Essential for your general culture or for your next committed expedition
Highlights
- Seminar presented by leading specialists in altitude and remote medicine
- Detecting, preventing and treating altitude sickness
- Altitude acclimatization, decompression chambers
- Cold, hypothermia, frostbite and other medical conditions.
- Preparation of medical kit and prescription
- Training certificate
Over the course of these two days, we will cover the essentials of what you need to know and anticipate when preparing and carrying out a trip or expedition at high altitude and in remote areas. This seminar not only identifies and reviews the most serious health problems that any traveler may encounter one day while trekking, but also addresses the issues of age and trekking, hypoxia testing, medical kit preparation and the SOS MAM remote medical advice service. An essential and indispensable introduction for any serious trekker planning high-mountain itineraries. A training certificate is issued at the end of the course, entitling the trainee to use the SOS MAM service.
Overview
IFREMMONT
Founded by Dr. Emmanuel Cauchy, who tragically passed away in April 2018, IFREMMONT is a center of excellence in mountain medicine in the Mont Blanc region, born in 2005 from a project subsidized by the Rhône Alpes Region and the European Community.
Thanks to the efforts of its team and founder, Ifremmont has set up a number of initiatives to help mountain populations, rescue workers and mountain professionals in France and abroad:
- Training in mountain medicine, from first aid to the most specific treatments for mountain diseases.
- Documentation on all aspects of mountain medicine.
- Clinical and fundamental research into cold and altitude-related pathologies and extreme environments.
- Innovation in e-health, on-board sensors and telemedicine for mountaineers and extreme sports.
Conferences, round tables and incentive activities on mountain medicine, teamwork and stress management.
Itinerary
Day 0
Day1: General information, altitude pathologies, altitude chamber
Day 1
9:00 a.m.: Welcome coffee, croissants
9.30 a.m – 11:00 a.m.: Presentation of Ifremmont
Initial assessment of knowledge
Constraints of hostile environments on the body
The body's defense mechanisms against cold and altitude
11.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.: Mountain sickness
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Lunch break
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Hypothermia / Frostbite
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Acute mountain sickness
High-altitude pulmonary and cerebral edema
Other high-altitude pathologies
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Recompression chamber workshop - Saturometer
Day 2: Emergency medicine in isolated environments
Day 2
08:30 a.m.: Expedition medicine
Expedition kit
Telemedicine and remote medical advice
Mountain medicine application
10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Mountain medicine consultation
Travel medicine, vaccines
Digestive diseases and travel
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Lunch break
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Resuscitation workshop
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: Life-saving gestures
Chest pain, discomfort, splints, bandages, dressings...
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. :
Evaluation questionnaires
Satisfaction questionnaires
Other questions
END OF EXPEDITION
For reasons that cannot be foreseen at this stage, such as unpredictable weather, the physical fitness or lack of fitness of participants or other circumstancess (customs formalities, road conditions, traffic, landslides, force majeure, etc.), your expedition leader may have to adapt the program, if necessary, to ensure the smooth running of your trip. He remains the sole judge and the one who guarantees your safety. Activity times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another.
The itinerary for all our expedition programs, or the ascent program for our high-mountain expeditions, are given here as a guide only. They are flexible enough to adapt to weather conditions with a few contingency days. In any case, you should follow the recommendations of your guide, who may suggest that you cancel your expedition due to weather, safety or physical conditions.
It is important to remember that this is a truly unsupported expedition, and that anything can happen. Expeditions Unlimited, your expedition leader, your guide or our local teams can in no way be held responsible.
Any costs incurred as a result of a change in the expedition schedule (extra nights' accommodation, extra flights) will be borne by the participants and not by the organizers. "Contingency days" refer to the expedition in the strict sense of the term (base camp/base camp in the mountains, departure point/exit point on a traverse, etc.).
Any early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this program, will be charged in full to the participants.
Trip notes
Difficulty level
Level rated: easy
This journey is accessible to anyone in good health.
Programme sans aérien
The meeting place and start time of the training course will be communicated to you 1 month before the course. Ifremmont offers these training courses in different locations in Chamonix. The Ifremmont contact is Christine - email: christineifremmont@gmail.com / Tel: +33(0)6 98 16 45 39.
Given the diverse origins of the participants on this trip, international outward and return flights are not included in this package. In most cases, we book flights on your behalf to ensure that the whole group arrives at the destination at the same time. We do not charge any fees for these air bookings. Please do not hesitate to contact us. If you book your own tickets, we will advise you on the ideal flight schedule to enable all participants to arrive within a reduced time frame. At the very least, you need tickets that can be modified.
