Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS)
AWLS
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About This Podcast
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.
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Recent Episodes
Canyoning Considerations: Beauty, Adventure, and Hidden Hazards
Canyoning combines hiking, climbing, rappelling, swimming, and navigating through narrow canyons carved by water, creating one of the most exciting adventure sports in the outdoors. However, the same…
Hantavirus Explained: Origins and Characteristics — Part 1
In Part 1 of this fascinating podcast series, Dr. Matt Gunderson explores the origins and characteristics of Hantavirus, a rare but potentially deadly infectious disease carried primarily by rodents.…
Back to Basics on the Trail: Using Core AWLS Protocols
In this episode, Dr. Kathy Vidlock shares a compelling real-world wilderness medicine experience involving two runners found on a remote trail, each suffering from different medical emergencies.…
Hanging in the Balance: Understanding Suspension Trauma
In this episode, Matthew McKinnon takes a deep dive into the often-overlooked but potentially fatal condition known as suspension trauma. Commonly associated with climbing, rope access work, and…
Peptide Use in the Wilderness
In this episode, Dr.Kathy Vdilock explores the emerging role of peptides in wilderness and remote medicine, where limited resources demand creative and effective solutions. From secretagogues that…
Avalanche Tragedies in the Alps
This episode explores the alarming rise in avalanche-related deaths across the Alps this year. We break down what’s driving this deadly trend—from unstable snowpack layers and rapid temperature…
Leaky lungs - Pulmonary Edema
In this episode, Dr. Kathy Vidlock explores the physiology and real-world risks of pulmonary edema triggered by both intense physical exertion and high-altitude exposure. Drawing on clinical insight…
The Fall That Changed Lucas Hungerford
In the towering peaks of the Austrian Alps where adrenaline and precision define every run, one moment can change everything. This episode tells the story of Lucas Hungerford, an experienced skier…
Vaginal Infections in the Backcountry
Long days on the trail, limited hygiene options, sweat, and wet clothing can create the perfect conditions for vaginal bacterial and yeast infections during backcountry trips. In this episode, Layla…
Frozen Flesh: Understanding Frostbite
Frostbite has long been one of the most feared cold-weather injuries for mountaineers, backcountry skiers, and winter adventurers—often leading to permanent tissue loss or even amputation. In this…
Where the Ticks Overlap
As climate and ecological conditions shift across the United States, the geographic boundaries of several tick species are expanding—and with them comes growing confusion about the diseases they…
Pulse Oximeters in the Backcountry
In the backcountry, decisions matter. And sometimes the only difference between a good outcome and a bad one is knowing when to stop, when to descend, and when to listen to what the body is telling…
Invisible Threats: Fungi in the Outdoors
When we head outdoors, we think about weather, wildlife, terrain, and terrain — but we rarely think about what’s floating in the air, living in the soil, or hiding in the dust. In this episode, we…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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:…
Frequently Asked Questions
Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) has published 233 episodes since December 2020, covering topics in Courses, Education.
Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 17m.
