The course is designed to give medics the practical and immersive training for events and expeditions taking place at sea

Wednesday, 25 April 2018

It is estimated that of all lifeforms on earth, 80% live under the sea*. With such a vivid array of life to be found and observed in the deep blue, it is no surprise people are drawn to ocean expeditions for a sense of adventure.

Only 5% of the ocean has been explored by humans**, so expeditions are likely to reach remote - and sometimes dangerous - locations, putting explorers far from hospitals and proper medical care. Without sufficient preparation and training the results can be fatal.

Renowned experts and professionals at Devon-based World Extreme Medicine have developed a ground-breaking Ocean Medicine Course. The course is designed to give medics the practical and immersive training for events and expeditions taking place at sea that is vital for the safety of those involved.

The training will take place from Monday May 7 to Thursday May 10 2018 in the historic maritime city of Plymouth in Devon, UK. There are still places available for medical and healthcare professionals, as well as for non-medics with an interest in marine activities.

For £995, participants will learn about hypothermia and hyperthermia, boat handling with search and rescue, situational awareness, abandon ship procedures and physiological first aid. As well as this, conditions such as prolonged salt water exposure, nutrition, sea sickness and public health will be covered. The course accreditation will be offered through the Edinburgh-based Royal College of Surgeons. Participants will also be given the opportunity to complete the Royal Yacht Association (RYA) Level 2 Powerboat Handling Qualification.

The medical course is devised by leading professionals in the field of oceanic exploration, sports people and logisticians. The teaching faculty includes Dr Alex Rowe, a medical director with over ten years of experience in maritime search and rescue operations, Dr Claire Bailey, a member of the all-female Round the World Race crew and survivor of ten days adrift in the Southern Ocean and Chris Brooker, a marine biologist with over two decades’ experience working in a range of diverse marine environments.

Dr Nick Carter, a consultant working in Rheumatology and Sports Medicine and a part of the Pen Hadow 90° North Expedition is also one of the faculty along with Nuala Moore, an Irish ice swimmer who will discuss her recent record breaking swim off Cape Horn in South America.

Also on the faculty team is Laura Penhaul, a former lead physiotherapist for Team GB Paralympians, Ian Couch, Safety and Operations Manager for the Talisker Atlantic Challenge who has rowed the Atlantic Ocean twice and Catherine Buckland, a commercial diver and dive instructor.

Mark Hannaford, CEO and founder of World Extreme Medicine said, “We have brought together a great team of specialists who have created a breakthrough training course to help keep people safe during ocean expeditions. It’s really important that people are prepared for water-based events and I think it is great that we can continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in extreme medicine.”

World Extreme Medicine will also be hosting a three-day conference at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, Scotland for doctors and medical minds to share their extreme medicine experiences and promote cross-disciplinary working. In its seventh year, the World Extreme Medicine Conference still continues to drive new and innovative approaches to medical practices in some of the world’s most inhospitable areas. The conference runs from Friday November 23 to Sunday November 25 2018.

The opportunity to support the World Extreme Medicine Conference is available, with an assortment of sponsorship levels offered. For more information, please visit the World Extreme Medicine website.

Places on the World Extreme Medicine Ocean Medicine Course are available through the website. The course starts at 8:30 am on May 7 and ends at 4:00 pm on May 10 2018.

Tickets to the World Extreme Medicine Conference are also now available and can be purchased through the website at http://www.extrememedicineexpo.com/.

Links:

World Extreme Medicine website: https://worldextrememedicine.com/

World Extreme Medicine Conference website: http://www.extrememedicineexpo.com/

Ocean Medicine Course: https://worldextrememedicine.com/products/courses/ocean-medi...

Sources:

*Ocean Facts: https://ocean-expeditions.com/ocean-facts/

**Ocean Facts: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/exploration.html

World Extreme Medicine are based on Floor 2, Thomas Whitty, Silver Street, Axminster, EX13 5AH, United Kingdom.

ENDS

Mark Hannaford is available for interview. Journalists and film crews are invited to attend.

Media information provided by Famous Publicity. For more information, please contact Adam Betteridge at adam@famouspublicity.com, Ed Patience at ed@famouspublicity.com or Josh Balmer at josh@famouspublicity.com or call the office on 03333 442 341.

About World Extreme Medicine

World Extreme Medicine (formerly Expedition & Wilderness Medicine) is the world's leading provider of expedition, wilderness and remote medicine training courses for medical professionals.

Designed to provide medics with the expert knowledge and practical skills they need to become valuable members of an expedition or a remote medical team, World Extreme Medicine’s courses achieve 100% approval ratings from participants, with 82% deeming them ‘Excellent’.

Courses take place both in the UK and abroad, with locations carefully chosen to enhance learning opportunities in the field and enrich the experience for all those taking part.

The term ‘Extreme Medicine’ was first coined by Mark Hannaford and Dr Sean Hudson as an umbrella term for these extra-clinical medical practices.
About Mark Hannaford FRGS FRSA
Mark Hannaford grew up in Plymouth and began his adventure career with Raleigh International. He founded Across the Divide in 1997 and World Extreme Medicine in 2002 both based in Axminster. Through his work with Across the Divide he has facilitated the raising of over £98million for charity.

Timeline
1980 - Project Manager for Raleigh International - Northern Australia Tanami Desert Crossing
1990 - Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
1997 - Founded Across the Divide, based in Axminster
2002 - Axminster-based World Extreme Medicine Founded
2012 - First World Extreme Medicine Conference
2016 - Founded Extreme Medicine Masters Programme and became Honorary Senior Lecturer. Also began work as Editor for Journal of Extreme Physiology & Medicine.
2018 - Seventh World Extreme Medicine Conference
2018 - Over £98million fundraised so far
2019 - £100million fundraising target