Wilderness and Rescue Medicine 8th Edition

8 th Edition

Wilderness and Rescue MEDICINE

Jeffrey Isaac, PA-C | David E. Johnson, MD

Wilderness and Rescue MEDICINE 8 th Edition

Eighth Edition Wilderness and Rescue Medicine Jeffrey Isaac, PA-C David E. Johnson, MD Wilderness Medical Associates International 2024 Printing

Wilderness Medical Associates International 1 Forest Avenue

Portland, ME 04101 www.wildmed.com

Copyright © 2023 by Wilderness Medical Associates International. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, record ing, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright owner. Wilderness and Rescue Medicine, Eighth Edition is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by the owners of the trademarks or service marks referenced in this product. The procedures and protocols in this book are based on the most current recommendations of responsible medical sources. Wilderness Medical Associates International makes no guarantee as to, and assumes no responsibility for, the correctness, sufficiency, or completeness of all such information or recommendations. Other or additional safety measures may be required under particular circumstances. This textbook is intended solely as a guide to the appropriate procedures to be employed when rendering emergency care to the sick and injured. It is not intended as a statement of the standards of care required in any particular situation, because circumstances and the patient’s physical condition can vary widely from one emergency to another. Nor is it intended that this textbook shall in any way advise emergency personnel concerning legal authority to perform the activities or procedures discussed. Such local determinations should be made only with the aid of legal counsel.

Production Credits Cover Image: WMA Brazil Printing and Binding: Penmor Lithographers Cover Printing: Penmor Lithographers Designed and Edited by: Laura Lee

Some images in this book feature people posed to illustrate a point or technique, or people whose image is captured in a public domain photograph. These people do not necessarily endorse or represent Wilderness Medical Associates International or the authors of this book. Additional illustration and photographic credits appear on page 277, which constitutes a continu ation of the copyright page.

ISBN Hard Copy: 979-8-9850021-3-3 E-Book: 979-8-9850021-4-0

In Memory of John Robert Isaac, MD Physician, Surgeon, and Father

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Brief Contents

Section I: General Principles.......1 Chapter 1: General Principles of Physiology and Pathology.....................................................2 Chapter 2: General Principles of Wilderness Rescue.................................................................. 8 Chapter 3: Patient Assessment and the SOAP Format............................................................... 13 Section II: Critical Body Systems.......................................25 Chapter 4: The Circulatory System...............26 Chapter 5: The Respiratory System...............34 Chapter 6: The Nervous System....................42 Section III: Critical System Problems and Treatment...........55 Chapter 7: Basic and Advanced Life Support.............................................................. 56 Chapter 8: Allergy and Anaphylaxis.............64 Chapter 9: Severe Asthma..............................69 Chapter 10: Problems with Sugar..................72 Section IV: Trauma....................79 Chapter 11: General Principles of Trauma....80 Chapter 12: Pain Management......................85 Chapter 13: Musculoskeletal Injury..............90 Chapter 14: Dislocations. ............................. 103 Chapter 15: Spine Injury...............................112 Chapter 16: Wounds and Burns...................120

Section V: Environmental Medicine...................................137 Chapter 17: Thermoregulation..................... 138 Chapter 18: Cold Injuries.............................148 Chapter 19: Altitude Illness..........................155 Chapter 20: Medical Aspects of Avalanche Rescue.............................................................. 162 Chapter 21: Water-Related Injury...............166 Chapter 22: Lightning Injuries....................172 Chapter 23: Toxins, Envenomation, and Disease Vectors...............................................177 Section VI: Backcountry Medicine...................................195 Chapter 24: An Approach to Illness...........196 Chapter 25: Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat.......................................................199 Chapter 26: Abdominal Pain.......................208 Chapter 27: Chest Pain.................................213 Chapter 28: Gastrointestinal Problems......217 Chapter 29: Genitourinary Problems.........221 Chapter 30: Respiratory Infection..............227 Chapter 31: Skin Rash....................................230 Chapter 32: Behavioral Problems and Psychiatric Emergencies...........................236 Section VII: Roles, Responsibilities, and Technology...............................243 Chapter 33: The Expedition Medical Officer.............................................................. 244 Chapter 34: The Medical Role in Search and Rescue.............................................................. 247 Chapter 35: Appropriate Medical Technology...................................................... 251 Chapter 36: Training for Performance Under Stress................................................................ 255

