Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS)
This is wilderness medicine education from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the Univeristy of Utah. It is designed for use in the Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) program, but anyone who goes into the backcountry should study this material. Log onto: www.wildmedu.org for more information.
Episodes
220 episodes
Bats in the Grand Canyon
Bats are an essential—and often misunderstood—part of the Grand Canyon ecosystem. In this episode, we explore the role bats play in the canyon, why they are so abundant along the Colorado River, and what that means for people camping overnight ...
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13:28
When Perfusion Fails: Understanding Types of Shock
Shock can develop quickly in the backcountry, and recognizing it early can save a life. In this episode, we focus on how to identify shock with limited tools and how to tell the difference between its major types in remote settings. We b...
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19:50
Fueling to the Extremes: Nutrition in extreme environments
Dr. Kathy Vidlock explores how the human body responds when sport and movement take place in the most demanding environments on Earth—and why proper fueling can mean the difference between performance, illness, and survival. From endurance athl...
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15:18
Backcountry Women’s Health
In this episode, Dr. Richard Ingebretsen explores women’s health challenges in the backcountry, focusing on common conditions that can arise far from definitive medical care. We discuss menstrual-related conditions—including dysmenorrhea (painf...
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14:50
Frozen Numbers: Blood Glucose in the Cold Patient
Dr. Keely Coxon discusses a critical but under-discussed topic in acute care: blood glucose management in the hypothermic patient. In this episode, Dr. Coxon examines how hypothermia affects glucose metabolism and challenges conventional treatm...
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20:27
Thin Air Doesn’t Play Fair
High altitude changes the rules of the game for the human body. As oxygen levels drop, systems we usually take for granted—our heart, lungs, metabolism, and immune response—are suddenly asked to work harder. For some people, that challenge is b...
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18:27
Tackling Male Medical Emergencies on the Trail
This episodes looks into the often-overlooked medical issues that can strike men far from help. We break down the signs, symptoms, and field-management strategies for three critical conditions: inguinal hernias, testicular torsion, and epididym...
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15:21
Pain: The Foundation Beneath Our Strength
In this insightful podcast, Matthew Guthrie explores a transformative way to understand and manage pain—by shifting our mindset from seeing pain as a threat to viewing it as a challenge. Listeners will learn how threat-based thinking amplifies ...
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15:53
Trail-Ready Dogs
This podcast is your guide to exploring the wild with your four-legged adventure partner. We delve into everything you need to know about taking dogs trekking and hiking in the backcountry—from choosing the best breeds for rugged terrain to und...
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14:16
Don’t be Tachy: Arrhythmia in the Wilderness
Welcome to today’s episode, hosted by wilderness medicine expert Dr. Kathy Vidlock. In this episode, Dr. Vidlock walks us through a real case from the backcountry—a hiker who developed supraventricular tachycardia, or SVT, away from definitive ...
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11:23
On the Burning Edge: The Medicine of Wildland Firefighting
This is a deep dive with Sarah Hall into the world of wildland fire medical support—where emergency medicine meets the world wildland firefighting. This podcast explores what it takes to keep firefighters safe on the line, from treating tree st...
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17:55
Exoskeletons in the Wilderness
This podcast dives deep into the rise of exoskeletons in the backcountry—wearable robotic systems designed to help hikers, rescue teams, and explorers move farther, faster, and safer in rugged terrain. Exoskeletons can transform wildernes...
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10:06
Creepy Crawlies: The Hidden Worms of the World’s Trails
Every year, thousands of hikers, trekkers, and adventure travelers return from their journeys with more than just memories — sometimes, they bring home unwanted hitchhikers: parasitic worms. In this eye-opening episode, we dig into the fascinat...
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14:46
The Art of Land Snorkeling
Ever wonder what wonders exist beneath your hiking boots? In this episode, we trade panoramic mountain views for the hidden landscapes of moss, soil, and leaf litter. Land snorkeling is a quiet, curious way to explore the outdoors — no...
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15:25
Under Pressure - Treating compartment syndrome in the wilderness
Hosted by Dr. Kathy Vidlock, Under Pressure explores the moments when the human body and the wild collide. From fractures deep in the backcountry to life-threatening compartment syndromes far from help, Dr. Vidlock breaks down real cases, ...
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13:05
Heat, Smoke, and Survival: The Medicine of Wildland Fire
Where there’s fire, there’s risk—and where there’s risk, there’s medicine. This podcast tells the untold stories of those who bring medical expertise to the edge of the wilderness fireline. Firefighter Luke Werner, from the US Forest servi...
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19:03
From Track to Trail: Managing Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction
Imagine pushing up a mountain trail or gliding across fresh snow, only to feel your chest tighten and your breath slip away. This episode by Jenson Rawlings explores exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in the outdoors, including why c...
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9:22
When the Heart Walls Thicken - HCOM explained.
In this podcast, we look into a condition that’s often hidden, yet can have life-changing—and even life-threatening—effects: hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, or HOCM. This genetic heart disease causes the walls of the heart, especially ...
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12:08
Brain Safe: The Next Gen of MTB Helmets
Mountain biking is full of thrills—and spills. In this episode, we dive into the latest innovations in helmet protection that are changing the way riders stay safe on the trail. From advanced impact-absorbing materials to rotational force reduc...
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13:44
The Attention Walk
This episode explores how walking through natural environments can restore and sharpen our attention span. Drawing on research in psychology and neuroscience, we’ll discuss why time in green spaces helps the brain recover from fatigue, improves...
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11:52
Managing Type 1 Diabetes in the Wilderness
In this episode, student Clay Hicke shares his personal journey of living with type 1 diabetes while pursuing his passion for the outdoors. Clay opens up about the challenges he has faced in managing his condition, from daily struggles to wilde...
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17:27
Concussions in Sports and Wilderness Activities
In this episode, Dr. Kathy Vidlock explores the hidden dangers of concussions in outdoor adventures and sports. Listeners will learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of head injuries, understand best practices for immediate treatment, an...
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20:02
Beyond Limits: The Extreme Physiology of Endurance Sports
Join Dr. Kathy Vidlock as she takes you deep inside the human body to explore the remarkable—and sometimes perilous—physiology of endurance sports. From ultra-marathons to long-distance triathlons, discover how the heart, lungs, muscles, and me...
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14:02
Snakes & Snouts: Protecting Dogs from Bites, Prevention to Treatment
In this episode, we explore the serious threat snakebites pose to dogs and what every owner should know to keep their canine companion safe. We’ll cover effective avoidance techniques to reduce the risk of encounters, how to spot the early sign...
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18:51