Human factors: Predictors of avoidable wilderness accidents?

Acute high-altitude illness

“…This practice has led to the true risks being underestimated, and (in our opinion) to an over-reliance on chemoprophylaxis to compensate for high-risk ascent profiles (see Table 2 of our article, adapted from Wilderness Medical Society guidelines [1,4] ) rather than risk reduction through profile adjustment. [5] This increasing use of and/or reliance on chemoprophylaxis has also been described elsewhere, such as in Himalayan trekkers. [6] Furthermore, while there is good evidence that acetazolamide undoubtedly hastens acclimatisation (numbers needed to treat in the range of 3 -8, depending on circumstance [6][7][8] ), it cannot compensate for excessively rapid ascent.…”

Growing wilderness and expedition medicine education in southern Africa

“…Finally, heat-exposure injury is discussed in the African context. [23][24][25] While far from a comprehensive review of wilderness and expedition medicine, it is the fervent hope of the authors that these topics provide a catalyst for awareness and a kernel for further discussion, interaction and development of the field in SA, and an emergence of the specialty on our continent.…”