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Expanded Contents

Section I: General Principles...... 1 Chapter 1: General Principles of Physiology and Pathology........................................................2 Oxygenation and Perfusion..........................2 Three Critical Systems, Three Serious Problems.......................................................... 3 Patterns and Trends.......................................3 Mental Status and Level of Consciousness..3 Swelling and Pressure....................................4 Obstruction to Infection ..............................5 Ischemia to Infarction....................................5 Anticipated Problem......................................5 Most People Live............................................6 Chapter 1 Review: General Principles of Physiology and Pathology.............................7 Chapter 2: General Principles of Wilderness Rescue..................................................................... 8 Serious or Not Serious...................................8 The Risk/Benefit Ratio...................................8 Probability and Consequence.......................9 Generic to Specific.........................................9 Ideal to Real...................................................10 Focus on Important.....................................10 The Problem List..........................................11 Medicine Is Dynamic...................................11 Chapter 2 Review: General Principles of Wilderness Rescue.......................................12 Chapter 3: Patient Assessment and the SOAP Format.................................................................. 13 Gathering Information................................13 The Scene Size-Up........................................13 The Primary Assessment.............................14 The Secondary Assessment.........................15 Creating a Problem List: SOAP..................19 Chapter 3 Review: Patient Assessment and the SOAP Format.........................................21 Section II: Critical Body Systems...................................... 25 Chapter 4: The Circulatory System...............26 Structure and Function................................26

Shock.............................................................. 27 Volume Shock...............................................28 Vascular Shock..............................................30 Cardiogenic Shock.......................................30 Acute Stress Reaction...................................31 Risk Versus Benefit in Shock......................32 Chapter 4 Review: The Circulatory System............................................................ 33 Chapter 5: The Respiratory System...............34 Structure and Function................................34 Respiratory Problems...................................35 Generic Treatment for Respiratory Distress. ......................................................... 36 Specific Treatments for Respiratory Distress. ......................................................... 36 Upper Airway Obstruction.........................36 Lower Airway Constriction........................37 Alveoli............................................................ 38 Chest Wall and Diaphragm.........................38 Nervous System Drive.................................39 Risk Versus Benefit.......................................40 Chapter 5 Review: The Respiratory System............................................................ 41 Chapter 6: The Nervous System....................42 Structure and Function................................42 Brain Failure..................................................42 Assessing the Level of Consciousness........43 Differential Diagnosis of Brain Failure......43 Increased Intracranial Pressure..................44 Non-Traumatic Brain Injury.......................45 Traumatic Brain Injury................................45 Assessment of TBI........................................45 Risk Versus Benefit in TBI..........................46 Post-Concussive Syndrome........................47 Stroke............................................................. 48 Seizure............................................................ 48 Treatment of Seizure....................................48 Exercise Associated Hyponatremia............49 Treatment of Exertional Hyponatremia....49 Chapter 6 Review: The Nervous System...50

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Section III: Critical System Problems and Treatment.......... 55 Chapter 7: Basic and Advanced Life Support................................................................. 56 Respiratory Failure.......................................56 Circulatory Failure.......................................58 Cardiac Arrest...............................................58 Severe Bleeding and Shock..........................59 Brain Failure..................................................61 Risk Versus Benefit in BLS..........................61 Chapter 7 Review: Basic and Advanced Life Support. ......................................................... 63 Chapter 8: Allergy and Anaphylaxis.............64 Allergy............................................................ 64 Anaphylaxis................................................... 65 Treatment of Anaphylaxis...........................66 Risk Versus Benefit.......................................67 Chapter 8 Review: Allergy and Anaphylaxis................................................... 68 Chapter 9: Severe Asthma..............................69 Risk Versus Benefit.......................................70 Chapter 9 Review: Severe Asthma.............71 Chapter 10: Problems with Sugar..................72 Diabetic Emergencies..................................72 Hypoglycemia............................................... 72 Treatment of Hypoglycemia.......................73 Risk Versus Benefit.......................................74 Chapter 10 Review: Problems with Sugar.75 Section IV: Trauma................... 79 Chapter 11: General Principles of Trauma....80 Energy and Injury........................................80 Deceleration.................................................. 81 Cavitation...................................................... 81 Pay Attention to the History.......................82 Problems Are Cumulative...........................82 Critical Systems Come First........................82 Chapter 11 Review: General Principles of Trauma........................................................... 84 Chapter 12: Pain Management.......................85 Pain Medication............................................85 Risk Versus Benefit.......................................87 Chapter 12 Review: Pain Management.....89

