Healthline Blogs
Dr. Paul Auerbach is the world's leading outdoor health expert. His blog offers tips on outdoor safety and advice on how to handle wilderness emergencies.
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Nov 28 2011
Update on Zanfel Pricing
I recently received a note mailed to health care providers from Steve Sisler, Vice President of Sales Development for Zanfel Laboratories, Inc. Zanfel is a product used to decrease the skin reaction attributable to poison ivy and similar plants...
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Nov 18 2011
Ski Helmets and Reaction Time
Ski season is upon us. Many experts (including myself) are of the opinion that helmets should be worn by all downhill skiers and snowboarders to help prevent head injuries. One of the “con” arguments proposed by some persons who object to weari...
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Nov 03 2011
FDA Approves Boostrix Vaccine for Elders
Most of us are familiar with the need to achieve immunization against tetanus (“lockjaw”) and diphtheria. Fewer are familiar with the need to immunize against pertussis (“whooping cough”). Boostrix is a vaccine used to achieve immunity against ...
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Oct 27 2011
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System and Mack’s Ear Care Products
As most of you know, I am sometimes sent outdoor health equipment and supplies to evaluate. I’ve recently received a few items worthy of mention. Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration SystemFirst, there is the Sawyer Products ‘Squeeze’ Water Filt...
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Oct 20 2011
Anvenom Approved by FDA For Treatment Of Scorpion Stings
Bark Scorpion of Arizona, photo courtesy of Musides at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved an antivenom product, Anascorp for the treatment of scorpion stings. From an Associated Press report, th...
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Sep 19 2011
Comparing New Agents Used to Control Bleeding
Once of the major recent advances in trauma care has been the evolution of topical substances that can be applied to wounds in order to limit or stop hemorrhage (bleeding). This is very important in wilderness medicine, because uncontrolled ble...
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Aug 29 2011
In the Wake of Hurricane Irene – Methods of Water Disinfection
A store in New York city, boarded up in preparation for Hurricane Irene. Photo courtesy of David Shankbone (CC BY 3.0)In the wake of Hurricane Irene, many people will be without electrical power for days. If they need to disinfect water to obtai...
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Aug 26 2011
Effectiveness of Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine in Older Adults
I am often asked by elder persons whether or not they should take the herpes zoster (“shingles”) vaccine. Up until this point, I have been answering “yes” based on my own experience, but now there is some data to support this recommendation. ...
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Aug 18 2011
Good News Regarding Fab Antivenom for Snakebite
The current standard of care with regard to using antivenom for pit viper snakes (e.g., rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths) in North America is to use Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab antivenom (CroFab;FabAV). This antivenom is created usi...
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Aug 11 2011
Progress in Obtaining a Better Yellow Fever Vaccine
Yellow fever is an affliction caused by a potentially lethal viral (flavivirus) hemorrhagic (causes bleeding) virus common in parts of Africa and South America. A highly effective vaccine made from live virus (known as the “17D vaccine”) is cur...
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