HYPOTHERMIA: THE COLD HARD FACTS ABOUT WINTER’S DEADLY KILLER
By Christopher Van Tilburg, M.D.

Rescue mission for a lost snowboarder: a bitter-cold, raging midnight storm high above timberline. That was the scene of my first search and rescue call to Oregon’s Mount Hood as a young doctor. After another team located the snowboarder, I scurried from the tempestuous black night to the ski patrol room, where I examined a shivering, huddling young man. He clutched a blanket draped over soaked ski clothes, and held a steaming cup of hot chocolate, too scalding to drink. Fortunately, the snowboarder had been found. But from across the room I could see he suffered from hypothermia and dehydration.

By Doug Abromeit – Director of the Forest Service National Avalanche Center

Avalanches typically kill more people in the mountains in the West than any other natural disaster, and the winter of 2007-2008 was particularly grim. Last year 36 people died – the worst on record. Two of those people were killed by avalanches off of house roofs, one was killed in a ski area and thirty-three were killed doing their thing in the backcountry — snowboarding, skiing, climbing or riding a snowmobile.

BACKCOUNTRY GRUB: WHAT’S SAFE TO EAT AND DRINK?

Christopher Van Tilburg, M.D.

In October, a solo climber on Washington’s 12,276-foot Mount Adams fell on Suksdorf Ridge, and broke his ankle. It’s just what every climber fears: being alone on a high mountain with a disastrous injury. Unable to walk, he dragged himself down the snowfields. After five days and nights, he was found at 6,200 feet suffering from frostbite and dehydration. He survived on creek water and an eclectic mix of creepy crawlers: ants, centipedes, spiders, mushrooms, and berries.

BE SAFE Travel Tip – Plan Ahead and Visit the CDC Website Before Traveling

At least three months before your trip abroad visit the Center For Disease Control website www.cdc.gov./travel/travel.html and you will find health information for specific destination, recommended immunizations and much more.

Be prepared – bring a travel specific first aid kit on your trip!

Learn more travel medicine and first aid tips – click here for Dr. Weiss’s Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness and Travel Medicine.

BE SAFE Tip – Outdoor Tip – Snake Bite Prevention

• Stay away from infested areas.
• Do not hike at night when the snakes are out.
• Only place your foot or hand in areas you have visually searched for snakes.
• Shake out your shoes, clothing and bags in the morning.
• Don’t try to pick up a snake.
• Wear high leather boots in snake country.

Learn more wilderness medicine and first aid tips – click here for Dr. Weiss’s Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness and Travel Medicine.

BE SAFE Outdoor Tip – Preventing Lightning

• A lightning bolt can travel up to 15 miles
• Seek shelter indoors or inside a vehicle
• In a tent stay as far away from the poles an wet clothes as possible
• Do not stand under a tall tree in an open field or on a ridge top
• Get out an away from open water
• Get off bicycles and golf carts
• Stay away from wire fences, metal pipes or other metal objects that could carry the lightning bolt to you from a distance

BE SAFE Travel Tip – Avoiding Diarrheal Illness When Traveling

20-50% of all travelers experience stomach ailments or diarrhea on their trips with the number reaching 70% in some developing countries. Prepare before you go by scheduling an appointment with a travel medicine physician and getting prescription medications for diarrheal illness.

Be prepared by purchasing a travel specific first aid kit before your trip!

Learn more travel medicine and first aid tips – click here for Dr. Weiss’s Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness and Travel Medicine.

Dr. Weiss Advice – Malaria Prevention

There is no anti-malarial drug that is 100% effective. The best way to avoid the disease is to avoid the anopheles mosquito which carries it and feeds at night. Maximum precautions must be taken from dusk to dawn.

• Wear long, loose fitting clothes.

• Use Insect Repellents containing Deet or a 20% Picaridin formula.

• Sleep behind mosquito netting or effective screens.

• Spray your clothing with Permethrin before your trip. Permethin kills mosquitoes that land on your clothing.

• Consult a travel medicine physician on the appropriate anti-malarial medication for the area where you will be traveling.