Alpine Medicine Training in the Alps
Sometimes it’s important to look outside the box, get a new perspective and leave your comfort zone. Regarding my main job as a resident at the end of the second year of training in internal medicine I was at this point. I really like most parts of my job in the hospital but I sometimes miss the adventurous moments that I’m normally looking for in my photography and travel life. When I heard about alpine and expedition medicine I was instantly hooked. It offered me a perspective to connect my profession as a doctor with my passion of outdoor sports, traveling and photography.
After some more research I became quickly a member of the German Society of Mountain and Expedition Medicine (BExMed) and signed up for the first of three alpine medicine training courses. The “winter course” focuses on ski touring and ski mountaineering with the associated knowledge of avalanches (rescue), frost bite, hypothermia and traumatology. Together with around 40 colleagues and a group mountain guides we set up base camp at “Heidelberger Hütte” a iconic mountain hut in the Silvretta Alps at the border of Switzerland and Austria.
The day was usually splitted into two parts: In the morning we were in small groups with our mountain guide and left for a ski tour that we had planned the night before. On the way up the mountain we learned about potential dangers, snow layers and navigation. Luckily my ski technique was not fully gone after a two years break from skiing. The conditions were wonderful. Powder snow, sunny weather and a manageable level of avalanche danger.
In the afternoon we were gathering in the hut for lectures from various experts in the fields of meteorology, avalanche science and emergency medicine.
Also, we had different training scenarios for multiple patients being buried by an avalanche. The main challenge there was to coordinate the resources in the group for a fast and efficient rescue.
To sum up, my first experience with alpine medicine really made me to want more. The mix of physical and mental challenges in a beautiful environment made this a fulfilling and enriching week. I’m curious what I can expect in the spiring and summer courses when we get into rock climbing and mountaineering, also passions of mine.
