10/11/2025
*Strength in the Heights: Elevating Kinabalu Park's Emergency Preparedness*
A major step forward in wilderness emergency care has begun on Mount Kinabalu. In a collaborative effort led by the Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FPSK), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) — together with Sabah Parks, the Wilderness and Austere Medicine Society Malaysia (WAMS), the Wilderness Medicine Special Interest Group (MyCEP), and the Emergency and Trauma Department, Hospital Queen Elizabeth — this initiative aims to enhance emergency medical response in Sabah's high-altitude and remote environments.
The first Wilderness Basic Life Support (WBLS) course was successfully conducted on 5 November 2025 at Kinabalu Park, attended by 30 participants, including park officers, mountain guides, rangers, and lifeguards. The training focused on essential life-saving techniques, including CPR, hypothermia management, high-altitude illness, and common injuries encountered by climbers.
This marks the start of a structured wilderness medicine program that will continue with Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness Advanced First Aid, and Wilderness First Responder courses — progressively building capacity and competence among Sabah Parks personnel operating in challenging terrains far from hospital facilities.
Supported by ongoing research, the development of teleconsultation, and technology integration from UMS, this collaboration underscores a shared commitment to safety, innovation, and preparedness at Malaysia's most iconic natural heritage site.