MEM winter course: rescues in the icy cold
Winter in the mountains means cold and icy months with lots of snow. Anyone who signs up for the Mountain Emergency Medicine (MEM) Winter Course knows it’s not a theoretical undertaking in a well-heated classroom. It’s all about training emergency medicine in locations where altitude, cold, wind and terrain make every decision more complex.
Who is this course intended for?
And this is precisely what Air Zermatt's MEM course is all about. It’s aimed at medical professionals and emergency service providers wishing to prepare for the demanding conditions of rescue work in the winter mountains. Solid skiing and ski touring skills are a must – these training exercises aren’t limited to safe routes, but focus on the very environment where every move has to be just right in an emergency. And that includes heavy backpacks, tough conditions, and limited resources.
What makes the course so different are the realistic conditions it provides. The mountains allow no time for hesitation, especially in the winter months. Weather changes, extreme temperatures, fierce winds, weight limits, and the complexity of a rescue mission demand the highest levels of concentration, physical fitness, and the ability to make clear decisions under pressure. The MEM winter course works on the basis of precisely this reality as a learning environment. The course incorporates practical training, alpine scenarios and the expertise of experienced mountain rescuers and instructors to create a package that not only imparts knowledge but helps to boost confidence when it counts.
Learning from professionals
This course is run by the Air Zermatt Training Center, the Swiss competence center for mountain and air rescue. The goal here is to make experience accessible in the interest of everyone. The vision behind the approach is clear – to share knowledge, experience, and innovations so that as many people as possible can benefit in an emergency. The Training Center offers internationally recognized training and development opportunities for doctors, paramedics, mountain rescuers, mountain guides and rescue specialists from the police and fire service.
A course like this is a lot more than a training program. It’s an opportunity to benefit from Air Zermatt’s experience gained from over 55 years and more than 60,000 helicopter rescues. The course’s practice-based approach means the training involved represents real-life situations with people who – from their own experience – know the terrain, the technicalities of a rescue mission and how to take responsibility when it really counts. This combination creates a learning environment that provides training to the highest possible standard.
It’s your turn
The next MEM winter course will be held from April 25 to May 2, 2026, and will be taught in English. The price includes the course fee, helicopter flight time, hotel and mountain hut accommodation and certain meals. The detailed schedule will be announced at the start of the course to allow for adjustments based on conditions and situations, just like the mountains themselves demand from us.
And this is perhaps the one key insight of this course – that winter rescues are anything but predictable. Places are still available for the next course from April 25 to May 2, 2026.
