Wilderness Emergencies

More than one hour from medical care Refer to other texts dealing with “First Aid

in the Wilderness”

Be Prepared For All Types Of Weather And Circumstances

Carry a variety of clothing

– Bike ride to Vail

Know Your Physical Limits

Bike ride – tiger road

Wilderness Prevention #2 Carry first aid kit Carry cell phone Hiking in hunting season?

– Orange vest Wear a whistle Carry a mirror Let others know where you are going

– Notes– Sign in at trail head– Back country permits

Wilderness: Prevention #3

Maps - Sometimes trail maps not accurate Lost in the wilderness?

– 3 fires– Stone formations– Create straight line formations

Survival in snow situations– Snow cave, sleeping surface if appropriate

Attend wilderness training sessions

Cardiac Arrest Guidelines For Special Circumstances

Start and continue CPR for more than 30 minutes in the following situations– Cold water immersion– Avalanche burial– Hypothermia– Lightning strike

Do Not Start CPR

Core temperature less than 60 degrees Frozen chest Submerged more than 60 minutes Rescuer at risk Lethal injury is evident

Dislocations in the Wilderness

Described in test p. 394-398

Avalanche Burial

Altitude Sickness

AMS (acute mountain sickness)

Altitude Sickness #2

Affects more than 70% who are from lower elevations and visit areas of 6,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level.

Altitude illnesses stem from a single problem: Hypoxia

Occurs due to less oxygen at higher altitude coupled with lower air pressure at higher altitudes

Altitude Illnesses

Acute mountain sickness:– Headache– Sleeplessness– Fatigue– Shortness of breath– Dizziness– Loss of appetite, vomiting

HAPE: High altitude pulmonary edema HACE: High altitude cerebral edema

Factors That Determine Altitude Sickness

Speed of ascent (Pike’s Peak) Altitude reached Health status (father-in-law) Individual and genetic differences

Prevention Of Altitude Illness

Allow time to acclimatize Diamox Rx Hydrate Avoid alcohol the first few days Avoid taking sleeping pills

Lightning Injuries

(Lightning strikes occur 20 million times, annually, in the U.S.)

Direct strike Splash Contact from holding object Ground current Blast effect

Causes Of Injury And Death

Cardiac arrest Impairment to the central nervous system

– Memory loss, seizures, paralysis– Sometimes permanent changes in the thought

processes– Entrance and exit burns are rare– Internal injuries are more common

Lightning: What To Do

ABC’s Stabilize spine Treat for shock (raise legs if appropriate

and keep warm)

To Avoid Lightning Strikes

Avoid:– Open water– Tractors, metal equipment– Pipes, fences, golf clubs, tennis racquets– Small isolated buildings in open areas

Do not lay flat on the ground Stay low (ravine or gully)

Avoiding Lightning Strikes

In the woods?– Seek overgrown low area– Avoid getting under a large tree– If in a group, spread out

• (Scouts in Colorado)

A car is one of the safest places– Current travels around the metal, down to the

ground (rubber tires are not the safety factor)

Avoiding Lightning Strikes

In the house:– Avoid open windows, doors, sinks, appliances,

telephone, bath– Strike can be outside with lightning traveling

along the lines

Wild Animal Attacks

Joggers on mountain trail

Wild Animal Attacks: Prevention

Make noise Carry a walking stick “Bear spray” Properly store food

– Food on bike ride– Kids camping in Col.

Stay in groups (child who ran ahead) Do not approach cubs Sleep in provided outdoor “shelters” if available

What To Do If You Encounter A Wild Animal

Don’t approach animal Don’t turn and run Back away slowly Talk loudly (esp. mountain lions)

Wild Animal Encounters #2

Make yourself as large as possible– Don’t bend over or crouch down

Pick up any small children Throw anything you can find (no food) Fight back except for grizzly and bear with

cubs

Beware Of Humans In Wilderness Areas

Extremist (Alma), Sally Barber Mine Tent along road side on bike ride