Wilderness & environmental medicine
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jun 2015
Case ReportsComplex alpine extrication: case report of mountain and speleological rescue cooperation.
Mountain sporting activities are an increasingly popular practice that exposes mountaineers to a high risk of adverse events. This report describes a unique case of recovery in an austere environment that involved explosives. In June 2012, a 52-year-old man ascended a cliff tower in the Eastern Alps, Italy. ⋯ Unfortunately, during transport to the trauma center of Borgo Trento, Verona, the patient exhibited signs of progressive traumatic shock because of crush syndrome, hypovolemia, and acidosis, which led to cardiac arrest and death. Based on an extensive literature review, this report was determined to be the only one of a mountain rescue using explosives for the extrication of a victim in the Northeast Italian Alps. This case describes how a rescue in austere environments can represent a high-risk situation, and it shows how improvisation and cooperation between rescue teams are crucial for a successful recovery.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jun 2015
Adirondack Park incidents: a retrospective review of search and rescue reports from 2008 and 2009.
The Adirondack Park is a 6 million acre recreational area in northeastern New York used for activities such as hiking, camping, canoeing, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, skiing, and rock climbing. Given the large number of people who use the Adirondacks for recreation, there exists the potential for many accidents, injuries, and illnesses to occur in areas ranging from state-operated campgrounds to remote backcountry. ⋯ This study portrays the initial demographics of SAR efforts in Adirondack Park. It will aid in educating people on preparing for wilderness activities, as well as tailoring SAR resources to the demographics of injury and illness within the park.