Sunday, June 10, 2012



Strike Rescue contracts wtih the University of New Mexico Emergency Medical Services Academy

This was the first rope rescue course in the United States that not only gave SR certification to 16 Paramedics working towards their BS-EMS, 6 credit hours through the UNM Emergency Medicine Program, and allowed the completion of the Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM) through ICAR.

Fast and efficient training
This prestigious education is an excellent primer for a career in the outdoor industry. The experience that these students obtained through this course was extensive. Not only were they tested rigorously on their practical skills, but they were also challenged in the academic world of technical rope rescue. The course gives students the ability to have exposure to certain problems and critical problem solving issues that cannot be gained without extensive experience.

I was happy to play a role in making this happen since this course mandated a UIAGM guide to teach it. However, there's no way this could have been possible without the help of Jason Williams who put the degree program together, Dr. Steve Attaway's help despite his busy schedule, and Angie Lucht who moved from Denver just to teach this course and give her expertise in Industrial Alpine techniques.

As the technical rope rescue world continues to grow, other strains of rope work are also undergoing a metamorphic change. We have incorporated much of the newer materials and equipment, as well as techniques and through processes that stems from good evidence-based testing, and have melded them together to form an incredible springboard for the next generation rescuers.

This Strike Rescue Course gives rise to the completion of the Degree in Mountain Medicine for these students, a prestigious degree only taught otherwise for physicians through the Wilderness Medical Society. Good luck to the Strike Rescue students and we are looking forward to next year's course.