Author: Abby Rowe

20,000 people per year are killed by snakebites each year in developing countries. Wow. Read this article to learn about the difficulties of making and distributing antivenom. http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/11/snakebites-kill.html We are fortunate in North America to have very few poisonous snakes and just a handful of deaths each year. As I routinely remind students if you… Read more »

What to do if you fall through the ice. Would you know what to do? When I teach a WFR in the far north in the winter I am always able to find a student volunteer to “fall through” the ice. After a safe extrication is conducted WFR students act quickly to remove the patient’s… Read more »

A forum on managing technology in wilderness was convened at the October 2008 Wilderness Risk Managers Conference. Browse to http://www.nols.edu/nolspro/pdf/wrmc_managing_technology_on_adventure_programs.pdf to read a recap of the forum discussion by two members of the Wilderness Risk Manager’s Committee.

Wilderness medicine is generally understood to encompass prolonged patient transport, limited or improvised equipment, and/or severe environments. One of the most severe environments encountered by wilderness providers is the tent after a group meal of beans and rice. Any meal that includes dried onions is guaranteed to elicit gasps for relief from my tentmates and… Read more »

Hey folks! Wilderness Medical Associates instructors Greg Friese and Kevin Collopy just created this great video on the removal of spider straps, which is important so that you can maintain your equipment and keep it clean for the next time they’re used. Check it out!

Lyme Disease Prevalence in the United States According to the CDC Lyme Disease is the “most commonly reported vector borne disease in the United States.” This map shows the prevalence of Lyme Disease cases in the United Sates. As you can see cases are concentrated in the upper Midwest and Northeast. Incidence of Lyme disease… Read more »

Do you want to learn more about foot care? Subscribe to the Fixing Your Feet E-Zine by John Vonhoff. Fixing Your Feet is dedicated to “Foot Care, Skills, Tips, Techniques, and Products.” John is the author of Fixing Your Feet: Prevention and Treatments for Athletes. The author shares from his years of experience as a… Read more »

During a WMA course introduction I often ask students to tell me and the class their name, where they are from, what they do, and as they think about providing first aid what would gross them out. Since I usually go first I unequivocally tell students that ear wax grosses me out. Big hunks of… Read more »

“Thought you might enjoy some pix of the Backcountry Medicine Rodeo: when it’s too hot to sit in the sun, relax in the water! Students in Bahamas holding their backcountry medicine topic cards and their responders using the Field Guide to assess.” -Jeff Baierlein, WEMT