Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS)

Urine will darken in color with dehydration, which is bad enough. But when it turns to a 'cola' color, watch out!  This might indicate something far more perilous as muscle breakdown might be occurring which can damage the kidneys.  It is called rhabdomyolysis. It is dangerous and far more common than you would think.  Listen and learn about dangerous dark urine. 

'Pagkain para aa bata' means 'food for children' in the language of the Filipinos.  The lack of nourishing food and soil transmitted worms makes it almost impossible for some children in the Philippines to thrive.  But one man's dream has come true and now thousands of children daily are eating nourishing food and becoming free of horrible parasitic worms.  Listen and see how this man is feeding hope. 

So many effective medicines have come from fungi.  There is a new one that outdoor enthusiasts are using called the Zombie Fungus.  It is actually called Cordyceps and its potential use is staggering.  Listen and learn what we know about this exciting new fungi.  

Long a mainstay for the treatment of allergic reactions, Benadryl's side effects may be too problematic for backcountry medical treatment.  Listen and learn to say goodbye to Benadryl and hello to new antihistamines. 

It is one of the least talked about subject in wilderness medicine.  You think about it briefly when you camp under a tree with dead branches or one that is leaning toward your tent.  Listen and learn how to be safe from the falling risks of camping under a tree. 

Its symptoms depend on where it enters the body. Both animals and insects spread it.  In this podcast. we explore the rare bacterial infection known as tularemia, or ‘Rabbit Fever.’ We look into the science, symptoms, transmission, and treatments of this little-known disease that is on the rise.

Three viruses you might have read about in the news, remind us that disease is spread to humans from insects. Don't be scared, just be safe always when exploring the world.  Listen and hear about three rare viruses and are emerging. 

If you have a fever headache and chills after your wilderness adventure, you may have typhus.  Thought to be rare, this set of diseases is making a comeback.  It is spread by chiggers, fleas and lice, insects that are so tiny that they can barely be seen.  Listen and learn what you need to know about typhus. 

In this podcast we explore the science behind chiggers, their life cycle, their diseases and where you find them. Listen and learn everything you need to know about these  tiny, troublesome tiny biters.

They are made from red pepper oil and are great deterrents for bears and mountain lions.  But other issues remain in their effective use. Listen and learn about how to spray and survive.