Wilderness Medicine

water/shutterstock

Water is an amazing thing – it keeps you going. Literally. However, your body is made of up SALT WATER, not fresh water. By drinking TOO much water, you actually change out the composition of your blood from 70% saline to 50%-70% fresh water (called hyponatremia).[read more]

hiking/shutterstock

Blisters are the number one foot ailment encountered by hikers – and they can turn the greatest hike into the most painful one. Blisters can be avoided by proper foot training; having the correct footwear and socks, and by early detection of possible problems. To help protect your feet, know the causes of blisters, how to prevent and treat them.[read more]

An acquaintance of mine once lost all the feeling in his toes for three months from “trench foot.” He was lucky, in the end, that he suffered no permanent damage. How did this happen? Well, you might guess that he froze his toes off in pursuit of an extreme adventure — high-altitude mountaineering or dog sledding across the North Pole — but no. He was backpacking, in June, near his home in Wyoming.[read more]

Dr Rob Lambert

Before he left the UK to fly to Cape Town and join the rest of the Coldest Journey team we managed to catch up with Dr. Rob Lambert, expedition team doctor, and get a little more background on the journey he faces and why the DRX Transportable is going with them.[read more]

We are always harping on MacGyvering (or using something for a reason other than its intended purpose). Here are just a few neat ways to do that with a simple triangular bandage (or neckerchief for that matter)! We’re not saying that these are all great uses… just that they’d probably work. Enjoy![read more]

If you’re the type who likes to hike, ski, or mountain climb, you may want to double check to make sure you’ve got ibuprofen in your first aid kit – and not just for muscle and headaches, but also to aid in preventing altitude illnesses such as Acute Mountain Sickness, HACE, & HAPE.[read more]

One of the leading causes of amputation and disability in the United States, diabetes is an endocrine problem where the pancreas fails to produce adequate amounts of insulin, or perhaps doesn’t produce any insulin at all.[read more]

There are many myths related to outdoor medicine. These need to be “debunked,” so that people do not fall prey to outdated and useless techniques. Here are some of the most common myths (in italix):[read more]

The general perception that copperhead bites are less severe than those of other pit vipers, namely rattlesnakes, is no doubt true. It is also likely true that coagulopathy (propensity to bleed) is not as much of a problem with copperhead bites. However, the wise clinician will remain vigilant.[read more]

Brown Recluse Spider

What Do They Look Like? Named for its habit of hiding in dark corners, the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa) is also known as the violin spider or fiddleback spider because of a violin-shaped marking. The brown recluse spider is about a half-inch long (including legs) and is a solid light brown color. The violin marking is...[read more]

photo by tunnelhillheritagecenter

My class a presentation series this morning that really opened my eyes to a lot of health disparities around Georgia. I have no doubt that rural medicine can be incredibly difficult and challenging, but it can also be tremendously rewarding. I honestly don't think people like my dad would have kept up with it for so long if they didn't truly enjoy the work they do.[read more]

photo by Daniel

Altitude sickness strikes about one in four people. This usually happens at altitudes over 8,500 feet. Your body isn't used to the thin air and your blood has difficulty getting enough oxygen to your body. Here's how to cope:[read more]