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Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS)Author: 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. Language: en-us Genres: Courses, Education, Health & Fitness, Medicine Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Pulse Oximeters in the Backcountry
Monday, 16 February, 2026
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 you. In this podcast we talk about a small device that’s making its way into more packs, first-aid kits, and expedition gear — the pulse oximeter. You’ve probably seen one in a hospital or clinic. But what does it really tell you when you’re miles from a trailhead, at altitude, in the cold, and far from help? In this episode, we break down how pulse oximeters actually work, how reliable they are in the wild, and how they should, and should not be used in real backcountry and wilderness medicine settings. Because in remote environments, technology doesn’t keep you safe - judgment does.
