Each group should evaluate their situation and rely on their medical staff for opinions, diagnosis, and treatment of any illnesses or injuries incurred while trekking. The following are suggestions for dealing with medical issues on trek, and are not to be taken as all-inclusive or legally binding.
First Aid Kits – Sample Basic Kit
Each group leader should carry a basic first aid kit. The following items are some suggested items: antiseptic wipes, mole skin, band aids, Neosporin, hand wipes, scissors, baby powder, feminine products, sun screen, tweezers, etc. Along with the basic items listed above you may need specific items in your family’s first aid kit depending on the health issues of your family members (for example if someone has severe environmental allergies an epi pen should be in your kit).
Medical Concerns
The following are seven medical issues generally faced on trek:
- Dehydration/heat exhaustion
- Hypothermia
- Blisters
- Sprains (knees and ankles)
- Cuts
- Asthma and allergy attacks
- Sunburns and Chafing
Dehydration/Heat Exhaustion
Drink to prevent thirst, not to quench it. It is important to have plenty of water and powdered Gatorade, or the equivalent. Most groups carry 10 gallons of water on each of the handcarts. The trail boss should stop the group at least every 20-25 minutes for a water break. When it is really hot, groups may refill their water jugs two to three times during the day. Spray bottles are a good way to help participants cool off. Remember to have participants drink even when they are not pulling handcarts.
Symptoms:
- Pale face; whole body may feel cool and clammy
- Shallow breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dilated pupils, headache, and dizziness
- Weak pulse
- Heavy perspiration
- Unconsciousness
Treatment:
- Place the person on their back and raise their feet.
- Provide shade
- Loosen clothing or remove some of the patient’s clothes, shoes and socks.
- Give patient water and Gatorade or equivalent powder; dilute it with water (half and half). Encourage patient to drink all possible.
- Fan and put cool, wet cloths to back of neck, face, armpits, and lower legs.
- Give sips of water
- Put into medical vehicle
The Medical support staff needs to be capable of providing treatment for moderate to severe dehydration, if required. Prevention of dehydration by ensuring adequate fluid intake is critical, but may not always be adequate without careful monitoring. Heat exhaustion can quickly progress to heat stroke without adequate medical care and supervision.
Heat Stroke
Symptoms:
- Red, very hot face. Skin is often dry, but if a person has been exercising hard, they may be sweating. • Very small pupils
- Slow, noisy breathing
- Rapid, strong pulse
- Possible unconsciousness
Treatment:
- Place person on his back with head and shoulders raised
- Get them into a cool medical vehicle.
- Undress the person down to the underwear.
- Cover the person – especially the head – with dripping wet towels, shirts, or cloths.
Hypothermia
This can happen to anyone who is not dressed warmly enough in cold weather. Wind, rain, and exhaustion increase the risk. The temperature does not have to be freezing.
Symptoms:
- Feels chilly, tired, and irritable
- Begins to shiver and then shivering becomes violent
- Cannot think clearly, stumbles and falls
Treatment:
- Prevention! Be prepared, eat plenty of food, and drink lots of fluids.
- Take off wet clothes
- Get into a sleeping bag
- If in an advanced stage, the rescuer must also strip down to underwear and get into the sleeping bag so that body contact can warm the victim slowly.
Sprains and Strains
Treatment:
- Apply cold to reduce swelling and pain
- Elevate injured part and use compression (Ace wrap).
- Then 72 hours later, apply heat to increase metabolism.
- Rest the injured part.
Blisters
Prevention:
- A pair of thin inner socks (nylon knee high) under thicker hiking socks will help decrease friction on the skin.
- Wear shoes that are broken in.
- If you feel a hot spot forming on your foot, stop right away and treat it before it becomes a blister.
- Wash it with soap and water.
- Cut a piece of moleskin in the shape of a doughnut and place it on your foot with the hole over the blister.
Treatment:
- If you think a blister will break, sterilize a pin in the flame of a match.
- Prick the blister near its edge and press out the liquid.
- Protect the wound from pressure with a doughnut bandage and keep it clean with a sterile bandage.
Bleeding
Treatment:
- Elevate injured limb above body level
- Apply direct pressure
- Cover with a pad. If the cloth becomes soaked, DO NOT REMOVE IT. Put another pad on top of the first one, and get medical help.