Doggie Giardia
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Its fantastic to take your dog outdoors into the wild. But you watch as they swallow water you wou...
The PFD and Me
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
People know to where a personal flotation device (PFD) when in and around water. But how can a t...
Case Study: A Tree and a Broken Leg
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Broken legs are common skiing injuries. But this one was a race against the cold and pain. Lif...
The Goose's Foot and Other Knee Problems
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
So many things can cause pain in the knee when we are outside recreating. Trail runners and ba...
Worms in our Body - Pork
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
These worms go back and forth from humans to pigs and back to humans again. They live in human int...
On a Slippery Slope - All About Ice Climbing
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Few people do this beautiful sport but most people know about it. When done safely it is not as ex...
Not On Thin Ice
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ice fishing is one of the most beautiful outdoor sports possible. It has its own unique medical is...
Winter Vomiting Disease - Norovirus
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A common name for this disease implies it causes illness in the winter time. It actually is called...
Nature Deficit Disorder
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While not recognized as a true medical diagnosis, its effects are very real. Many people are not g...
Things that Sting Us - Part 3: Murder Hornets
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
So they've earned the nickname “the murder hornet,” but really they're known as the As...
The Story of WILS Foundation
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In July of 2021 a family suffered the ultimate tragedy when their dad, Wil Lundberg died while rid...
Chilling Wind - The Wind Chill Factor
14 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all know the feeling of being colder when the wind blows across our skin, and we have heard of th...
Case Study: 359 Foot Fall in the Tetons
14 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In what is an incredible survival and recovery story, listen as climber Ben Eder recounts his horr...
Things that Sting Us - Part 2: Killer Bees
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Their demeanor has earned them the terrifying nickname of 'killer bees.' Africanized hon...
We need your help.
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The University of Utah School of Medicine provides free resources for students of wilderness medicin...
Wilderness Medicine in the Alps
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wanted to see Mt. Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe? Well, the Univeristy of Uta...
Let's Wrap it Up - All About Bandages and Dressings
10 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Just when you thought you knew how to treat a cut or an abrasion! With this, there is definently ...
Its All About Sitting - The Essentials of Bike Seats
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you are done with a ride your bottom hurts. Normally we don't pay much attention to what...
Burning Eyes in the Outdoors
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone knows to wear dark glasses. But are you wearing the right ones, what are you guarding aga...
In the Snow! Snowboarding
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Born in the USA. This incredible and fun sport has its own history and its own set of injuries. ...
Update: Another New Vaccine for Wilderness Medicine
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two horrible disease are out there when you travel into the wilderness. Now we have vaccines for b...
Update: Closing in on Malaria
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It is not the end of malaria by a long shot, but the second vaccine is coming out. If your wildern...
Coming to the USA
22 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Just when you thought it was safe to go outdoors in the USA! So diseases that were thought to exist ...
Update: Dengue News
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As the temperature of the earth rises, mosquitos are moving to new areas. And with them the dise...
Quit 2: Test Your Knowledge of Wilderness Medicine
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How well did you do on the last quiz? Again we challenge your knowledge of wilderness medicine.
Danger in the Water: Chilblains-Those Pesky LIttle Sores
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What on earth is that? A tiny stinging sore sits right on top of a joint on a toe. You have been...
Quiz 1: Test Your Knowledge of Wilderness Medicine
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How much do you know about wilderness medicine? Listen to this podcast quiz and find out!
Danger in the Water: Trench Foot
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It does not take much, even moisture from sweat is enough water to cause this painful and potentia...
Saddle Up: Horseback Riding in the Wilderness
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
They can take us to far away and amazing places. But there is a lot to know and understand to be s...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
it comes from a tic but it is not found so much in the Rocky Mountains. It can be life threatening...
Things that Sting Us - Part 1: Fire Ants
13 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The fire ant's sting is a serious concern to people and their pets. Venom injected into the ski...
Danger in the Water: Amoeba in the Brain
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is known to be a very rare infection is also a fatal one. Naegleria Fowleri is a microscopica...
Protein and Energy Bars: Which one is right for you?
