I 'm a Business Manager not a Doctor or Physician. Any information that I have on this page is nothing more than a list of tips and tricks that I have learned over the years. If you choose to use this information, you do so at your own risk!
Click on subject: Blisters, Giardiasis, Hypothermia,
Cause: The main cause of blisters is excessive amounts of friction generated within a small centralized area. Fortunately friction isn't the only contributing factor. Moisture must also be present to cause the blistering effect on the skin.
Friction tears the upper layer of skin (the epidermis), this causes a space to form between the layers of skin. If moisture gets the chance to penetrate and fill this space, a blister will develop.
Prevention: If you take precautions or eliminate either one of these causes a blister will not form. Blisters can occur anywhere on the body but are most common on hands and feet. The following prevention tips are focused around the feet the most common place for blisters on hikers.
Treatment: There are two types of blisters; those that Hurt, and those that REALLY HURT!! The blisters that simply hurt don't require any medical attention for as long as the top of the blister is completely intact.
Blisters that REALLY HURT but are completely intact should be lanced, drained and bandaged with some type of antibiotic ointment.
Blisters that are badly torn should have the roof of the blister removed with clean scissors. After removing the roof be sure to clean area thoroughly and bandaged with some type of antibiotic ointment. Be careful to replace bandages as they become loose, wet or dirty.
Here is a site that is dedicated to feet: www.foothealthnetwork.com
This is a Bowel infection caused by a parasite found in contaminated water. A person or animal can contract this water born disease by drinking water that has been fecally contaminated by mammals carrying the protozoa Giardia Lamblia Parasite. The Giardia parasites enters the body through either food or water then multiplies in the small intestine. Inflammation will occur in the intestine causing diarrhea and other symptoms.
This infection is curable but can be very annoying and even life threatening if severe enough. To my knowledge there have been no deaths directly accredited to this infection but if severe cases are not treated death could occur from dehydration.
The reason I have placed this subject on my web site is that it is a highly increasing problem. If my sources are correct over 80% of the world's surface water has this parasite.
I myself have suffered from this infestation; I lost 10 pounds in just a couple weeks. My sickness was contracted from a canoe trip. Me and my friends were just horsing around tipping each others canoes, I never once purposefully drank the water but still came down with the infection.
Diagnosis: Sudden diarrhea and abdominal cramping, some people have only mild diarrhea and indigestion. Other symptoms are slight fever, weight loss, loose, bulky and bad-smelling stools.
Treatment: Some effective drugs are quinacrine, metronidazole and Atabrine Tablets. Unfortunately all of these drugs are only available by prescription. This makes in the field treatment virtually impossible. If you belie that you have contracted this infestation be sure to keep-up fluid intake so as to prevent dehydration and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Prevention: There are 3 very effective methods.
It has recently been hoped that the intake of warm moist air
into the lungs through some type of breathing device would eliminate
all during treatment deaths. Unfortunately this treatment has
been tested and its outcome has come under severe scrutiny. Most
professionals believe that this process only slightly helps in
re-heating the body's core temperature. Hardly the results expected!
What this means to the average outdoorsman is that if you are
to survive hypothermia, you must know how to lessen or counteract
its effects in the field. The following information should give
you an idea on how to do just that.
Cause: Hypothermia occurs when the body's core
temperature drops below 95 Degrees Fahrenheit for an extended
amount of time like 6 hours or more. This time can be greatly
reduced if the body is completely or near completely exposed to
a cold environment. For example if the body is dropped into ice
water death will occur within an hour and fifteen minutes.
Note: There are two levels of hypothermia! The first is
Chronic Hypothermia, which can be caused by something like the
common cold. The second is Acute Hypothermia, which is caused
by a severe change in temperature like immersion in cold water.
Symptoms: The symptoms may vary depending on
the individual or the activity taking place. For instance one
of the most obvious signs shivering may not be obvious
if the person is hiking or performing other strenuous activities.
A study a few years ago showed that Rangers (U.S. Army Special
Forces) go through such rugged training that their immune system
drops so low that their bodies lose the ability to shiver.
Note: Shivering is a natural reaction by the body that
helps increase skin warmth.
Most often a person starting to suffer from hypothermia will
start complaining a lot about being cold. This is a sign
to check if this person is Wet, Shivering or both.
As hypothermia gets worse this person may start acting lethargic
or separated from what is happening around him. In advanced stages
the person will become clumsy and lose the ability to perform
intricate tasks with his hands and fingers.
Note: The smaller the body the faster the cooling process
takes place. Most heat is lost through the skin, and the smaller
the person the higher ratio of skin to surface area. So be extra
watchful over small slender people, children, and especially infants.
These people will most likely show the signs of hypothermia first.
Prevention:
Treatment: