Pre Hospital Health Care Providers Learn Hands On Methods that Save Lives

The Ski & Mountain Trauma Conference offers training and education for those who care for the ill and injured

You can never be too prepared! While Idaho’s most casualty incidents in 2023 occurred on state highways, the rest of the country saw over 530 incidents in which four or more people were wounded or killed with guns. Those on the frontlines of pre-hospital care know that practice managing these incidents is critical.

One of this year’s highlights at the Ski Mountain Trauma Conference, held at Sun Valley Resort, included the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) workshop. This showcased over 15 casualties, with injuries ranging from compound fractures to multiple gun shot wounds. The attendees participating in the exercise were challenged to provide hands-on-care within the first 20 minutes of the incident with few resources.

“TCCC For Civilians was by far my favorite simulation” commented a conference attendee. “Very well executed and I appreciated the feedback and access to experts.”

Saint Alphonsus Health System began hosting the premier regional event for pre-hospital health care providers in 2006. EMS and fire agency personnel, ski patrollers, search and rescue team members, and wildland firefighter medics learn and train for all types of emergency scenarios. National experts in their fields offer wisdom and care techniques on topics ranging from toxidromes (poisons) to nausea in outer space and how to remain resilient.

Former NASA astronaut and flight surgeon, Tom Marshburn, MD served as the keynote speaker. A veteran of three spaceflights to the International Space Station, his enthusiasm and commitment to pushing boundaries encouraged conference goers to build their own confidence in patient care.

Other conference favorites included: the Heli-Hoist Packaging Demonstration conducted by the Idaho Army National Guard medics with their UH-72 Lakota helicopter; Rapid Fire Patient Assessments; Precipitous Deliveries and Managing Hypothermia and Frostbite.

The Ski & Mountain Trauma Conference offers training and education for those who care for the ill and injured, often in remote and austere environments. Presenters, instructors, volunteers and attendees commit to making sure field providers can prepare for giving the best possible care when people need it most.

_{1 See Gun Violence Archives https://www.gunviolencearchive.org}

A simulation session class learns how to assess and treat a spinal injury "patient".

Idaho National Guard teaches attendees how to properly prepare a patient for a helicopter hoist from a rescue scene.

Attendees assess a "patient" during Tactical Combat Casualty Care, a simulation of an active shooter scenario.

Conference emcee and presenter, Dr. Andrew Southard

Dave McFadyen, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center president with Saint Alphonsus providers

Attendee practices care on "patient".

Dr. Tom Marshburn, Keynote presenter

National Guard helicopter during the Helihoist training

Scenic Sun Valley, Idaho

Previous Next

Photos courtesy: Corey Surber