Wilderness & environmental medicine
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2008
Search and rescue trends and the emergency medical service workload in Utah's National Parks.
To identify the emergency medical service (EMS) workload and trends associated with search and rescue (SAR) operations in Utah's National Park Service (NPS) units. ⋯ GLCA and ZION experienced heavy use of EMS resources that should be noted by EMS administrators and planners. GLCA and ZION also reported the most SAR operations. The development of techniques to prevent the need for SAR at GLCA and ZION would likely have the most potential to reduce the financial impact of SAR incidents and morbidity and mortality to visitors.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2008
Case ReportsPossible anaphylactic reaction due to pulmonary hydatid cyst rupture following blunt chest trauma: a case report and review of the literature.
A hydatid cyst is a parasitic disease caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. It is endemic in many areas, including New Zealand, Australia, and the Mediterranean region. ⋯ Anaphylactic reaction is a rare presentation of pulmonary hydatid cyst disease. In this case report, we report an unusual anaphylactic reaction following pulmonary hydatid cyst rupture secondary to blunt chest trauma.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialGinkgo biloba decreases acute mountain sickness in people ascending to high altitude at Ollagüe (3696 m) in northern Chile.
To determine the prophylactic effect of Ginkgo biloba (doses 80 mg/12 h, 24 h before high-altitude ascension and with continued treatment) in preventing acute mountain sickness (AMS) at 3696 m in participants without high-altitude experience. ⋯ This study provides evidence supporting the use of G biloba in the prevention of AMS, demonstrating that 24 hours of pretreatment with G biloba and subsequent maintenance during exposure to high altitude are sufficient to reduce the incidence of AMS in participants with no previous high-altitude experience.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2007
Tympanic thermometry is unsuitable as a screening tool for hypothermia after open water swimming.
Mass participation in competitive open water swimming is becoming increasingly popular. The purpose of this study was to determine whether infrared emission detection (IRED) tympanic temperature measurement taken in participants approximately 1 minute following a long-distance open water swimming event is a suitable screening tool for hypothermia. ⋯ Infrared emission detection tympanic thermometry is unsuitable as a screening tool for hypothermia following a prolonged open water swim because it substantially overestimates the incidence and severity of hypothermia in participants.