Chapter 13: Musculoskeletal Injury..............90 Structure and Function................................90 Unstable Injury.............................................91 Traction into Position..................................93 Special Wilderness Considerations............95 Femur Fracture.............................................95 Pelvic Fracture..............................................96 Clavicle Fracture...........................................96 Compartment Syndrome............................97 Open Fracture...............................................97 Joint Infection...............................................98 Impending Surgery......................................98 Stable Injury..................................................98 Overuse Syndromes.....................................99 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................100 Chapter 13 Review: Musculoskeletal Injury............................................................ 102 Chapter 14: Dislocations............................... 103 Shoulder Dislocations................................104 Treatment of Shoulder Dislocation..........105 Patella Dislocation......................................107 Treatment of Patella Dislocation..............107 Dislocations of Finger and Toes...............108 Treatment of Digit Dislocation.................108 Difficult Dislocations.................................109 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................109 Chapter 14 Review: Dislocations.............111 Chapter 15: Spine Injury...............................112 Field Assessment of Spine Injury.............113 No Spine Injury..........................................115 Low-Risk Spine Injury...............................115 High-Risk Spine Injury..............................116 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................117 Chapter 15 Review: Spine Injury..............119 Chapter 16: Wounds and Burns..................120 Wounds........................................................ 121 Wound Assessment....................................121 Low-Risk Wounds......................................121 High-Risk Wounds.....................................122 Field Treatment of Wounds......................123 Impaled Objects..........................................125 Bandages and Dressings for a Hostile Environment............................................... 125 Evisceration................................................. 127 Traumatic Amputation..............................127

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Expanded Contents

Treatment of Traumatic Amputation.......127 Rabies........................................................... 128 Wound Infection........................................128 Treatment of Wound Infection.................128 Burns............................................................ 129 High-Risk Burns.........................................130 Treatment of Burns....................................131 Blisters.......................................................... 131 Treatment of Blisters..................................131 Risk Versus Benefit in Wound Care.........132 Chapter 16 Review: Wounds and Burns.133 Section V: Environmental Medicine.................................. 137 Chapter 17: Thermoregulation..................... 138 Hypothermia............................................... 139 Mild Hypothermia.....................................140 Severe Hypothermia..................................142 Heat-Related Illness...................................144 Heat Exhaustion.........................................144 Heat Stroke..................................................145 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................146 Chapter 17 Review: Thermoregulation...147 Chapter 18: Cold Injuries.............................148 Frostbite....................................................... 148 Superficial Frostbite...................................148 Deep Frostbite.............................................149 Prevention of Frostbite..............................151 Trench Foot.................................................151 Treatment of Trench Foot (or Hand).......152 Raynaud’s Phenomenon............................152 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................153 Chapter 18 Review: Cold Injuries............154 Chapter 19: Altitude Illness..........................155 Cerebral and Pulmonary Edema..............156 High-Altitude Cerebral Edema................156 High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema............158 Other Altitude Illnesses.............................159 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................160 Chapter 19 Review: Altitude Illness.........161 Chapter 20: Medical Aspects of Avalanche Rescue................................................................. 162 Treatment. ................................................... 163 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................164 Chapter 20 Review: Medical Aspects of Avalanche Rescue.......................................165

Chapter 21: Water-Related Injury...............166 Drowning. ................................................... 166 Treatment of Drowning Injury.................167 SCUBA Diving Injuries.............................168 Pulmonary Overpressure Syndromes and Decompression Sickness...........................168 Ear Pain and Mask Squeeze......................170 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................170 Chapter 21 Review: Water-Related Injury............................................................ 171 Chapter 22: Lightning Injuries....................172 Lightning Injuries.......................................172 Scene Safety.................................................173 Treatment of Lightning Injury..................174 Prevention of Lightning Injury.................174 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................175 Chapter 22 Review: Lightning Injuries...176 Chapter 23: Toxins, Envenomation, and Disease Vectors..................................................177 Ingested Toxins...........................................178 Drug Overdose...........................................178 Food Poisoning...........................................178 Topical Toxins.............................................180 High-Risk Topical Exposure.....................180 Inhaled Toxins............................................180 Injected Toxins............................................181 Snakebite...................................................... 182 Pit Vipers.....................................................182 Coral Snakes................................................183 Marine Toxins.............................................183 Spiny Injury.................................................183 Nematocyst Sting........................................184 Insects and Arachnids...............................185 Black Widow...............................................185 Brown Recluse............................................186 Scorpions..................................................... 186 Tick Paralysis..............................................187 Arthropod Disease Vectors.......................187 Mosquitoes.................................................. 188 Fleas, Lice, and Mites.................................188 Insect Repellents.........................................190 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................190 Chapter 23 Review: Toxins, Envenomation, and Disease Vectors...................................192

