Wilderness & environmental medicine
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialEfficacy of a jellyfish sting inhibitor in preventing jellyfish stings in normal volunteers.
To evaluate the protective effects of a jellyfish sting inhibitor formulated in sunscreen lotion vs conventional sunscreen against Chrysaora fuscescens and Chiropsalmus quadrumanus jellyfish. ⋯ The jellyfish sting inhibitor prevented sting symptoms of C. fuscescens jellyfish in 10 of 12 subjects and diminished the pain of the jellyfish sting in the remaining 2 subjects. The jellyfish sting inhibitor also inhibited the more severe sting of the C. quadrumanus jellyfish in the majority of subjects. The jellyfish sting inhibitor does not eliminate the sting from C. fuscescens or C. quadrumanus jellyfish but significantly reduces the frequency and severity of stings.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2004
ReviewA review of venomous animal bites and stings in pregnant patients.
This is a review of Medline and PubMed articles on venomous animal bites and stings during pregnancy reported in English literature from 1966 to 2002. Eighty-five venomous snakebites were reported in pregnant women. ⋯ Adverse reproductive and teratogenic effects of venoms on gravid animals are also briefly reviewed. Although uncommon, venomous bites and stings during pregnancy may have significant adverse effects on the fetus and the mother.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2004
Epidemiology of wilderness search and rescue in New Hampshire, 1999-2001.
To describe the epidemiology of wilderness search and rescue in a region with easily accessible, heavily used wilderness areas. ⋯ The most prevalent demographic group requiring search-and-rescue efforts in New Hampshire was men aged 30 to 40 years who were hiking and who resided within a 4-hour drive of the area where they encountered difficulty. To decrease the number of people involved in most search and rescue, efforts should be focused on preventing wilderness users from getting lost and preventing lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries. Wilderness deaths may be prevented by focusing attention on cardiac health in wilderness users older than 50 years and on water safety.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2004
Case ReportsUse of the Gamow Bag by EMT-basic park rangers for treatment of high-altitude pulmonary edema and high-altitude cerebral edema.
As part of an emergency medical system protocol, national park service rangers certified at the level of an emergency medical technician-basic (EMT-B) are taught to recognize and treat high-altitude pulmonary edema and high-altitude cerebral edema. In Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, this is done with the assistance of physician on-line medical control as a backup. High-altitude pulmonary edema and high-altitude cerebral edema are both potentially fatal altitude illnesses that can be particularly problematic in the backcountry, where evacuation may be delayed. We report a case of high-altitude pulmonary edema and high-altitude cerebral edema occurring at moderate altitude that was successfully treated by park rangers with the Gamow Bag.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialMedroxyprogesterone at high altitude. The effects on blood gases, cerebral regional oxygenation, and acute mountain sickness.
To study the effect of medroxyprogesterone on blood gases and cerebral regional oxygenation at high altitude, alone and in conjunction with acetazolamide, and to assess the effect on acute mountain sickness (AMS). ⋯ Medroxyprogesterone acts as a respiratory stimulant, but the clinical benefit regarding the development of AMS was unproven at high altitude. Combined medroxyprogesterone and acetazolamide gave the best PaO2.