06/19/2026
Over the last five days our Chief of Operations had the opportunity to attend the Wilderness Medical Special Operations (WMSO) Course with Red Star Medical and it exceeded expectations.
From the foundations of wilderness medicine and orthopedic injury management, to hypothermia/hyperthermia emergencies, austere airway management, and blood/transfusion concepts in remote environments, every day challenged us to think differently and operate with purpose.
We put our gear, systems, and decision-making to the test in realistic scenarios and complex field environments. The course concluded with an incredible night operation mass casualty simulation involving four patients, advanced ALS interventions, prolonged movement over varied terrain, and the need to balance medicine, logistics, and team coordination under pressure.
This experience reinforced one simple truth: paramedicine doesn’t stop when the environment gets difficult.
The knowledge, techniques, and lessons learned during this course will directly benefit Steuben County EMS, our community partners, future training programs, and most importantly, the patients we serve across Steuben County for years to come.
A huge thank you to the instructors and team at Red Star Wilderness EMS for an outstanding experience.
