Size: 586,142 square miles (1/5 the size of the lower 48 states) Alaska is larger than the next three largest states in the United States combined. From East to West Alaska is 2,400 miles. From North to South Alaska is 1,420 miles. Alaska coastlines border on the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, Chuckchi Sea, and Arctic Ocean. Alaska has more than 3 million lakes over 20 acres in size. Glaciers cover approximately 5% of the states area (29,000 square miles)
Weather: The highest temperature ever recorded in Alaska was 100 F at Ft. Yukon in 1915. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -81 F at Prospect Creek (foothills of the Brooks Range of Mountains) in 1971. Temperatures in Fairbanks in average around 62 F in June and July. In Valdez around 52 F.
Population: Total population of Alaska is approximately 600,000. The largest city is Anchorage with a population of almost one half of the states citizens. As a local Fairbanks resident (population of about 60,000) I must report that it is often said that the only good thing about Anchorage is that it is only a short airplane ride from Anchorage to Alaska!
Statehood: Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and became the 49th State in 1959
2. Overview of Alaska Medical Training Tours:
Alaska Medical Training Tours is a business specifically organized and designed to teach interesting and current medical topics to medical professionals while showing them some of the most scenic and interesting parts of Alasaka.
3. Why we started this business:
We feel fortunate to have been a part of the implementation and organization of EMS in Alaska. As such we have over 25 years of combined experience in teaching EMS topics throughout Alaska. We have taught at State and regional symposiums as well as places so small and remote that there is zero population during the winter. We have had our ups and downs in this business, but generally we' ve had a great time. We wanted a way to share some of the sights we've seen with people who are "in our business". Have some fun, pay the bills and show people some of the places we like best.
4. Why we decided to run the tour this way:
A. Educational Topics: We wanted to offer classes that are somewhat outside the main EMS/Nursing tracks. Classes that are fun as well as educational. Classes that were (are) hard to get in other places, and classes that are not so technical that a non-medical companion would be lost (or bored) by the topics.
B. Travel Method: In talking together we have found that over the years we have had to adjust our travel arrangements for several of the following reasons: Road washout/volcanic ash fall/forest fires/no housing available/no transportation available/miscommunication with students/deaths in a town or village/local festivals/plane wrecks/white-outs/-50 below F. weather etc.
By being self-contained we can:
5. Clients we hope to attract.
This tour is aimed at people like us: Emergency Medical Service workers
and firemen (often the same here in Alaska), nursing personal, (RN, RN-P,
LPN,LVN), Physical Therapy staff, Physician Assistants, and anyone who gets
along with such people. We have found that people in these professions are
active, "can do" types who like to pitch in and do things together,
have lots of good stories and are fun to be around. Since we will not be
staying in hotels or be around large crowds, we look forward to getting
to know our clients better, that's part of the fun.
