Common Illnesses and Ailments in the Outdoors

2. 1. FEVER

3. Check temperature first. If the
temperature is 38°C or 100.4°F or below
then it is considered as low-grade or no
fever and does not require you to do
anything much except to let the person
drink lots of fluids and rest. Unless the
person feels uncomfortable then an over-
the-counter medicine may be given, such
as paracetamol, ibuprofen, or
acetaminophen. However, always check if
the patient has allergies to the medicines.
Aspirin must not be administered to anyone
below 18.

4. If the temperature is 102°F or
38.8°C or higher, have the patient
take oral medicines. Give a sponge
bath to lower the temperature and
increase fluid intake of the patient.
Light clothes should be worn as
overdressing will make temperature
go higher. In case the person chills,
cover the patient with blankets until
chills go away.

5. Emergency should be sought when the person is:
 Unresponsive.
 Having difficulty breathing or is wheezing.
 Has lips turning bluish.
 Experiences convulsions or seizures.
 Seems confused.
 Observes sudden onset of rashes.

6. 2. HEADACHE

7. Headaches are often
experienced in trekking or hiking
due to lack of eye protection from
the sun’s rays, tension in the
neck, dehydration, swelling of
brain tissue due to excessive
sweating over a period of days,
and consumption of large amounts
of water without taking salt
tablets.

8. Over-the-
counter medicines
may be taken such
as paracetamol,
ibuprofen, or aspirin
to prevent further
discomfort. However,
one should also
observe the source of
problem as it may
just be a symptom of
something else.

9. 3. ALTITUDE/MOUNTAIN
SICKNESS

10. Altitude sickness happens because
the rate of ascent into higher altitudes
outpaces the body’s ability to adjust to
those altitudes. In other words, the
body was not able to acclimatize to high
altitude and was not able to increase
ventilation to compensate for the low
level of oxygen in higher altitude.
Triggering factors maybe ascending too
quickly, overexertion in ascent,
inadequate fluid intake, hypothermia,
and alcohol consumptions.

11. Altitude sickness may range from mild to
life-threatening situations. High altitude
pulmonary edema or HAPE and the high
altitude cerebral edema or HACE are life-
threatening. In HAPE, fluids accumulated in
the lungs and make breathing extremely
difficult. These come quickly and if
untreated, can lead to respiratory collapse
and ultimately death. HACE refers to the
build up of fluid in the brain causing swelling
and changes the person’s mental state. He or
she loses coordination, becomes comatose,
and then dies.

12. Emergency treatment should be sought when the person has HAPE and exhibits the following
progression of symptoms:
 Shortness of breath at rest or experiences tightness of chest
 Gurgling or rattling breaths
 Cough with frothy or pink sputum
 Lips or fingernails turn bluish or grayish
 Respiratory failure
 Drowsiness

13. Onset of HAPE can be gradual or sudden. HAPE typically occurs after more
than one day spent at high altitude. High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)
can begin with confusion:
 A person developing HACE begins having trouble keeping up
with the group.
 Walking and coordination become impaired.
 As the brain continues to swell, lethargy and then comatose
will develop.

15. First Aid for this illness:
 If symptoms are severe, immediately descend to 1,500 to 2,000 feet with minimal
exertion as possible. Keep going down until symptoms go away.
 If symptoms are mild, the person should not go any higher until symptoms are
completely gone.
 Treat symptoms, give the person oxygen if available, keep him warm, have him
rest, give him plenty of liquids, and give him pain relievers.

16. 4. HYPERTHERMIA

17. Hyperthermia is a condition where
the body produces or absorbs heat
more than it can dissipate. This may
be causes by an increase in air
temperature, solar or reflected
radiation, poor ventilation in clothing,
low fitness level, and excess bulk or
the reduced ratio of skin area to body
mass. People suffering from
hyperthermia experiences heat
cramps, heat stroke, or heat
exhaustion.