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Section VI: Backcountry Medicine.................................. 195 Chapter 24: An Approach to Illness...........196 Generic Assessment of the Ill Patient......196 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................197 Chapter 24 Review: An Approach to Illness........................................................... 198 Chapter 25: Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat. ................................................................ 199 Red Eye........................................................199 Treatment of Red Eye.................................200 Foreign Body Injury...................................200 Sunburn....................................................... 201 Infection. ..................................................... 201 Chemical Exposure....................................201 Contact Lenses............................................201 Nosebleed.................................................... 202 Treatment of Nosebleed.............................202 Dental Problems.........................................202 Dental Trauma............................................202 Dental Infection..........................................203 External Ear Infection................................204 Treatment of Swimmer’s Ear.....................204 Middle Ear Infection and Sinusitis..........204 Treatment of Middle Ear Infection and Sinusitis........................................................ 205 Sore Throat..................................................206 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................206 Chapter 25 Review: Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat...................................................207 Chapter 26: Abdominal Pain.......................208 Practical Abdominal Anatomy.................208 Assessment of Abdominal Pain................209 Hollow Organ Problems............................209 Other Abdominal Problems......................210 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................211 Chapter 26 Review: Abdominal Pain......212 Chapter 27: Chest Pain.................................213 Myocardial Ischemia..................................213 Risk Factors.................................................214 Stable Angina..............................................214 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................215 Chapter 27 Review: Chest Pain................216

Chapter 28: Gastrointestinal Problems......217 Diarrhea....................................................... 217 Assessment of Diarrhea.............................217 Treatment of Diarrhea...............................218 Constipation................................................ 218 Treatment of Constipation........................218 Nausea and Vomiting.................................219 Treatment of Vomiting..............................219 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................219 Chapter 28 Review: Gastrointestinal Problems...................................................... 220 Chapter 29: Genitourinary Problems........221 Vaginitis....................................................... 221 Treatment of Vaginitis...............................222 Urinary Tract Infection.............................222 Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection......223 Urinary Tract Obstruction........................224 Bladder Outlet Obstruction......................224 Kidney Stone...............................................224 Testicular Pain............................................224 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................225 Chapter 29 Review: Genitourinary Problems...................................................... 226 Chapter 30: Respiratory Infection..............227 Respiratory Infection.................................227 Treatment of Respiratory Infection..........228 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................228 Chapter 30 Review: Respiratory Infection. ..................................................... 229 Chapter 31: Skin Rash...................................230 Serious or Not Serious?.............................230 Local or Systemic?......................................230 The Not Serious Rash.................................231 Infection. ..................................................... 232 Infestation.................................................... 232 Local Allergy...............................................233 Trauma and Chemical Irritation..............233 Risk Versus Benefit in Skin Rash..............233 Chapter 31 Review: Skin Rash..................235 Chapter 32: Behavioral Problems and Psychiatric Emergencies...........................236 Assessment of Abnormal Behavior..........237 Field Treatment of Psychiatric Emergencies................................................ 237 Drug and Alcohol Overdose.....................238

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Expanded Contents

Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal.................238 Chapter 32 Review: Behavioral Problems and Psychiatric Emergencies....................239 Section VII: Roles, Responsibilities, and Technology....................... 243 Chapter 33: The Expedition Medical Officer................................................................. 244 Responsibilities........................................... 244 Medical Screening......................................245 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................245 Chapter 33 Review: The Expedition Medical Officer. ......................................................... 246 Chapter 34: The Medical Role in Search and Rescue................................................................. 247 Medical Roles..............................................247 Incident Management System..................247 Response Preparation................................248 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................248 Chapter 34 Review: The Medical Role in Search and Rescue......................................250 Chapter 35: Appropriate Medical Technology......................................................... 251 Backcountry Medical Equipment.............251 Medications................................................. 252 Fluid Replacement......................................252 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................253 Chapter 35 Review: Appropriate Medical Technology.................................................. 254 Chapter 36: Training for Performance Under Stress................................................................... 253 Stress and the Brain....................................255 How We Respond.......................................256 Improving the Odds...................................256 Risk Versus Benefit.....................................257 Chapter 36 Review: Training for Performance Under Stress.........................259

Appendix A: Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Mnemonics ....................................................260 Appendix B: Conversion Tables..................262 Appendix C: Glasgow Coma Scale.............263 Glossary ........................................................... 264 Index ................................................................ 275 Photo and Image Credits ........................ 279

