PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HIGH ALTITUDE.
High altitude-we all enjoy that tremendous
loss of appetite, nausea, disturbed sleep and
view from the summit, but there are risks in
a general feeling of malaise; symptoms tend
going to high altitude, and it's important to
understand the physiological effects of high
headache and Diamox. Both help to reducethe severity of the symptoms, but remember,
First, what is High Altitude: Altitude is
defined on the following scale High (8,000 -
problem. Mild AMS does not interfere with
12,000 feet ), Very High (12,000 - 18,000
normal activity but the only cure is either
feet), and Extremely High (18,000+ feet).
The concentration of oxygen at sea level isabout 21% and the barometric pressure
HIGH ALTITUDE PULMONARY
averages 760 mmHg. As altitude increases,
EDEMA (HAPE)
the concentration remains the same but thenumber of oxygen molecules is reduced. At
12,000 feet the barometric pressure is only
include shortness of breath even at rest,
oxygenate the body, you must breathe faster.
"tightness in the chest," marked fatigue, a
feeling of impending suffocation at night,
weakness, and a persistent productive coughbringing up white, watery or frothy fluid. HIGH ALTITUDE ILLNESSES
Confusion and irrational behavior are signs
brain. In cases of HAPE, immediate descent
susceptibility to altitude sickness. Some
is a necessary lifesaving measure. Anyone
to the nearest medical facility for proper
others. If you haven't been to high altitude
HIGH ALTITUDE CEREBRAL EDEMA ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS (AMS)
(ataxia), weakness and decreasing levels of
dependent upon the elevation, the rate of
consciousness including disorientation, loss
ascent and individual susceptibility.
occurs after a week or more at high altitude.
be evacuated to the nearest medical facility
sulfonamide drug, people who are allergic tosulfa drugs should not take Diamox. Other Medications for Altitude Illnesses:
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
Ibuprofen is effective at relieving altitude
1) If possible, don't fly or drive to high
artery pressure and relieves HAPE. Breathing oxygen reduces the effects of
moderate altitude illness, don't go higheruntil symptoms decrease ("Don't go up until
going too high too fast. Given time, your
3) Stay properly hydrated. Acclimatization
is often accompanied by fluid loss, so you
YOU HAVE TO HAVE WATER
need to drink lots of fluids to remainproperly hydrated (at least 3-4 quarts per
Other than air, nothing is more important to
your survival than water. All the processes
that occur within your body to maintain life
4) Take it easy; don't over-exert yourself
normal adult is somewhere between 60 and70 percent water. If you weigh 170 pounds
5) Eat a high carbohydrate diet (more than
On an average day you lose water from four
SOME THINGS THAT MIGHT HELP
body functions: a quart or more in urine, a
quart or more in sweat, a quart or more in
breathe faster so that you metabolize more
altitudes and especially if you're exerting
especially helpful at night when respiratory
yourself, you can increase that water loss to
drive is decreased. Since it takes a while for
as much as two quarts an hour. You need to
Diamox to have an effect, it is advisable to
start taking it 24 hours before you go toaltitude. The possible side effects are atingling of the lips and finger tips, blurring
gallon of water a day while backpacking at a
vision and alteration of taste. These side
reasonable pace in moderate weather. In hot
effects may be reduced with a 125 mg. dose.
If your fluid intake is adequate, the quart toa quart-and-a-half of urine you should spillper day will be light-colored to clear. Ifyour inner water level drops as little as 2percent below normal, you mayfeel tired and headachy. At 5 percent you'llprobably experience dizziness,disorientation and a substantial loss ofenergy. At 10 percent you may findit difficult to keep going. But remember while you're quaffing all thiswater, if you got it from that little streamyou just crossed that wonderful-looking wet
micronasties just waiting to make you ill.
A well-prepared Climber, is always carrying
the means to treat his or her fluid. EXTRA UNIT PROJECTS
There are a lot of things that occur in the
unit that do not involve a rescue mission.
From cutting grass at the rescue cache to
helping produce the unit survival kit. The
board has lots of extra unit projects that they
would like the membership to get involved
in. These include editing the unit's outdoor
living manual (it hasn't been updated since
party is the first Wednesday of the month
training manual for the unit. If you would
from 7:30 - 9:30 P.M. at 2905 Parkway Dr.
like to get more involved with the unit in
directions call Shorty Williams at 564-0581.
There will be no kit party in July due toShorty's vacation
KIT PARTY
Maintenance Hardware Insertion Machine Maintenance Schedule Maintenance Schedule This maintenance schedule is applicable for Warning! standard machine shop operating conditions. DO NOT lubricate the Upper Tool When operating under severe conditions such asHolder with any lubricant other than aheavy dust and dirt, increase the schedule to(white).** Other products may in
The following is a summary overview of the current scientific literature regarding the efficacy of oxygen in wound healing. The primary modes of action listed below are detailed in the following pages. Literature references are included at the end. 1. Increases Cell Metabolism and Energy Production Oxygen is required for intracellular processes like biosynthesis, movement, and transport n
If your fluid intake is adequate, the quart toa quart-and-a-half of urine you should spillper day will be light-colored to clear. Ifyour inner water level drops as little as 2percent below normal, you mayfeel tired and headachy. At 5 percent you'llprobably experience dizziness,disorientation and a substantial loss ofenergy. At 10 percent you may findit difficult to keep going. But remember while you're quaffing all thiswater, if you got it from that little streamyou just crossed that wonderful-looking wet
micronasties just waiting to make you ill.