MEM Summer CourseMEM Summer Course

MEM Summer Course

Mountain Emergency Medicine Course: Summer with Air Zermatt

Mountain Emergency Medicine (MEM) Summer Course, covering AHEMS topics in accordance with ICAR, ISMM, and UIAA regulations. For healthcare professionals who are (or wish to become) members of an organized rescue service. (Paramedics, healthcare professionals, or medical rescuers).

Course Information

Location Zermatt/Ticino
Number of participants Max. 8 people
Course Dates September 5–12, 2026
Course duration 8 days
Target audience

Paramedics, healthcare professionals with prehospital experience, or medical responders

  • Trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Trained in Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)
Requirements
  • Active mountaineer
  • Proficient in tying the following knots: Italian hitch, figure-8 knot, clove hitch, overhand slip knot, fisherman’s knot, Prusik
  • Good physical fitness
  • You must be able to tie the following knots before the course begins:
  • - slipknot, pulley and hoist system, fisherman’s knot, figure-of-eight knot, Prusik knot, clove hitch, Munter (Italian) hitch, setting up an anchor system, belaying, rappelling with a descender and Prusik, ascending a fixed rope
Further Education

International Diploma in Mountain Emergency Medicine
Price CHF 6,500 per person
Course language English

For online registration click here

Providing emergency medical services in the mountains can be extremely challenging. High altitude, extreme temperatures, strong winds, unpredictable weather, weight constraints, limited resources, and no room for error.

With more than 55 years of experience and over 60,000 helicopter rescues, we offer to share our knowledge and experience through high-level courses that prepare you for demanding rescues under extreme conditions.

Together with the Diploma in Mountain Medicine and the Mountain Emergency Medicine Course (Winter), this course lays the foundation for earning the International Diploma for Mountain Emergency Medicine (DiMEM).

  • Knowledge and techniques needed to manage medical emergencies in high-alpine and austere conditions
  • Patient care in austere environments
  • Learn about and apply various rescue techniques
  • Lead a group of rescue professionals and manage a team
  • Understanding the challenges of rescues and equipment in hostile terrain and their limitations.

Theory:

  • Alpine techniques
  • Medical care in mountain emergencies
  • Helicopter procedures and operations
  • Emergency procedures in air rescue
  • Load transfer system
  • Basic canyoning skills
  • Cave rescue

Practical component:

  • Helicopter procedures / operations
  • Medical setting
  • Terrestrial, air rescue, and canyon rescue scenarios
  • Zip line
  • Swiftwater swimming and rescue
  • Basic and advanced rescue techniques
  • Basic and advanced canyon training

You will receive a pretest via email approximately 4 weeks before the course begins. Please return it electronically to training@air-zermatt.ch no later than one week before the course begins.

  • Mountaineering clothing; please note that cold temperatures are possible year-round in Zermatt
  • Gloves (technical gloves plus a pair of warm ones)
  • Helmet
  • Harness
  • Mountaineering boots
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen SPF 50+
  • Headlamp
  • Backpack (at least 30 liters)
  • Mountaineering clothing (Keep in mind that cold temperatures are possible year-round in Zermatt)
  • 2 HMS carabiners
  • 4 identical gate or triple-lock carabiners
  • 2 Prusik slings
  • 1 sling
  • 2x 6mm 2m cords
  • 2 x 6 mm, 5 m cords
  • Swimwear
  • Optional: Thermal shirt or rash guard (to wear under a wetsuit)

Please contact the course instructor by email at training@air-zermatt.ch if you have any questions regarding the equipment. Gear rental shops are available in Zermatt.

Our course program is certified by the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR), the International Society for Mountain Medicine (ISMM), and the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA), and far exceeds the criteria of the “Specialty Course in Mountain Emergency Medicine,” including the “Add-on Module: Air Rescue.”

International Diploma of Mountain Emergency Medicine ICAR UIAA ISMM

If you are also an emergency physician, paramedic, or any other advanced medical provider and hold the International Diploma in Mountain Medicine (DiMM), you can be accredited for the International Diploma in Mountain Emergency Medicine (DiMEM) after completing our course. We recommend earning the DiMM through the University of New Mexico, as they maintain very high course standards and are closely affiliated with Air Zermatt.

Continuing Medical Education Credits

SGNOR (Swiss Society for Emergency and Rescue Medicine): 20 CMEs

IACCFP (International Association for Critical Care and Flight Paramedics)

10 non-medical / 5 medical CMEs

We recommend flying to either ZRH or GVA and taking the train to Zermatt. From ZRH, it’s a very convenient train ride to Zermatt, with only one transfer. We suggest booking your train ticket 4 weeks in advance by following this link: www.sbb.ch. The earlier you buy your ticket, the cheaper it will be. For directions to the Zermatt helibase, click here.

 

Terms and Conditions

By booking the course, participants expressly accept our current General Terms and Conditions. If you have any questions or wish to register by phone, please contact us at +41 27 570 70 70 or by email at training@air-zermatt.ch.

 

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