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Acknowledgments We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the efforts of all the instructors and staff of Wilderness Medical Associates International. Having a stadium full of experts to consult with is a rare privilege and a considerable benefit, not to mention a challenge. All of you have contributed to the suc cess of the company and the continued production of this text, now in its 8 th edition, and its associated materials. In particular, we would like to thank Abby Rowe, Will Smith, Julie Anderson, Debra Ajango, Doug Cameron, Molly Charest, Justin Childs, Tom Clausing, Samanta Chu, Anne Dunphy, Erik Forsythe, Greg Friese, Judi Alberi, Sawyer Alberi, Jobi Hansen, Stephen Halvorson, Deborah Hayes, Emily Hinman, Will Hooper, Ármann Höskuldsson, John Jacobs, Rachel Jamieson, Fay Johnson, Denis Langlois, Laura Lee, Sun Lingye, Rick Lipke, Ted Mahar, Mike Motti, Aaron Orkin, Takuya Ota, Bradford Sablosky, Dugg Steary, Cabot Stone, Sarah Strickland, Dave Vanderburgh, Mike Webster, Laura Wininger, and Isamu Yokobori. We would also like to thank the Medical Library staff at Central Maine Medical Center for its prompt, accurate, and enthusiastic efforts to find and organize medical reference materials. We sincerely appre ciate Drs. Douglas Casa, Peter Hackett, William Mills, Mary Ann Cooper, Gordon Giesbrecht, Martin Hoffman, and Frank Walter for sharing their insight and experience. And, as always, we owe a great debt of gratitude to Dr. Peter Goth for having the wisdom to recognize a good idea and the courage to promote it. Our appreciation is extended to the Crested Butte Professional Ski Patrol, Crested Butte Mountain Rescue, and the GVH Mountain Clinic for providing a solid base of practical experience and an unparal leled opportunity to test protocols, equipment, and technique. We also wish to acknowledge that the only real way to create a useful text is to respond to the people who are using it. We will be most grateful for any comments and critique from our readers, students, and instructors. With deep gratitude, Jeffrey Isaac, PA-C and David E. Johnson, MD

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About the Authors

Jeffrey Isaac is a physician associate and WEMT with a particular interest in backcountry and marine medicine. His 40 years of experience includes service as a fire/rescue crewman, professional ski patroller, mountain rescue team leader, and medical practitioner in hospital emergency departments and remote clinics. He has been an instructor for Wilderness Medical Associates International since the inception of the company and served as its Curriculum Director from 1991 to 2022. Jeff is also a licensed captain and an experienced mariner, having logged thousands of miles in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Caribbean Sea. His outdoor resume includes 20 years as an instructor and course director with the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, as well as numerous backcountry misadventures by foot, horse, canoe, bicycle, raft, and old trucks. David Johnson is a retired emergency physician with a lifetime of expe rience in a variety of outdoor pursuits. He has spent the last 40 years applying his experience as a physician and wilderness traveler to con sulting, curriculum development, and teaching focused on remote and low-resource environments around the world. He was the owner and Medical Director of Wilderness Medical Associates International from 1997 to 2020 and continued to serve as the Medical Director until 2022. David is known for being firmly committed to the science behind the subject, as well as its practical application at all levels of medical training. For these efforts, David has been recognized by Outward Bound USA with the McGory Award for outstanding contributions to experiential education, and is a recipient of the Charles (Reb) Greg Wilderness Risk Management Award.

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Contributing Editors

Will Smith, M.D. is the current Medical Director of Wilderness Medical Associates International and has been a one of our instructors since 2007. Will is an avid outdoorsman, emergency room physician, paramedic, and Fellow of the Academy of Emergency Medical Services (FAEMS). Currently, Will works as a full-time emergency department physician at St. John’s Health in Jackson, Wyoming, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and runs Wilderness & Emergency Medicine Consulting, LLC, advising clients around the world on how to save lives in wilderness and remote environments. In addition to serving as the Medical Director at WMA International, Will serves as the Co-Medical Director for Grand Teton National Park and Medical Director Teton County Search & Rescue, Jackson Hole Fire/ EMS, and Bridger Teton National Forest. Will is also a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps and has served several tours in the Middle East, Croatia, Egypt, El Salvador, and Panama. Julie Marie Anderson is currently practicing as both a registered nurse and a paramedic in Alaska and is the current Curriculum Director for Wilderness Medical Associates International. She has over 25 years of experience in prehospital, flight, and rural/remote emergency medicine, ranging from the Carolinas to above the Arctic Circle. Concurrently, she has worked for many experiential education and outdoor recreation orga nizations and programs. She has been a Lead instructor for Wilderness Medical Associates International since 2002. Julie has received multiple awards for provider excellence and has been recognized as an Alaska EMS Educator of the Year. She enjoys backcountry touring in many forms, kayaking, sailing, and living close to the land.

