Hikers' and Backpackers' Guide to Treating Medical Emergencies by Patrick Brighton

Author:Patrick Brighton
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: eBook ISBN| 9780897327923
Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press
Published: 2005-03-27T16:00:00+00:00

TREATMENT

The cornerstone of treatment for hyperthermia is fairly obvious: shade and drink. If available, administer cool fluids. That the coffee is fresh doesn’t make it a great choice. Also, if there is enough water available, hose the victim down. I mean, soak the crap out of her. She can smack you later, after she thanks you for saving her life. Remember the latent heat of evaporation thing mentioned above? Well, this is the perfect application for it. Take the victim’s temperature rectally if you have a rectal thermometer, and keep hosing them down until their temperature normalizes or they take the hose (or thermometer) and stick it in your ear.

In a very extreme situation, where fast cooling can be the difference between life and death, try the hose-up-the-butt trick again (“cold internal lavage,” for you terminology sticklers). This time use only cold water (it doesn’t do any good otherwise), and please don’t make me beg you to be careful (I will if I have to, though). A liter of 110ºF water from your Camelbak won’t help a 105ºF core body temperature.

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