Train Where Survival Meets Reality
Step beyond the classroom and into the heart of the rainforest. AEMED’s Austere First Responder course combines cutting-edge emergency care training with hands-on green skills, all delivered in one of the most challenging and awe-inspiring environments on Earth. Whether you’re an outdoor leader, expedition medic, or remote-area professional, this course prepares you to act decisively and live capably when resources are few and help is far away.
Discover the Winter Wilds of Lijiang and Shangrila
Venture into the dramatic landscapes of Lijiang and Shangrila, where snow-capped peaks, deep gorges, and high-altitude grasslands create the perfect backdrop for an immersive experience in wilderness and austere medicine. Your journey begins among the cobbled alleys and cultural crossroads of Lijiang before ascending into the wilds of Yunnan’s Tibetan plateau. Operating from remote mountain basecamps, participants will train in the realities of providing medical care in cold, high-altitude, and resource-limited environments. Over several days, you’ll confront realistic trauma, medical, and evacuation scenarios—grappling with altitude illness, hypothermia, trauma from falls, and prolonged care under logistical constraints. This challenging program combines hands-on clinical skill-building with survival, critical thinking under pressure, and expeditionary leadership. More than just protocol-driven learning, it demands improvisation, resilience, and the ability to provide care in places where help is days away and the terrain tests every decision you make.
Alpine Living: Practical Green Skills for Self-Reliance
Set in the crisp, clear air of Yunnan’s winter, this course teaches practical green skills essential for self-reliance and ethical living in cold, remote environments. Amid snow-dusted forests, windswept grasslands, and traditional Tibetan villages, participants learn to use mountain tools safely for trail clearing and firewood gathering. Fire-lighting skills are adapted to the challenges of freezing temperatures, damp fuel, and altitude, combining traditional methods with modern techniques. Shelter-building takes on added importance in winter, with instruction focused on insulating materials, windproof construction, and cold-weather survival strategies using what the landscape provides. Participants also develop water sourcing and purification techniques suited to frozen or scarce water supplies—such as meltwater collection and snow processing. Every skill is taught through the lens of safety, environmental stewardship, and practical adaptability. In this setting, survival isn’t just about endurance—it’s about respect for the land, smart preparation, and learning to thrive in harmony with the mountain wilderness.
Austere First Responder Certified by AEMED International
Designed for outdoor professionals, team leaders, and emerging remote care providers, the Austere First Responder course equips participants with the essential skills to manage medical emergencies in remote and challenging environments. Delivered predominantly in the field, this intensive, scenario-driven program focuses on practical care for trauma, medical, and environmental emergencies where help may be hours—or days—away. Participants learn bleeding control, airway support, splinting, wound care, and the fundamentals of prolonged field care using limited resources. Scenarios unfold in real time, often in rugged terrain and under pressure, building confidence in decision-making, communication, and teamwork. From environmental threats like cold exposure and altitude illness to delayed evacuations and improvised care, the course pushes learners to think beyond textbook solutions. By the end, graduates are not just trained—they’re prepared to respond effectively, ethically, and decisively when it matters most, far from definitive care.