UPPER RESPIRATORY DISORDERS COMMON COLD Most “colds” are upper respiratory tract infections caused by one of a host (at least 200) of viruses. It is not true that exposure to…

GENERAL SYMPTOMS UNCONSCIOUS (OR SEMICONSCIOUS) VICTIM As discussed in detail in the section “Major Medical Problems” (see page 21), a proper approach to the unconscious (comatose) victim may make the…

INFECTIOUS DISEASES Foreign travel is increasingly a component of the wilderness experience, and thus American travelers are exposed to numerous diseases that are not indigenous to the United States. In…

Minor Medical Problems Although the afflictions discussed in this section are rarely life threatening, they account for the majority of health care problems encountered in a recreational or wilderness setting….

STROKE A stroke is caused by a blood clot that blocks an artery supplying part of the brain, or by bleeding from a leaking vessel into the brain. It occurs…

DIABETES Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the pancreas cannot create sufficient insulin (type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes) or in which insulin is not effective (type 2 or non–insulin-dependent…

POISONING See page 416.

INHALATION INJURIES Inhalation injuries include thermal (heat) and chemical (smoke, noxious gas) inhalations. A third type of inhalation injury is aspiration (inhalation) of stomach contents; blood; or ocean, river, lake,…

AMPUTATION Amputation is detachment of a body part, such as an ear, finger, or foot. It is usually associated with a serious force or crushing injury, such as an animal…