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Wilderness Emergencies

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.

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Wilderness Emergencies

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  1. Wilderness Emergencies • More than one hour from medical care • Refer to other texts dealing with “First Aid in the Wilderness”

  2. Be Prepared For All Types Of Weather And Circumstances

  3. Carry a variety of clothing • Bike ride to Vail

  4. Know Your Physical Limits • Bike ride – tiger road

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. Do Not Start CPR • Core temperature less than 60 degrees • Frozen chest • Submerged more than 60 minutes • Rescuer at risk • Lethal injury is evident

  9. Dislocations in the Wilderness • Described in test p. 394-398

  10. Avalanche Burial

  11. Altitude Sickness • AMS (acute mountain sickness)

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. Factors That Determine Altitude Sickness • Speed of ascent (Pike’s Peak) • Altitude reached • Health status (father-in-law) • Individual and genetic differences

  15. Prevention Of Altitude Illness • Allow time to acclimatize • Diamox Rx • Hydrate • Avoid alcohol the first few days • Avoid taking sleeping pills

  16. Lightning Injuries • (Lightning strikes occur 20 million times, annually, in the U.S.) • Direct strike • Splash • Contact from holding object • Ground current • Blast effect

  17. 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

  18. Lightning: What To Do • ABC’s • Stabilize spine • Treat for shock (raise legs if appropriate and keep warm)

  19. 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)

  20. 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)

  21. Avoiding Lightning Strikes • In the house: • Avoid open windows, doors, sinks, appliances, telephone, bath • Strike can be outside with lightning traveling along the lines

  22. Wild Animal Attacks • Joggers on mountain trail

  23. 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

  24. 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)

  25. 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

  26. Beware Of Humans In Wilderness Areas • Extremist (Alma), Sally Barber Mine • Tent along road side on bike ride

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