Deb Ajango has written about, as well as presented nationally and inter nationally on the topics of risk management, emergency action planning, and wilderness medicine. Deb graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison with a BS in psychology and MS in Clinical Psychology and Education, and has received both the Paul K. Petzoldt award (WEA) and the Charles (Reb) Gregg award (WRMC). Deb is a research faculty at Alaska Pacific University and has been an instructor for WMA for more than 20 years.

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Preface This edition of Wilderness and Rescue Medicine (WARM) represents our continued efforts to keep it lean but comprehensive, relevant, and practical for professional and lay practitioners who find themselves working, living, and playing in remote and low-resource settings. Like many other educational institutions, Wilderness Medical Associates International (WMA International) struggled with how to con tinue operating under the constraints imposed on us by the COVID-19 pandemic. We endeavored to take advantage of the shutdowns to look at how we offer educational opportunities and work to broaden the reach and upgrade the content and format. We continue to develop our dream of a dynamic bibliography and periodic updates online. Even before COVID-19, WMA International was working to script and produce teaching materials specifically for online use to supple ment the course materials primarily used on face-to-face courses. Serendipitously, these proved invaluable for the online recertification options we offered prior WMA International graduates when COVID-19 forced us to postpone courses. Rather than give a blanket extension, these were free online educational opportunities designed to refresh and extend their knowledge. These are now being modified and expanded for use on our growing number of hybrid courses. People learn in different ways, and using differ ent tools and approaches to education enhance learning and retention. But the COVID-19 experi ence has reminded us again that nothing beats a face-to-face learning environment where a well trained and experienced instructor can guide and challenge learners, allowing them to make mistakes, test assumptions, and ultimately suc ceed in an inclusive and supportive environment. In the autumn of 2020, Abby Rowe became the new owner and President of WMA International. A detailed biography is posted at https://www. wildmed.com/about-us/meet-the-team. Abby came to her roles familiar with WMA International and is prepared to move the company forward.

She is a WMA International course graduate and instructor. She also directed a program that has been a long-term sponsor of WMA International courses. Abby has redoubled the efforts of her predecessors and is committed to serving WMA International clients, supporting instructors, and providing high-quality curriculum and program ing for WMA International learners. The future continues to look bright as more and more people who work and play outdoors seek the kind of training that can enhance their safety and per sonal responsibility. We continue to be grateful to learners, instruc tors, and course hosts for their trust and support as we redouble our efforts to evolve and make our curriculum accessible, practical, and accurate. We hope you find this 8th Edition of WARM a chal lenging, informative, interesting, and worthwhile successor. David E. Johnson, MD Jeffrey Isaac, PA-C Wilderness Medical Associates International

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Introduction Wilderness and Rescue Medicine (WARM) is com posed for use as the primary text for Wilderness Medical Associates International (WMA International) courses. As such, it was conceived to be a clear, concise, and user-friendly guide to medical care in remote and low-resources settings. In this, our 8th Edition, we have remained focused on knowledge and techniques that are practi cal and useful in field medicine while updating from the current medical literature and our own evolving base of experience. The content will be appreciated by practitioners at all levels of train ing, but it is aimed at learners in our Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness EMS courses. WARM is more practical than encyclopedic and is written to be read from front to back. We have tried to structure it in a way that is logical, with one section building on to the next. The general principles described in the beginning will enhance your appreciation of the systems and problems discussed later. Your initial understanding of the body systems will guide the process of develop ing accurate and useful assessments leading to appropriate and realistic treatment plans for evermore complex problems. One of our goals is to offer assessment criteria that are logical and practical for field application. To apply compe tently, one only needs to integrate the information acquired from listening and observing with the principles that we have outlined in WARM and the classroom. Although this text can be understood as a stand alone resource, it is best accompanied by the Field Guide of Wilderness and Rescue Medicine as well as case studies provided by Wilderness Medical Associates International. The Field Guide is designed for your first aid kit as a quick-reference alternative packaged in a weather resistant format. The case studies offer an opportunity to review important principles in realistic settings. Within these publications you will find certain procedures identified as Wilderness Protocols. The procedures described expand the scope of practice for traditional first aid and many EMS practitioners. They are meant to address specific

