So med wars is a BIG DEAL. It happens all across the country and is divided by region. Medical professionals (including residents, med students, nursing students, nurses, etc) are all encouraged to participate. But it usually ends up being residents and usually ER residents, maybe because they have the time or maybe because they tend to be outdoor people. Who knows.
They pretty much go to a national park, camp and then do a sort of adventure race competition during the day. Each team has 3 people. The one i saw they began at the starting line in canoes. Their task was to make it to the first "station" within the hour. They had to paddle some 5miles, where we were waiting. There they were given a scenario where an event happens and someone is "hypothetically" injured. They must make medical decisions in front of judges (like me!) and we grade them. This year's theme was an ALIEN INVASION! The first station they were told that purple clouds spouting lightning descended upon them and one of their team members ended up with a severed leg. They had to put on a tourniquet and carry the patient out of danger before they could get their next clue and map. While they did not sever anyone's limbs, they did have to apply a tourniquet and carry their member up a hill. Each map had only enough information to get them to the next station, where more plotline was discovered and more wilderness medicine challenges had to be completed. Along the way there were "mini games" which included trees with signs on them asking medical questions, like when to give which medication, lightning safety, or which animal is associated with which disease. Many of the stations were heavy physical work, including saving a baby from aliens by swimming through a lake to rescue a baby (baby doll) then swimming back without getting the baby wet. Of course then they had to do baby CPR. In the end you had to fight the aliens and save the world. Can't tell you how, it would ruin the surprise...
The total race ended up being 20 miles including canoeing, swimming, hiking, and going through a swamp. I was a judge for many of the different stations. There were a total of 5 stations and 25 mini games. Time was a factor but they also had to get as many of the questions in the mini games right as possible, this would subtract time for you. Players start at 7am and most don't finish until 5. We had several that got lost and had to send out search parties. This whole situation is celebrated at the end with hundreds of pizza, snacks, drinks, soup, chile, ice cream, cookies, brownies, hot dogs, etc. Basically the biggest bonfire you've ever seen and then we sit around and camp another night talking about how crazy that plot line was or how hard it was to wade through the mud, etc.
Residents that win the med wars, get bragging rights and often get to be the makers of next year's race. Personally, i was heart broken I didn't get to be on a team. It looked so fun! But at least I got to go. This year we had 35 teams of 3. So there were lots. And it was SOOOO FUN.
Next year, i'm making a team. You all should too!! Go look it up by your region and enter your team early. Besides 3 days off it only costs $12-14 per team to register. All that money goes towards food.
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