18. A. HEAT CRAMPS

19. Heat cramps usually happen during heavy activity in hot
environments. They are painful, involuntary muscle spasms
which are more intense than the typical nighttime leg cramp
where the muscles affected includes the calves, arms, abdominal
wall, and back. This happens when the muscles accumulate
excessive lactic acid or a loss of fluid and electrolyte through
perspiration.

20. What must be done?
 Cool down and replenish loss electrolyte through clear sports drink.
 Gently stretch and massage affected muscle group.
 Do not resume the strenuous activity and rest until cramps go away.
 Take salt pill with water at the start of specific muscle pain.

21. B. HEAT EXHAUSTION

22. When water is not sufficient for the body’s demand in a
particular outdoor activity, the body becomes dehydrated and salt-
depleted. This results in:
 nausea
 faintness
 a weak rapid pulse and/or cold, and sweaty skin.
This case requires first aid similar to what is administered in case
of heat cramps.

23. C. HEAT STROKE

24. Heat stroke is the most serious degree of hyperthermia.
 losses consciousness
 becomes disoriented
 pulse rate suddenly becomes fast
 seizures
 has warm, red dry skin, and body temperature above 103°F
 reduced sweating
Emergency should be sought when the person:

25. Do the following first aid while help is on the way:
 Remove the person from heat exposure and cool him/her by
whatever means available, such as putting damp sheets; spraying
with cold water, and applying cold wet cloth or ice packs to the
armpit, neck, and groin. Fan air to increase cooling.
 Do not give the person anything to drink if the person is not alert
or is vomiting.

26.  Treat the symptoms. If with seizures, keep
the person safe from injury. If vomiting, turn
the person on the side to keep airway open.

27. 5. HYPOTHERMIA

28. Hypothermia occurs when the
body chills faster than the body’s
ability to produce heat due to
exposure to cold, wet, and/or
windy weather. Not taking
enough energy-producing food
and not having proper clothing
speeds up hypothermia. This
generally occurs in temperature
of less than 35°C.

29. Symptoms include:
 numbness
 uncontrollable shivering that muscles
begin to stiffen and become uncoordinated
 skin turns bluish
 pulse and respiration slow down
 victim does not respond or becomes
unconscious

30. First aid must be administered quickly:
 Move the person to a sheltered area and restore warmth slowly.
 Remove wet clothes and replace with dry clothes.
 Wrap with blankets or sleeping bag.
 Exhale warm air near the vicinity of the patient’s mouth and nose.
 Note that rapid warming can cause heart arrhythmia so it is
advised not to immerse the person in water. Warm person’s trunk
first – not the hands and feet – as warming

31. extremities first can cause shock.
 Find ways for the victim to stay conscious.
 Begin CPR if necessary and continue until emergency
personnel arrive.

32.  shows confusion, memory loss, or slurred speech
 body temperature drops below 35°C (95°F)
 loss of consciousness
 shallow breathing
Emergency should be sought when the person:

33. 6. DIVING-RELATED SICKNESS
A. Barotrauma
It is a serious injury that can occur because of pressure
differences between the body’s air-filled cavities and the water. If one
is having trouble equalizing the ear and the air trapped in the middle
ear cannot escape, the resulting ruptured eardrum would be
considered to be a form of barotrauma. Not only can the ears be
affected, so can the eyes, the lungs, the paranasal sinuses, the skin,
the brain, the teeth, and other body parts.

35. Majority of cases of ear pain forces the diver to abort the dive.
Symptoms are often resolved shortly after the diver reaches the
surface.
Emergency should be sought when the person
shows disorientation, vomits, and hearing loss,
which shows ruptured eardrum. Rush to the
nearest medical facility immediately.

36. B. Decompression Sickness(
Or DCS is a serious deep water diving related
injury. It happens when divers fail to follow prescribed
dive profiles, and it can also happen after a rapid
ascent. During a dive, nitrogen bubbles form inside
one’s body, including the bloodstream. If the bubbles
remain, pain and tissue damage can occur.

37. Emergency should be sought when the
symptoms appear rapidly and the person
exhibits the following:
 Unconscious
 Dizziness
 Trouble breathing
 Abnormal walk of weakness