Wilderness Medicine Podcast June 2018 - Wilderness & Environmental Medicine Live
May 31, 2018
Giacomo Strapazzon, Deputy head of the Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, and Oliver Kreuzer, a flight paramedic with Air Zermatt, join to discuss cutting-edge wilderness medicine. They dive into canyoning incidents, emphasizing new guidelines and the complexities of patient management. Strapazzon shares insights on avalanche rescue and hypothermia, while Kreuzer compares helicopter rescue techniques across the Alps, the U.S., and Nepal. Their experiences highlight the necessity of proper training, equipment, and risk assessment in these high-stakes environments.
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Canyoneering Injury & Hypothermia Risks
- Canyoneering injuries are mostly minor but drowning risk is high due to hazards like hydraulics and strainers.
- Hypothermia risk is elevated, so wet suits should not be removed but unzipped or cut for exams.
Critical Risk Management in Canyoneering
- Perform risk assessment focusing on swift water and weather before canyon rescue.
- Avoid water contact, monitor for flash floods, and disinfect wounds to prevent infection.
Avoid IV Access in Wet Suits
- Avoid IV access in patients wearing wetsuits due to hypothermia and infection risk.
- Use intranasal medications or intraosseous access and remove IO within 24 hours to prevent infection.