Group size
The group is composed of 4 to 20 participants maximum. The number of participants is deliberately limited to allow for greater immersion, to avoid embarrassing our hosts, and to develop freedom and flexibility. However, the maximum number may be exceeded if the last person to register wishes to travel with one or more other people. The services will not be modified, and the conditions of the trip will remain the same.
Equipment
Personal equipment is not provided. However, a complete list is provided to allow you to check that you are taking what is necessary.
Our commitments to sustainable development
Our commitment to a better planet has been a reality since the beginning of our story but we always need to do more and better. Please find out more about our charter and our commitments in terms of sustainable development. We have drafted our charter and take action through six themes on which we act as concretely as possible, most often with you: social equity and cultural respect, preservation of water, waste management in expedition, protection of biodiversity, raise public awareness on these subjects and finally, the optimization and recovery of CO2 emissions.
Regarding carbon emissions, most of which are due to air travel, we calculated and communicated in 2018 on the carbon footprint of each of our programs, expressed in tonnes of CO2.
And in 2022, we have set ourselves a carbon reduction target that we believe is unprecedented in the tourism industry, aiming to reduce the total emissions of our activity by 5% per year, taking 2019 as the reference year (3,430 tonnes of CO2). This commitment is in line with the trajectory of the Paris climate agreements of 2015, the current benchmark. By 2030, we aim to not exceed 2,160 tons of CO2. In 2024, all Secret Planet journeys emitted 2,064 tons, well below our maximum limit of 2,940 tons. The ceiling for 2025 is 2,800 tons, and in 2026 it will be further reduced to 2,660 tons. And so on until 2030. To find out more about all of our calculations and our commitments in terms of reducing our carbon emissions.
In addition, since 2019, we have been encouraging you when you book for your journey to contribute with a donation to an independent NGO, among the two we have selected that share the commitments made in our charter. We matched the amount of this donation to this program's carbon footprint. Thus, the journey you are considering generates 0,04 tons of CO2, which corresponds to a 100% donation of €1 for an estimated value today of €30 per tonne of CO2. This donation remains of course optional and you can decide to give between nothing and 100% of this amount. Since 2019, including covid years of 2020 and 2021, we have been able to collect thanks to you nearly €5,500 for these associations.
Please do not hesitate to come back to us with any questions you might have regarding this carbon footprint mechanism, our other sustainable développement commitments or even to share with us your experience through a chat or a mail at contact@secret-planet.com.
Departures and pricing
Please find below all dates and prices for this expedition. Prices are quoted "from" and may be adjusted notably according to the number of participants (see trip notes for details). Please note that dates and prices for years beyond 2024, when given, are for guidance only and are subject to change and readjustment to take account of current economic realities.
Dates currently being programmed
Alert me as soon as you set a datePrice includes
Guiding tel qu’indiqués dans le programme. Travel folder tel qu’indiqués dans le programme.
Price does not include
Anything not mentioned in “price includes”. All accompaniments, accommodation or meals mentioned “free” in the program. Drinks and personal “extras”. Other supplements related to certain specific departure dates, a lower number of participants, your wish to “close” the group of participants, etc.
Customized expedition
Bring your expedition to life—designed to match your ambition.
Does one of our existing expedition almost align with your objective? We can tailor it precisely: adjust the duration, refine the level of commitment, integrate specific goals (scientific, athletic, audiovisual production), adapt the logistics, or strengthen supervision and safety measures. This approach is built on proven terrain in order to create an expedition fully aligned with your goals.
Is your project unique and unlike anything that we currently offer? We design fully custom expeditions. This is no longer about adapting an existing program, but about building a complete project based on your constraints, your level of engagement, your objectives, and the realities of the field. Remote environments, extreme conditions, complex logistics, or specific projects (exploration, filming, scientific missions, personal challenges): every expedition is designed with precision and uncompromising standards.
For over 15 years, Expeditions Unlimited has been designing and operating expeditions worldwide—across all regions, environments, and activities—for individuals and corporate projects alike. Our field expertise ensures reliable systems, robust logistics, and controlled management of demanding environments.
Because every project is unique, our commitment is clear: to support you in designing and executing a safe, fully realized expedition that truly reflects your ambition.
Learn more about our custom expedition approach.
