Wilderness Medicine - University of Utah School of Medicine

We need research on a variety of topics.  Below are listed a few of them that we are currently working on. Contact us if you are interested in these or if you have ideas of you own.

1. Water Purifiers:  We need a list of the latest water purifiers.  How do they work, what do they filter.
2. Grand County Injuries:  What are the injuries in the back country in the Moab area.
3. Latest on wound closure in the wilderness, suture vs glue, vs tape, etc.
4. We need data collected from back country wilderness expereinces such as a recent trip to Acongagua.  We will need to contact participants.  Determine incident of disease, hygiene etc.  Create case report data.
5. Incident of lightning injuries in various situations, particularly in Utah.
6. Look various myths associated with wilderness medicine, such as the use of stun guns in the treatment of venomous snake bites.  Where did they come from?
7. How effective are over the counter preparations for removal of Urushiol.  One preparation called Zanfel makes interesting claims. 
8. The FDA has approved new sun screen SPF guidelines.  Updates are needed.  Also how effective are aloe vera, PABA

    etc?

9. Do you treat spider bites with antibiotics?  How about wasp stings?  The claim is that wasp stings are “dirty.”
10. Interleukin, sunburn and DNA.   How do these interact?
11. Ice climbing injuries in Utah
12. Type of injury vs. victim’s experience
13. Ginko Biloba vs Diamox for altitude diseases.
14. What are the new ski bindings that have come out?  Are they as effect as they claim?
15. New data is out on GI symptoms at altitude.
16. New methods for pain management in the wilderness without analgesics.