Big Ditch hosts wilderness medical training Sunday

Western New Mexico University offers Wilderness First Responder class with hands-on mock emergency scenarios

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Western New Mexico University's Wilderness First Responder class held a mock mass-casualty incident on the San Vicente Trail on Sunday, where students took turns playing the roles of injured hikers and first responders. The class, which has been offered for eight years, provides training for experienced first responders, outdoor guides, and community members who want to learn wilderness medical skills.

Why it matters

As New Mexico focuses on developing its outdoor economy, the university's wilderness medical training programs aim to ensure people venturing into remote areas are prepared to handle emergencies and provide life-saving care when needed. The hands-on exercises help students apply what they've learned in both online and in-person sessions.

The details

During the mock incident, students treated a person in diabetic shock, performed CPR on someone found face-down in a creek, and tended to broken limbs and other injuries, creating splints from available materials. The exercise also included a litter-carry of a patient from the trail to the nearby visitor center. Professor Kathy Whiteman said the training teaches more than just emergency response, as it emphasizes prior planning to minimize the chances of having to manage serious situations.

  • The mock mass-casualty incident took place on Sunday afternoon on the San Vicente Trail below the N.M. 90 bridge.

The players

Kathy Whiteman

Professor of natural sciences at Western New Mexico University and instructor of the Wilderness First Responder class.

Jack Noonan

A student who played the role of an injured hiker during the mock emergency scenario.

Michael Dirmeyer, Andres Tovar, and Brianna Mann

Students who attended to Jack Noonan during the mock incident.

Scott Zagrer

A student who attended to another 'patient' during the mock emergency exercise.

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What they’re saying

“The state is putting a lot of energy and emphasis in developing an outdoor economy, and so that means sending more people in the outdoors, and we want to send people into the outdoors in a way that's safe.”

— Kathy Whiteman, Professor of natural sciences (scdailypress.com)

“Prior planning prevents poor performance. Some of these things that you might be up against, you just want to try to make decisions to minimize the chance you're going to actually have to manage bad things happening.”

— Kathy Whiteman, Professor of natural sciences (scdailypress.com)

“If you're a physician, your approach might be to do one thing, but in the field, it almost becomes a triage. It's a different setting, and I think as soon as you realize that you don't have access to your phone and you can't call someone for help, it's a game changer.”

— Kathy Whiteman, Professor of natural sciences (scdailypress.com)

What’s next

The university also offers a Wilderness First Aid course, which will have on-campus coursework on Saturday. That class is more introductory and directed at those who would be closer to cell phone service and medical assistance.

The takeaway

Western New Mexico University's wilderness medical training programs are crucial as New Mexico focuses on developing its outdoor economy, ensuring people venturing into remote areas are prepared to handle emergencies and provide life-saving care when needed. The hands-on exercises help students apply what they've learned and emphasize the importance of prior planning to minimize the chances of having to manage serious situations.