problems often encountered in a wilderness and rescue environment. WMA International gradu ates have been trained in these techniques, but the authorization to use them comes from the patient’s informed consent and, where relevant, practitioner’s licensing agency. The Wilderness Protocols are freely offered for modification and use for the wilderness and res cue setting. Each carries the acknowledgment that the practitioner is appropriately trained and that the protocol is employed only in situations where transport to definitive care would result in unac ceptable risk to the patient or rescuers or where field treatment offers a clear benefit in improved outcome and diminished pain. The Wilderness Protocols require a clear diagnosis and a specific action. Not all situations, however, can be so clearly addressed. As you train for medical care in remote and low-resource settings, you must be prepared to do some unconventional thinking. Mainstream medical practice may have little relevance to you as the skipper of a small boat hundreds of miles from shore or as the leader of a rescue team on a high mountain ledge. There are many cases where applying conventional EMS protocols and equip ment will substantially increase the risk to the patient and entire rescue effort. For some of you, especially those with years of emergency medical services training, this perspective may be difficult to adopt. Others among you may find that it vali dates opinions formed by experience. Within the text and presentations, these issues take the form of wilderness perspective notes and risk versus benefit discussions. While you may have been taught that the ideal plan for traumatic brain injury is evaluation in a hospital, what if the route to get there is extremely dangerous for you and your patient? How do you balance the risk versus the potential benefit? These types of deci sions are not easy, but they are necessary. This text and the courses it serves are designed to provide you with some background with which to make tough choices and to provide the most effective medical care possible in unique and

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challenging circumstances. In addition to under standing principles and learning procedures, you will need to keep an open mind. The ability to innovate and adapt will serve you far better than trying to memorize a protocol for every circumstance. Finally, if you are new to the study of medicine, you may feel overwhelmed by abbreviations, mne monics, and acronyms. Even experienced practi tioners are occasionally baffled by their colleague’s documentation shortcuts. To help with some of this we have included a list of abbreviations and a glossary in the back of the text. All of us at WMA International hope that you find WARM interesting, relevant, and useful. We plan to continue updating and revising this text and our curriculum regularly, and we welcome and encourage your comments and critique via email or through the custom form accessed through the QR code below.

office@wildmed.com www.wildmed.com

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Section I: General Principles

Chapter 1: General Principles of Physiology and Pathology

Chapter 2: General Principles of Wilderness Rescue

Chapter 3: Patient Assessment and the SOAP Format

1

Chapter 1: General Principles of Physiology and Pathology

Most emergency medical assessment and treat ment is based on a few general principles of pathology and physiology. If you can understand these basic human responses to injury and illness, you will be in a much better position to adapt your medical skills and experience to the remote and extreme environment. These principles are funda mental and will surface frequently in your study of wilderness and rescue medicine. The ideal result is that you will never forget what to do because you will understand what needs to be done. Oxygenation and Perfusion All living tissue must be continuously perfused with oxygenated blood to function normally. For each cell in the body to be adequately oxygenated, a continuous flow of fresh air to the lungs and a continuous flow of blood to the body tissues are required. Anything that interferes with these pro cesses is a serious problem. The preservation of oxygenation and perfusion is the fundamental goal of emergency medical care.

General Principles

Oxygenation and Perfusion

1

“Anything that interferes with this is a serious problem.”

*

© 2018 WMA

The basic function of the respiratory system is to bring outside air into the alveoli of the lungs where only a thin membrane separates air from blood. This allows oxygen from the air to diffuse into the blood and combine with hemoglobin in red blood cells . Adequate oxygenation of the blood requires adequate respiration. The basic purpose of the circulatory system is to perfuse the lungs with blood in need of oxygen, and to perfuse the rest of the body tissues with the newly oxygenated blood. Adequate perfusion requires that the circulatory system generates enough pressure to force the blood through the capillary beds in body tissues where oxygenation of the cells and removal of carbon dioxide and metabolic waste occurs.

3

Section I: General Principles

skill is especially helpful in recognizing when the problem is not serious, which is most of the time. Patterns and Trends The nervous system regulates the function of the circulatory and respiratory systems to maintain adequate oxygenation and perfusion under a vari ety of conditions. The system also compensates for the effects of an injury or illness by adjusting cardiac output, respiratory rate and effort, and tissue perfusion. Measuring vital signs reveals the compensation mechanisms at work. We routinely look at pulse rate, respiratory rate and effort, level of consciousness and mental status , blood pressure, skin perfusion, and body core temperature. Minor changes occur as the healthy body adapts to the various stresses of normal life. A pattern of substantial, progressive, or persis tent changes in vital signs indicates an evolving problem. The volume shock pattern is a good example.

