EMRA's MedWAR returned to its roots in Red Rock Canyon in 2024, celebrating a milestone as EMRA marked 50 years of serving residents.
Prelude
The sun rose over the eastern horizon at Red Rock Canyon. Deep canyons and towering cliffs, recently shadowed, lit on fire in a mixture of orange and red. The cool air began to give way, hinting at the coming heat of the day. Past the starting line, a trail wound its way into the steep washes and canyons adjacent to the Calico Hills. It was Oct. 2, 2024, and a challenging course with tests of medical knowledge lay ahead for the 11 teams competing in EMRA MedWAR 2024.
A Brief History of MedWAR
EMRA MedWAR is an annual event held yearly as part of EMRA’s programming during ACEP Scientific Assembly. MedWAR was founded in 2000 by Michael Caudell, MD, FAWM, DiMM, and David Ledrick, MD, at the Medical College of Georgia. Teams navigate a wilderness course, completing medical scenarios and answering questions along the way. Since its inception, MedWAR has expanded to include events throughout the country, including the first EMRA MedWAR in 2016 at Red Rock Canyon.
For each EMRA MedWAR since, the location uniquely represents the landscape and history of the host city, whether Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia, Lake Chabot Regional Park in San Francisco, Blue Hills Reservation State Park in Boston, a virtual edition in 2020, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in San Diego, or Seneca Creek State Park in Washington, D.C. The 2024 return to the Mojave Desert was a reminder of the stark and unforgiving landscape surrounding Las Vegas.
Preparation
Preparation for MedWAR began months in advance through the efforts of the EMRA Wilderness Medicine Committee, EMRA staff, and faculty advisors Hillary Irons, MD, PhD; Mike Caudell, MD, FAWM, DiMM; and Taylor Haston, DO, DiMM, MPH, MS. A site was selected, a course was charted, scenarios and questions were written, logos and swag were designed, sponsors were brought on board, and permits were acquired. Special thanks should be extended to the wonderful rangers at Red Rock Canyon NRA, who helped with course design and event planning. Teams signed up the summer before the race, preparing physically for the demands of the course and mentally for the array of wilderness medicine topics they might encounter.
The Day of the Race
Racers arrived at 7:30 am for check in, greeted by the expanse of the harsh Mojave landscape at Red Rock Canyon. This year's EMRA MedWAR became the hottest MedWAR on record, with temps over 103°F for much of the race. While racers fueled with coffee and food, volunteers, including members of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Search and Rescue team, ventured into the desert to set up scenarios. At the same time, race directors set up emergency cooling and hydration stations and trained volunteers on heat stroke and hyperthermia treatment. Fortunately these efforts paid off, as no racers or volunteers suffered significant heat illness throughout the day.
The first challenge racers met was a mass triage incident that required correct disposition and transport decisions for victims of a lightning strike. After this, they embarked towards the valleys south of the Calico Hills. Scenario 1, set in the barren, exposed desert, presented an altered heat stroke patient with a cactus spine protruding from their eye. Scenario 2 added a toxicologic flavor as teams identified deadly plants and decided which one a pediatric patient had snacked on. The third and fourth scenarios, situated along the rolling sandstone hills, consisted of a rattlesnake bite and a testicular torsion. Traumatic injuries awaited teams at the far end of the course. Participants encountered a fallen climber with a spinal cord injury and a mountain biker with a pneumothorax and SVT.
Despite the heat and exposure, all teams returned within the 6-hour time limit, exhausted and a bit dehydrated but with shade and cool drinks awaiting at the finish line. The champion of the day was “Dora the Rxplorers” from Yale Emergency Medicine, followed by UCSF Fresno in second place and Ohio State in third.
Thank you again to all the racers and volunteers who braved the heat to participate; we look forward to having you back next year!
Summary
MedWAR is a time-honored tradition that brings together residents and medical students from around the country, no matter the setting. This year, racers from far flung locales including Florida, Connecticut, Ohio, and California, among many others, came together to share in their passion for emergency medicine and wilderness. The 11 teams raced through the desert during the hottest EMRA MedWAR yet. They displayed resilience, sportsmanship, and a sense of adventure, embodying the spirit of the great explorers and physicians who came before them. These racers, many of whom will become attending physicians next year, leave no doubt of the passion and joy they will bring to their work and the field of emergency medicine.
- For those interested in helping out with next year's MedWAR, more information can be found here: https://www.emra.org/be-involved/events--activities/emra-medwar. You may also email emrawildernessctte@emra.org. There are also several regional MedWAR events throughout the country. Check out www.medwar.org and @MedWAR17 on Twitter/X for dates and locations.
- For those interested in contributing to the conservation efforts at Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Area, further information can be found here: https://www.friendsredrock.org/
- For those interested in contributing to the SAR efforts of the LVMPD, further information can be found here: https://lvmpdsar.org/
