Wilderness Medicine
Wilderness Medicine like sports medicine is a broad term to describe an exciting new field of medicine. At its most basic level it includes first aid in the great outdoors. Many experts have contributed to the field in areas such as extreme conditions (cold, heat, altitude), exotic locations (travel medicine, scuba medicine), specialized situations (aviation, scuba, and military medicine), emergency medicine, and others. Wilderness medicine encompasses all these things and more. It is meant to include humankind and our surrounding environments in harmony and is an evidence based search for symmetry with the rest of the planet. Other issues such as pollution, warfare and exploitation are also relevant as they also ultimately impact on human health. We believe a healthy balance with the environment is crucial to everyone's health. The science of Sports Medicine has long understood the need for recreation pivotal for preventative health. The value of activity has more than just recreational benefits and can lead to physical, mental, and spiritual health. We also hope that by having our patients participate in recreational trips, visit foreign lands, and understand our ecosystems they will possibly become more involved with global issues.