

adventure medicine, ski patrol, and Search and Rescue, among others. This year’s

theme is summer/warm weather.