Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS)

There are hundreds of species of mosquitos but only a few spread disease to humans.  What are they, which diseases and how do you avoid and treat them?   Which spiders cause problems to the wilderness traveler and can you use ice to treat scorpion stings?  What is the worse complication of a bee sting?  Listen to this podcast to answer these and other important questions. 

Why don't snakes have teeth and how does that affect the treatment of snakebites?   There are a lot of snakes  in the world, but which ones are most concerning?  What do you do if you are camping and see signs of a bear?  These questions and other important issues are outlined in this interesting podcast. 

When and where does lightning strike?  How does lighting injure?  How do you avoid lightning when you are on a multiday trip in the backcountry?  It all can be a little scary.  But this podcast covers these and other important issues surrounding lightning. 

How does heat leave a human body?  What happens if heat is lost too quickly?  How do you stop heat from leaving the body.?  What is the appropriate treatment when someone is too cold?  The answer to these questions become the foundation for the treatment of cold related illnesses. 

Treating stinging nettle is not as easy as it seems!  Are you allergic to poison ivy?  How about others you are with?  What do you do if they are exposed?  What is the best way to treat a sunburn?   Medical treatment for these and other common skin problems in the wilderness are discussed. 

There are several methods used to treat water while in the wilderness and it can be confusing. What methods should someone use?  What are common illnesses a person can contract?  These questions and others are discussed in the interesting podcast. 

There is nothing quite so frightening in the backcountry than these horrific events. This podcast introduces the basic science and background for avalanche medicine.

Most people are unaware of illnesses that occur as people go to altitude.  This podcasts talks about the science and physiology of altitude illnesses.