You notice a red circular rash on your skin where a tick had bitten you. It must be Lyme disease - right? Think again! While the causative agent is not known, the STARI rash is being seen more and more. So, is it STARI or Lyme? Listen and find out.Av AWLS

Its fantastic to take your dog outdoors into the wild. But you watch as they swallow water you would not drink. They sniff and eat things you would not touch. And then you wonder if they will get sick? Giardia is everywhere. Do dogs get it?. How do you know if your pet has it? What do you do to treat it? Can you get a Giardia infection from them? L…

People know to where a personal flotation device (PFD) when in and around water. But how can a tiny thing support me? What types of PFD's are there and which ones are the best? Listen to his important podcast about the essentials of the PFD and me.Av AWLS

Broken legs are common skiing injuries. But this one was a race against the cold and pain. Life lessons learned come from hindsight. Let's listen and learn how to be better prepared when a great day turns bad.Av AWLS

So many things can cause pain in the knee when we are outside recreating. Trail runners and backpackers frequently feel the strain on their knees for sure. Surpirsingly, some of the problems can be corrected by a simple change to our shoes. Listen and find out about the Gooses's Foot and other knee problems caused by our feet.…

These worms go back and forth from humans to pigs and back to humans again. They live in human intestines as tape worms, but can find themselves in our muscles, eyes and even our brains. Listen and learn about the crazy life of the pork tapeworm.Av AWLS

Few people do this beautiful sport but most people know about it. When done safely it is not as extreme a sport as once thought. Listen and learn about the medicine and safety of ice climbing.Av AWLS

Ice fishing is one of the most beautiful outdoor sports possible. It has its own unique medical issues that most people don't think about. Listen and learn about fishing on ice - just not on thin ice.Av AWLS

A common name for this disease implies it causes illness in the winter time. It actually is called Norovirus and happens all year round. It poses a special risk to backcountry travelers because, it can be spread in the air by vomit and is resistant to hand sanitizers. Listen and learn about the most common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in the worl…

While not recognized as a true medical diagnosis, its effects are very real. Many people are not going outside and experiencing nature, and this is causing problems, particularly in children. Listen and learn about the growing school of thought that describes nature deficit disorder.Av AWLS

So they've earned the nickname “the murder hornet,” but really they're known as the Asian giant hornet. Raiding parties of several dozen of these can kill whole hives containing thousands of bees in a few hours! In the last of this series, here is the untold and dramatic story of this new insects that stings us by Dr. Matt Gunderson .…

In July of 2021 a family suffered the ultimate tragedy when their dad, Wil Lundberg died while riding his electric skate board. For the first time ever, he did not wear a helmet. Turning sadness into hope, his wife created a foundation to encourage people to wear helmets. Listen to this amazing story and help her in her mission to save lives. The f…

We all know the feeling of being colder when the wind blows across our skin, and we have heard of the charts that measure that effect. Listen and learn about the wind chill factor.Av AWLS

In what is an incredible survival and recovery story, listen as climber Ben Eder recounts his horrific fall in Grand Teton National Park in the United States. Through telling his story, we learn lessons in traumatic brain injury recovery and a new perspective on life.Av AWLS

Their demeanor has earned them the terrifying nickname of 'killer bees.' Africanized honey bees are dangerous stinging insects that have been known to chase people for more than a quarter of a mile once they get excited and aggressive. Listen to Dr. Matt Gunderson teach us about another thing that stings us.…

The University of Utah School of Medicine provides free resources for students of wilderness medicine. We are developing a program to help keep children safe in the backcountry. Will you help us make all this possible? Everyone who works for this program does so free of charge. Give by clicking on the link below. Bless you. https://ugive.app.utah.e…

Have you ever wanted to see Mt. Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe? Well, the Univeristy of Utah teaches wilderness medicine right there in Chamonix-Mt. Blanc. Take a minute and listen as Dylan Beattie talks about this incredible course in the spectacular mountains of southern France. See: www.chamonixwilded.org…

Just when you thought you knew how to treat a cut or an abrasion! With this, there is definently more than meets the eye. Listen as Dr. Thomas Cartwright enlightens us about how to wrap it up.Av AWLS

When you are done with a ride your bottom hurts. Normally we don't pay much attention to what we sit on, but with bike seats, it is important. They not only cause discomfort, but also having the proper seat helps provide much needed power. Listen as Justin Allen tells us what we need to know about bike seats.…

Everyone knows to wear dark glasses. But are you wearing the right ones, what are you guarding against, and what are the long term problems of sun hitting our eyes? Do dogs need to wear dark glasses? The answers are not what you think. Listen and find out about your eyes in the outdoors.Av AWLS

Born in the USA. This incredible and fun sport has its own history and its own set of injuries. Listen and learn about what was originally two sets of skis glued together.Av AWLS

Two horrible disease are out there when you travel into the wilderness. Now we have vaccines for both. There already is a vaccine for Dengue Fever. Now there is a new vaccine for painful Chikungunya. They once thought these two diseases were the same. So what is the difference between them? Listen and find out about how to stay healthy in your trav…

It is not the end of malaria by a long shot, but the second vaccine is coming out. If your wilderness travel takes you into malaria country, then you need to listen to this podcast.Av AWLS

Just when you thought it was safe to go outdoors in the USA! So diseases that were thought to exist only in tropical countries or localized in the USA are now spreading. Listen as we talk about three diseases that can affect us as we recreate in the USA.Av AWLS

As the temperature of the earth rises, mosquitos are moving to new areas. And with them the diseases they carry. Dengue Fever is now in Europe and the USA. Vaccines are limited. But a new and effective treatment is being tested. Listen as we talk about the spread and new treatment for this dangerous virus.…

