Education Library

I. Educational Presentation Series

WMS has developed an educational lecture series to help physicians and allied healthcare professionals teach topics in wilderness medicine. Each lecture contains more than seventy images and is accompanied by an explanatory text and study guide. The topics were developed by members of the Wilderness Medical Society who are experts in their field. The information presented is accurate and current.

These lectures are suited for a broad range of audiences, including physicians, residents, and medical students. The series is also instructive for pre hospital personnel, emergency medical technicians, Wilderness First Responders, and other allied health professionals.

Volume 1 of the Educational Lecture Series, completely revised and featuring 14 separate topic in wilderness medicine:

Hazardous Marine Life (©1992, 2000, Revised 2008) by Paul S. Auerbach MD, MS, features general principles of first aid for marine-acquired injuries, the bacteriology of the aquatic environment and its implications for treatment, and principles of antivenin administration. Dr. Auerbach reviews the treatment of traumatic injuries from marine animals such as sharks, barracudas, moray eels, and sea lions as well as envenomating marine animals such as sponges, coelenterates, mollusks, and stingrays.

Wild Animal Attacks (©1996, 2000, Revised 2008) by Luanne Freer MD and Lily Conrad, MD PhD, outlines the principles of medical treatment for large wild animal attacks, focusing primarily on animals found in North America. Dr. Freer and Dr. Conrad review the mechanisms of injury, prehospital and hospital treatment for attacks, and prevention and defense tactics for wilderness travelers.

Accidental Hypothermia (©1992, 2000, Revised 2008) Daniel Danzl MD, covers the epidemiology of accidental hypothermia, the physiology of temperature regulation and the pathophysiology of hypothermia. Dr. Danzl reviews the prehospital and hospital management of hypothermic victims with and in-depth analysis of the various rewarming methods.  Additionally, methods of prevention and predictors of outcome are discussed.

Wilderness Dermatology (©1992, 2000, Revised 2008): Part 1) Phototrauma; Part 2) Poison Oak/Ivy/and Sumac Dermatitis by Lee Kaplan MD, explores phototrauma and dermatitis secondary to toxicodendrons (poison oak, ivy, and sumac) in two separate sections. In Part 1 ultraviolet radiation and its effects on human skin are reviewed. Dr. Kaplan discusses the latest advances in sunscreens and reviews sunburn treatments. Part 2 instructs how to identify poison oak, ivy, and sumac plants. The clinical presentation, treatment, and prevention of dermatitis associated with these plants are also included.

Wilderness Ophthalmology (© 2008 NEW) by Lance Ferguson MD, simplifies diagnosis and treatment of common eye conditions encountered in the wilderness setting. Dr. Ferguson organized the presentation on an anatomical basis. The external disease section focuses on trauma, infections, and inflammatory conditions of the orbital bones, lids, and ocular adnexa. The second section contains information on pathology of the globe, subdivided into sections on trauma, infections, inflammations, ischemic injuries, and toxicity of systemic and topical drugs. FAQs commonly encountered by health care practitioners are presented and discussed.

Submersion Injuries and Near-Drowning Incidents (©2008 NEW) by Seth C. Hawkins MD, explores the injuries that can be sustained due to submersion: drowning and near-drowning. Submersion injury risk factors are discussed (age, gender, preexisting conditions, swimming ability), as well as the pathophysiology of submersion, various injuries, and field and hospital treatment.

Diarrhea from Foreign and Wilderness Travel (©1991, 2001, Revised 2008) by Howard Backer MD, MPH, covers the general principles of enteric infections and takes an in-depth look at the two major diseases afflicting foreign and wilderness travelers: traveler’s diarrhea and giardiasis.

Surviving a Wilderness Emergency (©2008 NEW) by Peter Kummerfeldt, covers the gamut of survival in many situations and why “luck” isn’t enough: preparation, clothing, medical and emergency kits, and heat loss and gain. Mr. Kummerfeldt explains how to develop a plan for survival before you have a need for it: what to carry in your pack, how to orient yourself, how to build different kinds of shelters for various weather conditions, mental and spiritual preparation, emergency fire starting, rescue signaling, and so much more.

Current Concepts in Dive Medicine (©2007) by Art D. Kaminski MD and Karen B. Van Hoesen MD, features medical conditions associated with diving and a summary of diving illnesses: various forms of barotrauma (middle ear, sinus, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, etc.) and embolisms and their clinical presentation, treatment, and prevention. Also included is a thorough discussion of diving sickness, nitrogen narcosis, oxygen toxicity and co-toxicity, breathing gases at an elevated pressure, diving charts and diving physics.

Field Water Disinfection (©1992, 2000, Revised 2008) by Howard Backer MD, MPH, includes the etiology and epidemiology of waterborne illnesses and water disinfection methods to assure safe, potable water. Methods illustrated and discussed include: heat, sedimentation, coagulation-flocculation, and granular disinfection.

Frostbite and Other Cold Injuries (©1995, 2000, Revised 2008) by Ken Zafren MD, James O’Malley MD, and William Mills, Jr. MD, presents the epidemiology, pathophysiology and classification of frostbite injuries and the normal physiological response to cold. Drs. Zafren, O’Malley, and Mills review the symptoms and signs of frostbite and then describe in detail the prehospital, emergency department, and hospital treatment. Other types of cold injuries, such as immersion foot and chilblains, conclude the presentation.

High Altitude Medicine (©1992, 2001, Revised 2008) by Ken Zafren MD and Peter Hackett MD, discusses the effects of altitude on the human body and the physiologic changes that result in acclimatization to altitude stress. The pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatment of acute mountain sickness, high altitude cerebral edema and high altitude pulmonary edema are presented in up-to-date detail. Drs. Zafren and Hackett review the effects of altitude on preexisting medical conditions and make recommendations regarding travel to altitude for persons with these conditions.

Venomous Arthropods (©2009 NEW) by Joanne Feldman MD, MS and Robert L. Norris MD, discusses and identifies various arthropods species (spiders, scorpions, bees, wasps, ants, and centipedes).  The authors cover bites vs stings, human illnesses caused by arthropods and their management and treatment. The presentation explodes common myths and discusses fatalities. The many vibrant slides provide superb identification of the various species.

Venomous Snakebite Management (©1995, 2001 Revised 2009) by Robert L. Norris, MD, identifies venomous U.S. snakes and the symptoms and signs of envenomation. Dr. Norris also presents the management of pitviper and coral snake envenomations from first aid in the field through treatment in the hospital. The presentation closes with a brief review of the identification and management of exotic snake envenomations.

Volume 2 of the Educational Lecture Series:

Lightning Injuries in the Backcountry (©2009 NEW) by by Brad L. Bennett, PhD, NREMT-P FAWM, Sheryl Olson, RN. BSN, CCRN, FAWM, covers the latest lightning facts and figures and explores and explodes the many myths surrounding lightning and lightning injuries. Bennett and Olson present the current epidemiology, the various mechanisms of injury, and detail the pathophysiology on the body and neurological systems, as well as the management of lightning strike injuries. An extended section on the prevention of lightning injures and safety precautions and devices concludes the presentation.

The Educational Presentation Series can be purchased as a CDROM and/or downloaded in our store. Individual presentations can be purchased for download.

II. Community Education Series

coming soon...

III. Clinical Scenario Series

coming soon...

IV. Speakers Bureau

coming soon...

V. Photo Resource

coming soon...

VI. Literature Reviews

coming soon...