Three Critical Systems, Three Serious Problems The organs of the circulatory, respiratory, and ner vous systems perform the functions most essential to life. A serious problem with any one of these systems is considered an immediate threat to life. Your first steps in patient examination are focused on evaluating the function of these three systems. Your priority in patient care is to quickly correct any serious problems with oxygenation and perfusion. The serious problem called shock is inad equate perfusion pressure in the circulatory sys tem resulting in inadequate tissue oxygenation. Respiratory failure is the term for inadequate oxygenation of the blood due to a serious respira tory system problem. A serious nervous system problem causing brain failure can inhibit nor mal control and function of the other two critical systems. The circulatory, respiratory, and nervous sys tems are interdependent. A problem with one quickly affects the functions of the other two. For example, shock from blood loss stimulates an increase in the respiratory rate and causes changes in brain function. Because the critical systems affect each other in a variety of ways, it can be a challenge to determine in which critical system the original problem lies.

General Principles

Patterns and Trends

3

Blood volume Skin perfusion Urine output Pulse Respiratio n Blood pressure Level of Consciousness

General Principles

Three Critical Systems Three Major Problems

2

Compensated

Decompensated

“ Accurate assessment of critical system function involves the recognition of patterns and trends .”

© 2018 WMA

Circulatory System

Shock

Mental Status and Level of Consciousness

Respiratory System

Respiratory Failure

Nervous System

Brain Failure

Mental status is the most useful vital sign in wil derness medicine. Nervous system tissue, espe cially the brain, is exquisitely sensitive to oxygen deprivation. Subtle changes in brain function are often your earliest indicator of a problem with oxygenation and perfusion. Patients remain con scious and alert but may become anxious and

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“Recognizing…a major problem with a critical body system is the key to recognizing a life-threatening emergency.”

© 2018 WMA

Recognizing or anticipating the development of shock, respiratory failure, or brain failure is the key to recognizing a serious problem. This

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Wilderness and Rescue Medicine

confused early in the pattern of shock or respira tory failure. The severity of the signs and symp toms correlates well to the severity of the problem. Picture the brain like the layers of an onion with increasingly complex layers of function from the inside out. The basic physiological functions that control consciousness and heart and respiratory rates extend from the innermost layers in the brain stem. Higher brain functions such as speech, behavior, judgment, and problem solving are controlled by the outer layers of the brain. These outer layers are usually the first to be affected by a developing problem with oxygenation and perfu sion, causing changes in mental status.

Swelling and Pressure Swelling is a common, generic response to injury and illness. Swelling can interfere with oxygen ation and perfusion. Many of our emergency drugs and procedures are used to prevent and control swelling or reduce the associated prob lems and risks. Swelling is caused by the accumulation of excess fluid in body tissues. It can develop quickly as blood escapes from ruptured arteries or slowly as serum oozes from damaged or inflamed capil laries , causing the condition known as edema . It may be localized, such as the swelling of a sprained ankle, or systemic , such as the swelling of the whole body that occurs in allergic reactions. Swelling is bothersome when it causes pain, and dangerous when it causes problems with oxygen ation and perfusion. Swelling that develops inside a restricted space, such as the skull or a muscle compartment, can result in enough pressure to restrict perfusion causing the condition known as ischemia . This is exactly what happens to the brain with the development of increased intra cranial pressure due to head injury. It is also responsible for the damage caused by compart ment syndrome that develops in the muscles of the lower leg or forearm. Swelling in the confined space of the upper airway can cause obstruction, whereas swelling lower in the respiratory system can cause lower airway constriction or fluid in the alveoli. Swelling can evolve over hours or days, or nearly instantly with severe internal bleeding.

General Principles

Mental Status And Level of Consciousness

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AVPU: A – Awake (describe mental status – oriented, confused, anxious, combative, lethargic, etc.) V – Verbal P – Pain U – Unresponsive

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“… a reliable and accessible field measurement of perfusion and oxygenation.”

© 2018 WMA

As critical system problems become more seri ous, mental status worsens and the deeper layers of the brain begin to fail, causing a decrease in the level of consciousness. Students sometimes refer to this pattern as “peeling the onion.” The progres sion can be reversed if the underlying problems are corrected. In the absence of shock or respiratory failure, changes in mental status can indicate a problem within the brain itself such as intoxication , infec tion , or stroke . Again, the severity of the symp toms correlates well to the severity of the problem. Being a little tipsy after a beer is not serious, but being unconscious after a night of drinking is. If the deeper layers of the onion stop working, the patient will stop breathing. Monitoring con sciousness and mental status offers a reliable and accessible field measurement of the quality of oxygenation and perfusion.

General Principles

Swelling and Pressure

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Bleeding and Edema

Swelling

Pressure

Ischemia

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“Anticipating and controlling swelling is an essential part of emergency medical care.”

© 2019 WMA