Wilderness Medicine Updates Ep. 25 - Tree Well Burial Study / Wilderness Med Careers AMA with Zack Majd
Sep 8, 2025
Zack Majd, a passionate pre-med student and outdoor medicine enthusiast, dives into the essentials of building a career in wilderness medicine. He and Patrick discuss the differences between tree well and avalanche burials, emphasizing crucial rescue tactics. They explore the educational pathways and the unique blend of wilderness and sports medicine. The conversation also covers practical advice on gear, the financial landscape of wilderness medicine, and the importance of psychological support in austere settings. A must-listen for aspiring wilderness medics!
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Tree Well Versus Avalanche Physiology
- Tree well burials position victims head-down with little to no air pocket, causing rapid hypoxia.
- Avalanche burials more often leave air pockets and have slower hypoxia, changing survival dynamics.
Faster Hypoxia, Slower Cooling In Tree Wells
- The simulation showed tree well burials cooled less but caused oxygen saturation to fall much faster.
- Tree well participants terminated earlier, reinforcing hypoxia as the primary acute risk.
Avalon Use Limits Study Applicability
- Use of an Avalon device in the study likely altered CO2 and O2 dynamics and limits real-world applicability.
- Without an Avalung, both groups would likely desaturate faster and differences could narrow.