How well did you do on the last quiz? Again we challenge your knowledge of wilderness medicine.Av AWLS

What on earth is that? A tiny stinging sore sits right on top of a joint on a toe. You have been wearing sandals on a warm summer day, hiking in the back country in a forest with small streams. You don't remember bumping it. This is a chilblain. They are common, yet most people know little about them. Listen and learn about these tiny irritating so…

How much do you know about wilderness medicine? Listen to this podcast quiz and find out!Av AWLS

It does not take much, even moisture from sweat is enough water to cause this painful and potentially deadly condition. It's seen in river sports but also people at outdoor outdoor music festivals can get it. Trench Foot is easily treatable, but first you need to be able to recognize it. Listen and learn about this danger in the water.…

They can take us to far away and amazing places. But there is a lot to know and understand to be safe when riding horses in the wilderness. Listen as equestrian Christopher Rich teaches us about the important aspects of horseback riding in the back country.Av AWLS

it comes from a tic but it is not found so much in the Rocky Mountains. It can be life threatening but is usually easily treated. Listen as pediatric infectious disease physician Dr. T.W. Jones tells us how to avoid, recognize and treat the disease that begins with a rash.Av AWLS

The fire ant's sting is a serious concern to people and their pets. Venom injected into the skin causes a burning sensation - hence their names. On top of that, they can sting multiple times. Listen to this first in a series podcasts by Dr. Matt Gunderson on things that sting us. This one is on fire ants.…

What is known to be a very rare infection is also a fatal one. Naegleria Fowleri is a microscopically small amoeba that enters the brain only though the nose. Listen and know about a rare danger in the water.Av AWLS

What was the last bar you grabbed as you went on your last hike or adventure? Why did you chose that one? Not all bars are created equal and chosing the right bar can power you through to the end. Listen as Dr Kary Woodruff teaches us how to chose the right bar for your activity.Av AWLS

We put sunscreen on when we go in out in the sun. Do they help? We use old bottles that are on the shelves, is that safe?. There are a bunch of chemicals in them, but we don't know what they do. Do sunscreens prevent skin cancer? Listen as we answer these and other question about the cream we put on our skin.…

When the seasons change, our minds and hearts turn to a different outdoor activity. Are you ready? This podcast looks at the little but very important things that will keep us safe and healthy in the outdoors.Av AWLS

Should you use caffeine to enhance your hike or your big climb? Listen as Dr. Kary Woodruff discusses the science of the effects of caffeine on performance and provides us with practical tips on how to use caffeine to benefit outdoor activities.Av AWLS

Their sting is worse than their bark. The Arizona Bark scorpion is one of the only scorpion species with venom potent enough to cause severe symptoms. Listen to part 2 of this series on scorpions as Dr. Matt Gunderson discusses this incredible creature of the night.Av AWLS

They have really scary looking tails and frightening claws. And sure being stung by a scorpion isn't exactly fun. But the truth is, with few exceptions, scorpions can't do much harm to humans. Listen as Dr. Matt Gunderson tells us more about these fascinating creatures of the night.Av AWLS

We love to go into the ocean, but a new danger lurks there. It is called “red tide." What is this and how does it impact human health? Listen as Dr. Natalie Koons discusses regional algae blooms and their impact on human health and how to treat the symptoms.Av AWLS

We are always on the lookout for diseases that ticks spread-but a new one called the Heartland Virus is emerging and it dangerous companion Babesiosis is spreading. Listen and learn about these two tick borne diseases that are becoming more prevalent.Av AWLS

Listen to this podcast for an eye-opening journey with John Bingham and a team of climbers on their perilous journey to the top of 23,000 foot (6,900 meters) Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the western hemisphere.Av AWLS

Yikes! A tooth has been knocked out. Once you find it, what liquid should you put it in while you go to the dentist? Listen as wilderness dentist, Dr. Paul Schmutz, gives us the latest data on the best solution for the knocked out tooth.Av AWLS

What does it take to run one of these incredibly long and difficult ultramarathons? What do you eat? What shoes do you wear? And what does it take to complete one? Listen as ultramarathoner Magnus Tveit inspires us.Av AWLS

Ankles and legs are protected with well oiled ski bindings. But the knees sure have taken a hit since bindings came out. New quick release heel bindings are supposed to help. Do we 'kneed' them? This update podcast looks at common ski injures to the knees and how to help prevent them.Av AWLS

We all know what 'Ouch" means - something hurts. Pain at home may be a big nuisance. But pain in the backcountry is always a bigger problem. How do we evaluate and manage pain in the wilderness? The answers will surprise you.Av AWLS

Have you ever thought about taking someone with a disability into the wilderness? What are the unique challenges that you should consider? In this podcast Dr. Joey Fyans discusses why it is important to get people with cognitive and physical disabilities into the wilderness setting and how to do it.Av AWLS

How low do you go? Climbing is called an ‘antigravitational’ sport. So, the lighter the weight, the easier it is to climb. But some climbers take this to an extreme so that disordered eating becomes a problem. Lighter weight means less calories for performance. This podcast introduces the topic.Av AWLS

For years we have all used RICE therapy for treatment of athletic injuries. But now MEAT is becoming the preferred therapy. What do we do in the wilderness for these types of injuries? This update looks at the issues.Av AWLS

How good is chocolate milk for recovery? Is there a 'metabolic window'? When should outdoor enthusiasts drink that incredibly desirable recovery drink? Listen as we answer these important questions.Av AWLS