Mountain Emergency Medicine has seen exponential development due to the ever-increasing number of people who hike or trek as well as practice extreme sports. Emergency physicians and nurses need to be equipped with the necessary training to be able to manage “on the field” accidents and sicknesses as well as their own physical security. Theoretical knowledge is generally of high level but practical expertise is dangerously lacking in many operators. Furthermore, treatment modalities on the field have not been completely codified and are not supported by internationally-accepted guidelines. This book is the first to offer a complete and thorough approach to this field of Emergency Medicine based on the latest research findings.
Authors:
Hermann Brugger
Lecturer of Medicine – Medical University of Innsbruck–AUSTRIA. Director of the Institute for Mountain Medical Emergency at EURAC. President of the International Society of Mountain Medicine.
Ken Zafren
MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FAWIf Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine. Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford CA USA) Attending Physician. Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage AK (USA) Associate Medical Director. Himalayan Rescue Association, Nepal Medical Advisor, Alaska Mountain Rescue Group Immediate Past Vice President. International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom) Staff Emergency Physician. Alaska Native Medical Center Anchorage, AK USA.
Luigi Festi
Deputy Chief of Thoracic Surgery. Varese hospital, Italy. President of the Medical Commission at CAI (Italian Alpine Club). Director International Master of Mountain Medicine University of Insubria, Varese, ITALY
Peter Paal
MD PD MBA. Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Giacomo Strapazzon
MD, EURAC. Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Bolzano, Italy CNSAS. Medical School for High Risk Emergency in Cave Environment, Italy.
Contents:
Editors V
Contributors VI
Foreword XI
Preface XIII
Section I General Considerations
1. Introduction to Mountain Emergency Medicine
2. History of Mountain Rescue
3. Mountain Rescue Challenges
Section II Current Status in the World
4. Mountain Rescue Services
5. Helicopter Emergency Medical Services
Section III Education and Training
6. Education and Training
Section IV Equipment
7. Technical Equipment, Rescue Techniques, and Communication
8. Medical Equipment in Mountain Rescue
Section V On-Site Treatment
9. Introduction to On-site Treatment in Mountain Emergency Medicine
10. Safety
11. Casualty Assessment and Risk Management in the Mountains
Trauma care
12. Wound Care
13. Stabilisation and Splinting
14. Multiple Trauma
15. Fractures, Dislocations, and Spinal Injuries
16. On-Site Surgical Interventions
Special situations
17. Climbing Accidents
18. Suspension Syndrome
19. Accidental Hypothermia
20. Avalanche Accidents
21. Frostbite
22. Crevasse Accidents
23. Aviation Accidents
24. Canyoning Accidents
25. Caving Accidents
26. Swiftwater Rescue
27. Lightning Injuries
28. Exhaustion and Fatigue in the Mountains
29. Heat Illnesses
30. Envenomation by Bites and Stings
31. Cardiovascular Emergencies at Altitude
32. High Altitude Illnesses
33. Psychiatric Emergencies
34. Medical Emergencies
35. Pain Management
36. Advanced Airway Management in Mountain Rescue
37. Cardiac Arrest in Mountain Areas
38. Automated External Defibrillators
39. Termination of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Mountain Rescue
40. Transport
Section VI In-Hospital Management
41. Emergency Department Trauma Management
42. Multiple Trauma Management
43. In-Hospital Treatment of Accidental Hypothermia
Section VII Special Knowledge
44. Mass Casualty Incidents in the Mountains
45. Crisis Intervention and Peer Support after Incidents in Mountain Areas
46. Occupational Health in Mountain Rescue
47. Medicolegal Aspects
48. Outlook—Giant Steps