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What was the last bar you grabbed as you went on your last hike or adventure? Why did you chose th...
Sunscreens -What you need to know!
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We put sunscreen on when we go in out in the sun. Do they help? We use old bottles that are on th...
Getting Ready
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When the seasons change, our minds and hearts turn to a different outdoor activity. Are you ready?...
Caffeine or Not to Caffeine, That is the Question
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Should you use caffeine to enhance your hike or your big climb? Listen as Dr. Kary Woodruff discus...
Creatures of the Night - Scorpions: Part 2
23 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Their sting is worse than their bark. The Arizona Bark scorpion is one of the only scorpion species ...
Creatures of the Night - Scorpions: Part 1
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
They have really scary looking tails and frightening claws. And sure being stung by a scorpion isn&a...
Update: Something's Fishy
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We love to go into the ocean, but a new danger lurks there. It is called “red tide." What i...
Update: Heartland and its Dangerous Companion Babesiosis
26 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are always on the lookout for diseases that ticks spread-but a new one called the Heartland Virus...
Adventure: Struggling to the Summit of Aconcagua
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to this podcast for an eye-opening journey with John Bingham and a team of climbers on their ...
Update: Best Solutions for the Knocked Out Tooth
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Yikes! A tooth has been knocked out. Once you find it, what liquid should you put it in while you ...
Adventure: The Ultra Runner
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to run one of these incredibly long and difficult ultramarathons? What do you ea...
Update: 'Kneed' Ski Bindings?
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ankles and legs are protected with well oiled ski bindings. But the knees sure have taken a hit sinc...
Ouch
15 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all know what 'Ouch" means - something hurts. Pain at home may be a big nuisance. B...
This Ability not Disability in the Wilderness
28 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever thought about taking someone with a disability into the wilderness? What are the uni...
The Climbers Weight
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How low do you go? Climbing is called an ‘antigravitational’ sport. So, the lighter the weig...
Update: RICE and MEAT
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For years we have all used RICE therapy for treatment of athletic injuries. But now MEAT is becoming...
Chocolate Milk and the Metabolic Window
12 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How good is chocolate milk for recovery? Is there a 'metabolic window'? When should outd...
Alone But Never Alone
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Your wilderness experience begins with travel. Listen as Dr. Natalie Bronthius gives fascinating ...
Adventure: Climbing to the Top
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brian Squire started climbing when he was 'born.' He won his first of two bouldering nat...
Update: Don't Touch that Bat!
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rabies virus can be found in many wild and domestic animals. Listen as this podcast gives the deta...
Adventure: Above the Clouds
10 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
An unlikely climber, Carol Masheter, was 61 years old when she summited Mt. Everest. And that wa...
Adventure: The King of Peaks
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In July of 2022, a group of 12 people climbed Utah's highest mountain, King's Peak in the ...
These Things Suck
07 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of inconveniences and perils in the outdoors. But there are several that literally...
Searching for Alpha Gal
29 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A 57 year old lady had a rash that despite extensive therapy, would not go away. Doctors went sear...
Common Climbing Injuries
02 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most exciting modern sports is also the most ancient of activities - rock climbing. So,...
Evacuation
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The decision to evacuate is a difficult one at best. But when, how and by what method makes the de...
Adventure: The Epic First Ascent of Mt. Hunter's South Face
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Listen as Black Diamond Equipment's founder, Peter Metcalf, tells the amazing story of survivin...
Update: Frostbite Treatment
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Listen as Dr. Alex Charmoz details the latest treatments for this terrible cold injury.
Case Study: Rescue from the Bugaboos
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What would you do if a climbing partner was injured deep in a mountain range, stranded in a precario...
Case Study: My Son Died of Altitude Sickness
03 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In August 2017, Doug Julian, a healthy 17 year old boy climbed with scouts to 10,500 feet (3,200 m)....
Adventure: Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
18 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you were about to hike 2,640 miles (4250 km) would you know what to bring, what illness or injuri...
Incident Command in Searching for a Lost Person
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A search and rescue is impossible without supervision to oversee all of the many nuances and problem...
Wilderness Medical Kits: Part 1
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Probably the most asked question in wilderness medicine is, "What should I put in a first aid k...
