Most people would agree that vision, our ability to see, is probably the most valued of our senses. The other senses of touch, hearing, smell, and taste are all obviously very important, but somehow, they do not quite measure up to the importance of vision. Most of us take our ability to see for granted. We rarely think about what it would be like to have impaired vision, unable to fully see and appreciate the world around us. As a result, eye injuries can not only be painful, or even vision-threatening, but also particularly emotional if the patient feels that their vision is at risk.
September/October 2005 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 18, Number 5
Malaria—who cares and why is it being discussed in the Wilderness Medicine Newsletter? Why, simply because we care. Whether you are an international traveler, a professional ecotourism guide, or if you potentially do disaster relief work, then if nothing else, you need to understand how to minimize the risk that you could contract malaria.
Malaria is one of the most significant diseases in the world today. It also has a very special place in history, as it has influenced wars and the outcome of wars, population densities, and has forced unique human adaptations to malaria, such as Sickle Cell. Its influence can be felt yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Approximately 6 billion people share the planet Earth, and of those, greater than 2 billion, or 40% of the worldwide population, are at risk for getting malaria. It is estimated that there are at least 500 million new cases of malaria each year with about 2.5 million deaths.
July/August 2005 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 18, Number 4
What a strange species of animal we are. It appears that we don’t quite understand where or how we fit into the nature of things. Every animal species has a specific environmental niche that it is designed to fit into. Each species seems to prefer certain climates and specific ecologic zones and has preferences for food types. This minimizes competition between species and allows several species to occupy the same space while living on different food sources. Humans, on the other hand, have decided to try to conquer and inhabit all possible environments. But, in order to do this we have to create and maintain a tropical environment wherever we go. Hence, clothing. Invented out of the necessity to maintain a micro-tropical environment next to our skin, clothing had nothing to do with modesty or the fashion design industry (all that came much later).
More and more individuals are responding to long-term rescue efforts around the world. Whether the disasters are caused by nature or man, rescuers responding to these far-off places need to know how to take care of themselves from the moment they land, to the time they return home.
March/April 2005 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 18 Number 2
January/February 2005 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 18 Number 1
Free Radicals and Free Radical Scavengers
by R.X. Daley, PharmD
In the portion of this issue’s feature article discussing immersion foot, the treatment section mentioned that it may be helpful to use drugs that are “free radical scavengers” such as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or allopurinol. So, the question becomes, what are free radicals, where do they come from, and how are they managed?
In the last issue of the this newsletter we bashed the myths
about hypothermia and frostbite and reported on their physiology and the treatment options for the backcountry traveller. Hypothermia and frostbite are the marquee cold weather bad guys and they can be life threatening. In this issue we will explore the supporting cast, another bunch of bad guys who’s goal is to irritate, disable, and disfigure. They don’t get a lot of press because they aren’t typically associated with intense emergencies or dramatic rescues. But these guys are sneaky and dangerous nonetheless and it is important to be able to prevent, recognize, and treat them.
January/February 2005 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 18 Number 1
Diagnosis & Management of Eye Injuries
/in Eye injuries, First Aid Kits, Specific Injuries/by WMN EditorsMost people would agree that vision, our ability to see, is probably the most valued of our senses. The other senses of touch, hearing, smell, and taste are all obviously very important, but somehow, they do not quite measure up to the importance of vision. Most of us take our ability to see for granted. We rarely think about what it would be like to have impaired vision, unable to fully see and appreciate the world around us. As a result, eye injuries can not only be painful, or even vision-threatening, but also particularly emotional if the patient feels that their vision is at risk.
September/October 2005 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 18, Number 5
Read more
Malaria
/in Disease, Malaria/by WMN EditorsMalaria—who cares and why is it being discussed in the Wilderness Medicine Newsletter? Why, simply because we care. Whether you are an international traveler, a professional ecotourism guide, or if you potentially do disaster relief work, then if nothing else, you need to understand how to minimize the risk that you could contract malaria.
Malaria is one of the most significant diseases in the world today. It also has a very special place in history, as it has influenced wars and the outcome of wars, population densities, and has forced unique human adaptations to malaria, such as Sickle Cell. Its influence can be felt yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Approximately 6 billion people share the planet Earth, and of those, greater than 2 billion, or 40% of the worldwide population, are at risk for getting malaria. It is estimated that there are at least 500 million new cases of malaria each year with about 2.5 million deaths.
July/August 2005 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 18, Number 4
Read more
Heat Related Injuries
/in Heat related Injuries, Heat Stroke, Uncategorized/by WMN EditorsWhat a strange species of animal we are. It appears that we don’t quite understand where or how we fit into the nature of things. Every animal species has a specific environmental niche that it is designed to fit into. Each species seems to prefer certain climates and specific ecologic zones and has preferences for food types. This minimizes competition between species and allows several species to occupy the same space while living on different food sources. Humans, on the other hand, have decided to try to conquer and inhabit all possible environments. But, in order to do this we have to create and maintain a tropical environment wherever we go. Hence, clothing. Invented out of the necessity to maintain a micro-tropical environment next to our skin, clothing had nothing to do with modesty or the fashion design industry (all that came much later).
May/June 2005 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 18 Number 3
Read more
Survival & Self Preservation in Disaster Response
/in Disaster Response, Natural Disater, prevention, Survival/by WMN EditorsMore and more individuals are responding to long-term rescue efforts around the world. Whether the disasters are caused by nature or man, rescuers responding to these far-off places need to know how to take care of themselves from the moment they land, to the time they return home.
March/April 2005 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 18 Number 2
Read more
FREE RADICALS AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGERS
/in Medications, NSAIDs/by WMN EditorsJanuary/February 2005 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 18 Number 1
Free Radicals and Free Radical Scavengers
by R.X. Daley, PharmD
In the portion of this issue’s feature article discussing immersion foot, the treatment section mentioned that it may be helpful to use drugs that are “free radical scavengers” such as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or allopurinol. So, the question becomes, what are free radicals, where do they come from, and how are they managed?
Read more
Non-Freezing Cold Injuries
/in Cold Injuries, Environemtal Injuries/by WMN EditorsIn the last issue of the this newsletter we bashed the myths
about hypothermia and frostbite and reported on their physiology and the treatment options for the backcountry traveller. Hypothermia and frostbite are the marquee cold weather bad guys and they can be life threatening. In this issue we will explore the supporting cast, another bunch of bad guys who’s goal is to irritate, disable, and disfigure. They don’t get a lot of press because they aren’t typically associated with intense emergencies or dramatic rescues. But these guys are sneaky and dangerous nonetheless and it is important to be able to prevent, recognize, and treat them.
January/February 2005 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 18 Number 1
Read more