ALTITUDE-RELATED PROBLEMS
ALTITUDE-RELATED PROBLEMS Altitudes of 8,000 to 14,000 ft (2,438 to 4,267 m) are attained regularly by skiers, hikers, and climbers in the continental United States. Outside the United States, mountain…
WILDLAND FIRES
WILDLAND FIRES The wilderness adventurer or casual hiker in a forest or timbered park may find himself face to face with a wildland fire. This section will discuss high-risk situations,…
PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCIES
PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCIES The wilderness experience can be quite stressful, and a member of the party may behave in an unusual fashion. This may be directly related to the events at…
DISORDERS OF THE KIDNEYS, BLADDER, AND PROSTATE
DISORDERS OF THE KIDNEYS, BLADDER, AND PROSTATE BLADDER INFECTION Bladder infection (cystitis, sometimes called “urinary tract infection,” or UTI) occurs frequently in females, because the shorter female urethra does not…
HEAD INJURY
HEAD INJURY Victims of head injury can be divided into two groups, according to whether or not they have lost consciousness. Always be aware that the dazed or unconscious victim…
UPPER RESPIRATORY DISORDERS
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
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…
Minor Medical Problems
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….
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
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…
