MEDICAL INFORMATION CARD
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MEDICAL INFORMATION
HYDRATION
In the sports we do, drinking enough water is paramount to sustaining or ability to preform. A good rule of thumb is to drink enough water not to experience thirst. If you do experience thirst, it’s already too late. Stop and rehydrate thoroughly before continuing. Our blood gets thicker as we get drier. And that’s not good.
I realize that carrying enough water is heavy, so carry a light weight purifier like Sawyer Mini Filter. It has a 16oz. collapsible flask that can be filled in a hurry, so you can continue on.
I always have at least two bottles of water with me. I also feel that if you have to dig for, or have someone get you your water, you may not hydrate often enough.
Find a water bottle holder so it’s always within reach.
HYPOTHERMIA
It is everyone’s responsibility to stay warm in cold weather. It is also everyone’s responsibility to check on your sport buddies to make sure they are staying warm. If your partner takes their gloves off, or unzips the jacket, etc., this may be a sign that they are getting too cold. If their speech become slurred or they are not thinking clearly, stop them and access their condition.
I have been on a trip in which a buddy got hypothermic in no time. She thot the claps of thunder, were people from Bonner’s Ferry bombing us for being there.
During hypothermia, one become complacent and doesn’t feel the cold. They may stop shivering, unzip their clothes and get even colder.
I always carry a thermos of hot water or tea in the winter.
It is imperative to get your buddy warm as fast as you can. His or her life may depend on YOU. Carry several chemical heaters, so you can warm their extremities. Then get down to your car as fast as you can.
Up at the Selkirks mentioned above, I draped her arm over my shoulder and walked and drug her down the trail.
Once you get to the car, you still aren’t out of trouble, put water bottles up by the windshield heater, and drive as fast as you can, while being safe.
Get your partner to a hospital fast. During the drive, they may start to come around. Ask them questions that take thot to answer. If they fail, drive faster.
Put on your flashers, hold your horn on and BE AS SAFE AS YOU CAN WHILE DRIVING.
HYPOTHERMIA KILLS..and it kills slowly.
Your buddies life depends on YOU.
HEAT CRAMPS
Symptoms of heat cramps are heavy sweating during exercise, with muscle pains, spasms and cramps.
As with most health issues in the mountains, you must be able to see the symptoms in both you or any of your hiking partners. Take action fast.
Move the subject out of the sun, or to a cooler location. Give the person water to drink.
If you get leg cramps, try this idea. In a comfortable sitting position, extend your legs out, and slowly move your toes back and forth, until they subside.
Something I carry for cramps is restaurant mustard packets. Take one orally and follow with water.
HEAT EXHAUSTION
There are a lot of symptoms for heat exhaustion. They include, but are not limited to the following.
Heavy sweating, cold, pale clammy skin, fast weak pulse, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headaches, and fainting.
If you or your hiking partner are experiencing heat exhaustion, get out of the sun, or shade them, use a creek to splash or dampen their clothes.
If their symptoms get worse, get them in the creek, or rush them to a hospital.
HEAT STROKE
Heat Stroke is a very serious condition, and must be dealt with fast.
Symptoms include but aren’t limited to the following.
A temp of 103°+, altered mental state, odd behavior, on and off sweating, nausea, vomiting, flush skin, rapid breathing, a racing heart beat, and headaches.
You must move fast to cool this person. Get out of the sun, or into the shade, dip their clothes in cold creek water and redress them. Immersion can cool a person quickly and you must not allow them to get real cold.
But most of all, do not allow a victim to drink water, until their temps are down.
MEDICAL CLASSES
The Spokane Mountaineers offer a yearly Wilderness First Aid Certification Course, CPR Certification Course, and Altho not a medical class, it saves lives, a Level 1 Avalanche Course.
For further study, contact your local fire department, YWCA, YMCA, or local hospital. Classes are usually held every year.
