Background Minimal data exist regarding the activity, membership, training, and medical oversight of search and rescue (SAR) teams. Objective Our objective was to describe these characteristics in the Intermountain West SAR organizations. Methods A contact list was generated and electronic surveys were sent to SAR officials in each Intermountain West county. Results were descriptively analyzed. Results Of the contacted jurisdictions, 56% (156) responded to the survey. The annual average call volume was 29 missions (range, 5 to 152). Multiple levels of medical training were represented on SAR teams, ranging from first aid/cardiopulmonary resuscitation providers to the physician level, and 79% of teams provided some medical training to their membership. Of the SAR medical professionals, 23% had formal wilderness medical training. Local emergency medical services provided 60% of the medical care on SAR missions rather than SAR personnel. Formal physician medical oversight was present in 41% of the SAR teams. These physicians participated in a range of SAR activities including medical protocol drafting (including expanded scope of practice), medical trainings, mission participation, medical consultation, and prescribing medications for field use. The majority (69%) of those physicians were trained in emergency medicine, and 45% of the active medical directors had protocols allowing for an expanded scope of practice due to the remote nature of SAR medical care. Conclusions Intermountain West SAR teams vary in their activity, composition, training, and level of medical oversight. This study confirms that opportunities exist for physician integration with SAR teams in the studied states and likely throughout the United States.

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Background.-Much research has been done on the effects of static and dynamic stretching on muscle strength and flexibility. Others have looked at the psychosomatic effects (ie, fatigue, soreness) in various populations. It is less clear what the psychosomatic effects of stretching may have after endurance exercise activities, such as hiking. Objective.-To assess the psychosomatic effects of stretching on endurance exercise in the context of hiking. Methods.-Twenty-one medical students were given a questionnaire immediately before and after a 4-mile moderately difficult hike. They were asked about prior hiking experience, general level of fitness, and relative levels of perceived fatigue and soreness. Ten subjects were assigned to the no-stretch control group, and 11 subjects were allowed to participate in an approximately 10 minute stretching session. Analysis of P values was done using the 2-sample t test. Results.-There was a 67% higher level of perceived soreness (P ¼ .02) immediately on finishing the hike in the control group as compared with the stretch group. The average level of perceived fatigue (on a scale of 1 to 5) in the control group increased from 2.7 to 3.7 (P ¼ .049) whereas the level of reported fatigue in the stretch group increased to a lesser extent from 2.36 to 3; this increase was not statistically significant (P ¼ .216). Conclusions.-Perceived soreness immediately after hiking can potentially be lessened by stretching. A larger study examining the different types of stretching (dynamic vs static) could be useful to further examine the psychosomatic effects of stretching on hiking.

had no effect on incidence. Most JMT backpackers follow standard backcountry hygiene recommendations. Conclusions.-JMT backpackers have comparatively lower risk of experiencing diarrhea than other major long-distance backpacking routes in the United States. Diarrhea incidence is unaffected by backpacker demographics or hygiene compliance regularity on the JMT.