The Law and Wilderness Medicine
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you protected from helping people who are injured in the backcountry? Well, maybe, it all depe...
Infectious Disease: Diarrhea
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Diarrhea at home is a terrible nuisance! But in the wilderness, it quickly can become a major medi...
Immunizations Typically Needed for Travel
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our outdoor adventures take us to all parts of the world. Which immunization are needed to keep us...
Dental Issues in the Wilderness
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered what to do if a tooth is knocked out on a back country trip? What do you do i...
Case Study: The Creation of a New Kayak Helmet
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Out of of tragedy comes the story of the creation of a new and safer kayak helmet.
Case Study: Passed Out on a Hot Beach
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On a hot June day while floating the Colorado River, a 38 year old lady, with no medical problems,...
Nutrition in the Wilderness Part 2
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have your emergency nutritional kit ready to go? Listen as nutrition professor Kary Woodruf...
Nutrition in the Wilderness Part 1
17 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever thought about what you should be eating and drinking when you go off into the wilderne...
Ultrasound Use in the Wilderness
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ultrasound is essential in hospital medicine, but can it be used in wilderness and austere settings?...
Case Study: Rescue at Lake Blanche
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A cliff, a patient, unknown location and confusing symptoms. This is an instructive story of a rec...
Search Techniques
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do you go about looking for someone who is lost of injured in the backcountry? For example, kn...
Lost Person Behavior
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Searching and then rescuing someone starts with knowing how different people of different ages will ...
Case Study: Rescue on Lone Peak
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast tells of an eight hour rescue of a brother and sister who were going to freeze to death...
Wilderness Safety for SAR Teams
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
You have to know how to be safe if you are going to look for someone who is lost and try to rescue t...
Schistosomiasis
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
All it takes is a snail, a worm and some freshwater to become infected. Once you are, the disease co...
Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
These are very important emerging diseases. But before we discuss them, we must first ask where do...
Malaria
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Epidemiologists estimate that four to five percent of all human deaths in history are attributable t...
Ticks
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ticks are not insects, although they are often mistaken for them. They require blood for sustenance,...
Parasites
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Parasites are simply everywhere. While it’s important to have a broad understanding of parasites, ...
Reducing the Risk of Mosquito Exposure
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What repellant can you use on a child? Which repellant do you use to prevent malaria? Globally, ...
Diarrhea in a Returning Traveler
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of a person who has traveled throughout the world, we also need to think of the global...
Fever in the Returning Traveler
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Of the 50 million people who travel each year into ‘the world,’ up to 11% return with a febrile ...
Stream Crossing
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While the actual number is not known, each year many people die in stream crossings while hiking and...
Clothing for the Backcountry
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To understand the use of clothing, it is first essential to understand heat. To some, clothing mig...
Flash Floods
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The danger associated with flash floods is due to their sudden onset. They can occur up to 6 hours a...
Foot Problems in the Backcountry
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It is estimated that over 90% of hikers experience painful foot issues. From a medical perspective...
Backpacks, Trekking Poles and Back Pain
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What causes back pain when backpacking? How do you prevent it? Do trekking poles help prevent inju...
Biking, Skiing, Snowboarding Injuries
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When we go fast we get hurt. What are the most common biking injuries? What is the appropriate s...
Children in the Wilderness: Basic Principles
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Taking children into the wilderness is important. But, it poses a number of special problems. Le...
Wilderness Medical Kits Part 2
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Putting the correct supplies and medicines in a kit for your adventure is essential for appropriate ...
Eye Injuries
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are few parts of the human body that are more delicate than the human eye. Yet it is frequen...
Drowning and Water Safety
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know the single most important initial treatment for someone who has been involved with a dro...
Medical Problems in the Wilderness Part 2
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Abdominal pain can be scary in the backcountry. Allergic reactions are completely annoying but ca...
Medical Problems in the Wilderness Part 1
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is the best way to evacuate someone with chest pain? How do you treat an asthma attack in the...
Dive Medicine
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
You don't need to know how to be a diver in order to treat someone who has developed diving p...