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.
Nov 12 2008
Flu Vaccine Recommendations for Children
Just recently, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) expanded its influenza (flu) vaccination recommendation to include children between the ages of six months and 18 years. So, with the exception of infants under the age of 6 months, the recommen...
Jul 26 2008
Summer Tips: Sunburn, Blisters, Sprains, Bug Bites and More
Learn to avoid and treat sunburns, blisters, sprains, mosquito bites, and other summer dangers.
May 17 2008
Pepper spray marketed to repel bears definitely has a role, but should not be completely relied upon to deter an aggressive or charging bear.
Jun 05 2007
Bears on the Prowl: Avoiding Bear Attacks in the Wilderness
photo courtesy of Tim FloydA black bear walks into a doctor’s office. A Yellowstone grizzly (brown) bear mauls a park visitor. What is the common theme? According to Luanne Freer, MD, who is a world-renowned authority on wild animal behavior and ...
Feb 01 2007
Mountain Lion Attack
North American mountain lions (also known as cougars) are clever and (usually) shy animals. However, they are encroaching with increasing frequency into populated areas of the western United States, probably because of human expansion into the wil...
Dec 04 2006
The American alligator Alligator mississippiensis most commonly attacks in the water but will also attack on land. These attacks seem to be motivated by feeding. Most alligator attacks in the U.S. seem to be on swimmers, waders, or fishermen
Nov 17 2006
Sea Lion Bites
Sea lions and seals are usually mild-mannered mammals except during the mating season, when the males may become aggressive, and the breeding season, when both genders attack in defense of their newborn pups.
Nov 15 2006
A shark attack occurred on November 11, 2006 in the ocean off the coast of Maui. As reported in the press, the victim was caught 30 to 40 feet offshore and bitten a single time in a “hit and run” attack. He pushed the shark away while kicking at i...
Sep 13 2006
The treatment of venomous fish stings is unique and not always well known by the lay public, or indeed, by medical practitioners.
Sep 06 2006
A Stingray Wound to the Heart
photo of blue-spotted stingray by Paul Auerbach We are now certain from eyewitness reports that Steve Irwin pulled the stingray's detached jagged spine from his chest immediately after he was struck by the animal. I have been asked repeatedly whet...