ACCIDENTS
In my 13 essentials kit, is a notebook and pen. Among other reasons, I keep notes on all aspects of the accident.
If you have to hurry out to get medical help, you might not remember exactly where the accident occurred.
Also include the victims name, age, details on the injury, vital signs, and any medical conditions the victim may suffer.
On your way out, mark the route you took to get out. Sometimes, the memory isn’t as exact as it needs to be.
When you have a moment, sit quietly, and write details of the accident.
Be very specific.
Also, if the injured hiking partner has their “Medical Info Card”, take it with you when you go for help. The more info the search and rescue folks have, the better the chances they will have, in getting to the victim.
Whomever you send out for help, be sure to tell that person to be extra careful getting out. If they get injured while hurrying, the original victim may suffer.
Preform a gentle injury evaluation of the victim. Assess the person carefully. And be sure not to cause any harm.
Stop all bleeding by using pressure on the wound. Use snow if it’s available. Elevate the area injured, but only if it won’t cause more discomfort.
Clear their throat, and check often.
Monitor the victims vital signs, and record the results and time you evaluated.
Keep the victim warm and safe. Watch for shock.
DO NO HARM
Look for a spot where a helicopter could land. Mark the area so the pilot can clearly see the landing spot.
If you have time, or have other hikers with you, clean the helicopter landing sight of any and all objects that may fly up and damage the helicopter’s blades.
Be sure to save the batteries in your headlight. You may need them later.
SPRAINED ANKLES
Sprain ankles can cause a big issue if you are way back on a trail.
From experience, I teach all hikers, an important lesson I learned while I was 5 miles up a trail. The second sprain that day was within 2 miles from the car. It took me 4 hours to walk that 2 miles.
If you sprain an ankle, drop to the ground, and get your foot propped up on a high rock or tree. And do not lower it for at least 30-45 minutes.
When I say drop to the ground, I mean, do not stop your fall. Go directly to the ground and get your foot up, and leave it there. If there is snow or a creek close by, use them to ice your injury. But not until your ankle has been vertical for 30+ minutes.
In the sports we do, drinking enough water is paramount to sustaining or ability to preform. A good rule of thumb is to drink enough water not to experience thirst. If you do experience thirst, it’s already too late. Stop and rehydrate thoroughly before continuing. Our blood gets thicker as we get drier. And that’s not good.
I realize that carrying enough water is heavy, so carry a light weight purifier like Sawyer Mini Filter. It has a 16oz. collapsible flask that can be filled in a hurry, so you can continue on.
I always have at least two bottles of water with me. I also feel that if you have to dig for, or have someone get you your water, you may not hydrate often enough.
Find a water bottle holder so it’s always within reach.
HYPOTHERMIA
It is everyone’s responsibility to stay warm in cold weather. It is also everyone’s responsibility to check on your sport buddies to make sure they are staying warm. If your partner takes their gloves off, or unzips the jacket, etc., this may be a sign that they are getting too cold. If their speech become slurred or they are not thinking clearly, stop them and access their condition.
I have been on a trip in which a buddy got hypothermic in no time. She thot the claps of thunder, were people from Bonner’s Ferry bombing us for being there.
During hypothermia, one become complacent and doesn’t feel the cold. They may stop shivering, unzip their clothes and get even colder.
I always carry a thermos of hot water or tea in the winter.
It is imperative to get your buddy warm as fast as you can. His or her life may depend on YOU. Carry several chemical heaters, so you can warm their extremities. Then get down to your car as fast as you can.
Up at the Selkirks mentioned above, I draped her arm over my shoulder and walked and drug her down the trail.
Once you get to the car, you still aren’t out of trouble, put water bottles up by the windshield heater, and drive as fast as you can, while being safe.
Get your partner to a hospital fast. During the drive, they may start to come around. Ask them questions that take thot to answer. If they fail, drive faster.
Put on your flashers, hold your horn on and BE AS SAFE AS YOU CAN WHILE DRIVING.