Tell us about your project
A few details are enough to get started. One of our experts will contact you within 48 hours to better understand your needs and propose a tailored approach.
Frequently asked questions
Who is this high-altitude and extreme cold medical preparation course for?
This two-day course is designed for any trekker or mountaineer committed to a high-mountain itinerary, as well as anyone preparing for an expedition to a remote area abroad. No prior medical background is required, as the content is designed for a non-specialist audience. It complements the technical preparation for an upcoming trek or expedition rather than replacing it.
Do I need previous high-altitude experience to take this course?
No, the course is open to participants with no prior high-altitude experience. It is specifically designed to give the basics of altitude and extreme cold medicine to those who do not yet have that background, ahead of departure. Experienced mountaineers and trekkers can also attend to refresh their knowledge.
What physical level is required to take part?
The course takes place entirely indoors in Chamonix, with no altitude outings or particular physical effort involved: the physical and technical level required is rated easy on the program sheet. The highest overnight stay during the course stays below 2500 m, which reflects the accommodation on site rather than any mountain activity.
How are the two training days structured?
The first day covers altitude and cold-related conditions (acute mountain sickness, pulmonary and cerebral oedema, hypothermia, frostbite) and includes a hands-on recompression chamber workshop. The second day covers expedition medicine more broadly: preparing a field medical kit, telemedicine, mountain medicine consultation, travel medicine and vaccines, and digestive illness, together with a resuscitation workshop. The two days follow on from each other and form a coherent whole.
What topics are covered on the first day?
The first day covers acute mountain sickness, hypothermia, frostbite, and high-altitude pulmonary and cerebral oedema. It ends with a hands-on recompression chamber workshop and an introduction to pulse oximetry, two practical tools used in the field to assess and manage the effects of altitude.
What topics are covered on the second day?
The second day focuses on expedition medicine: preparing a medical kit, using telemedicine, mountain and travel medicine consultations, and vaccines and digestive illness in an expedition context. It closes with a workshop on resuscitation and rescue techniques.
What does the recompression chamber workshop involve?
This workshop recreates, under controlled conditions, effects of reduced atmospheric pressure comparable to those encountered at high altitude, to help participants understand the mechanisms behind acute mountain sickness. It pairs the classroom theory with a concrete physical experience rather than a purely descriptive one.
What is taught in the pulse oximetry workshop?
The workshop introduces the use of a pulse oximeter, a device that measures blood oxygen saturation, useful for tracking acclimatisation and spotting early signs of altitude intolerance. Learning to interpret a saturation reading is one of the practical skills covered during the course.
What resuscitation and first-aid techniques are taught?
The second day's workshop covers basic resuscitation and rescue techniques usable in remote settings, where no medical help is immediately available. The aim is to give participants concrete reflexes for responding while awaiting evacuation or remote medical advice.
Who leads this training course?
The course is run by instructors specialised in mountain and extreme-environment medicine, as part of the Ifremmont institute. The content draws on this institute's expertise in clinical research, telemedicine and medical training applied to extreme environments.
What is the Ifremmont institute?
Ifremmont is a mountain medicine training and research institute based in Chamonix, founded by Dr Emmanuel Cauchy, who passed away in 2018. It develops training courses, clinical research and telemedicine tools dedicated to high-altitude and extreme cold environments.
What is the SOS MAM certificate awarded at the end of the course?
The course grants a training certificate giving access to the SOS MAM remote medical advisory service, a telemedicine line dedicated to situations encountered during expeditions or remote treks. This certificate confirms that the participant has covered the groundwork needed to make effective use of this service in the field if needed.
What does the course price include, and what is left to the participant?
The price, from €340, includes course instruction and the course folder. Accommodation, meals, drinks and personal extras are left to the participant, along with any supplement linked to group size. International flights are not relevant here, since the course takes place in Chamonix.
Is any particular equipment needed for the course?
No mountain equipment is provided or required, since the course takes place entirely indoors. A full list of personal items to bring (everyday items, something to take notes with) is shared before the course in the preparation folder.
Why take this course before a demanding trek or high-altitude expedition?
In two days, this course covers altitude and expedition medicine knowledge that cannot be improvised in the field: recognising oedema, managing frostbite, using a pulse oximeter, or knowing when to call on a remote medical consultation. It suits both a trekker looking to broaden their general knowledge and a candidate for a demanding expedition, without replacing the technical and physical preparation specific to each program.
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