The following information is to help understand the medical problems that can occur in the field. All Absaroka Search Dogs handlers at the minimum are current Wilderness First Responders (WFR) or Wilderness Emergency Medical Technicians (WEMT). Some members have Advanced Life Saving (ALS) skills as well.

The techniques and recommendations contained in the following articles are meant for discussion and further understanding of medical topics related to search and rescue work. By no means are the following articles an adequate substitution for official emergency medical training. For more information on how to get this training, please consider visiting the following sites:

• National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
• Montana Board of Medical Examiners
• Wilderness Medical Associates

Articles

1. "But Baby, It's Cold Outside!", by Vikki Fenton-Anderberg. An article about canine hypothermia and frostbite.

2. "Critical Incident Stress", by Linda Waggoner.

3. "Evacuating an Injured Search Dog", by Chris Dover.

4. "Field First Aid for Hypothermia", by Mark Polakoff and Roxanne Dunn.