HYPOTHERMIA KILLS..and it kills slowly.
Your buddies life depends on YOU.
HEAT CRAMPS
Symptoms of heat cramps are heavy sweating during exercise, with muscle pains, spasms and cramps.
As with most health issues in the mountains, you must be able to see the symptoms in both you or any of your hiking partners. Take action fast.
Move the subject out of the sun, or to a cooler location. Give the person water to drink.
If you get leg cramps, try this idea. In a comfortable sitting position, extend your legs out, and slowly move your toes back and forth, until they subside.
Something I carry for cramps is restaurant mustard packets. Take one orally and follow with water.
HEAT EXHAUSTION
There are a lot of symptoms for heat exhaustion. They include, but are not limited to the following.
Heavy sweating, cold, pale clammy skin, fast weak pulse, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headaches, and fainting.
If you or your hiking partner are experiencing heat exhaustion, get out of the sun, or shade them, use a creek to splash or dampen their clothes.
If their symptoms get worse, get them in the creek, or rush them to a hospital.
HEAT STROKE
Heat Stroke is a very serious condition, and must be dealt with fast.
Symptoms include but aren’t limited to the following.
A temp of 103°+, altered mental state, odd behavior, on and off sweating, nausea, vomiting, flush skin, rapid breathing, a racing heart beat, and headaches.
You must move fast to cool this person. Get out of the sun, or into the shade, dip their clothes in cold creek water and redress them. Immersion can cool a person quickly and you must not allow them to get real cold.
But most of all, do not allow a victim to drink water, until their temps are down.
MEDICAL CLASSES
The Spokane Mountaineers offer a yearly Wilderness First Aid Certification Course, CPR Certification Course, and Altho not a medical class, it saves lives, a Level 1 Avalanche Course.
For further study, contact your local fire department, YWCA, YMCA, or local hospital. Classes are usually held every year.
ACCIDENTS
In my 13 essentials kit, is a notebook and pen. Among other reasons, I keep notes on all aspects of the accident.
If you have to hurry out to get medical help, you might not remember exactly where the accident occurred.
Also include the victims name, age, details on the injury, vital signs, and any medical conditions the victim may suffer.
On your way out, mark the route you took to get out. Sometimes, the memory isn’t as exact as it needs to be.
When you have a moment, sit quietly, and write details of the accident.
Be very specific.
Also, if the injured hiking partner has their “Medical Info Card”, take it with you when you go for help. The more info the search and rescue folks have, the better the chances they will have, in getting to the victim.
Whomever you send out for help, be sure to tell that person to be extra careful getting out. If they get injured while hurrying, the original victim may suffer.
Preform a gentle injury evaluation of the victim. Assess the person carefully. And be sure not to cause any harm.
Stop all bleeding by using pressure on the wound. Use snow if it’s available. Elevate the area injured, but only if it won’t cause more discomfort.
Clear their throat, and check often.
Monitor the victims vital signs, and record the results and time you evaluated.
Keep the victim warm and safe. Watch for shock.
DO NO HARM
Look for a spot where a helicopter could land. Mark the area so the pilot can clearly see the landing spot.
If you have time, or have other hikers with you, clean the helicopter landing sight of any and all objects that may fly up and damage the helicopter’s blades.
Be sure to save the batteries in your headlight. You may need them later.
SPRAINED ANKLES
Sprain ankles can cause a big issue if you are way back on a trail.
From experience, I teach all hikers, an important lesson I learned while I was 5 miles up a trail. The second sprain that day was within 2 miles from the car. It took me 4 hours to walk that 2 miles.
If you sprain an ankle, drop to the ground, and get your foot propped up on a high rock or tree. And do not lower it for at least 30-45 minutes.
When I say drop to the ground, I mean, do not stop your fall. Go directly to the ground and get your foot up, and leave it there. If there is snow or a creek close by, use them to ice your injury. But not until your ankle has been vertical for 30+ minutes.