The SAR-Medic / SAR-Responder course is a 5-day certification course intended for volunteer and professional rescue personnel. The course covers the medical management of a wide range of conditions that advanced search and rescue medical providers should be able to respond to in a remote setting. Course topics include professional wilderness management of hypothermia and cold injury, avalanche, altitude related problems, patient packaging & evacuation, medical problems, submersion injuries, lightning stikes, wound and musculoskeletal injury, wilderness medical kits, etc.

Following successful completion of the curriculum, practical and written exams, candidates are awarded their certification based on their prior medical training: individuals with EMT-B certification or higher are awarded the SAR-Medic certification, while individuals with First Responder training earn the SAR-Responder certification. All candidates must already be certified at the First Responder level as a minimum requirement for course eligibility.

Advantages of Our Courses

Keys to Success

Our SAR-Medic curriculum emphasizes the medical abilities and knowledge needed by skilled rescue professionals.

Expert Instruction

Our instructors are leading experts in wilderness medicine. Learn from experienced, knowledgable instructors with a passion for austere medicine.

Certification

Gain credibility and open up new opportunities as a rescue professional with recognized rescue medicine certifications.

CME & FAWM Credits

Most of our professional courses include Category 1 CME credits and are eligible for Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine credits.

Interested in a course, but unavailable for the current dates? Sign-up to be notified of upcoming Wilderness Medicine courses and we'll send you an emil notification when the next course date is announced.

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Testimonials

  • The instructors were informative, encouraging, clear, helpful, and non-intimidating. Really enjoyed this course!

    AWLS participant
  • Excellent course! Nice diversity of instructors - all made fantastic contributions. I really enjoyed the mix of [...] medical expertise and backgrounds as it made for an even better learning experience.

    AWLS participant
  • SUPER WELL DONE!! Loved the practical skills sessions. I feel very confident now. The instructors were awesome! AWLS participant

  • I very much enjoyed the course and found it to be really informative. I particularly enjoyed the ample opportunity to practice - especially the night scenario.

    AWLS participant
  • Great! Good mix of teaching via lectures & skill sessions. Having many simulations was really appreciated & made for really good practice. The night simulation was FANTASTIC. Thanks for all of your hard work these last few days!

    AWLS participant
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