Medical Incidents and Evacuations on Wilderness Expeditions

Scott E. McIntosh, MD
Division of Emergency Medicine
University of Utah

Drew Leemon
National Outdoor Leadership School

Joshua Visitacion
School of Medicine
University of Utah

Tod Schimelpfenig
National Outdoor Leadership School

David Fosnocht, MD 
Division of Emergency Medicine
University of Utah

Objective:
Expedition activities such as mountaineering, rock climbing, river running, sea kayaking, and canoeing all involve an element of risk. Organizations that provide group wilderness and adventure experiences are responsible for managing the risk of their courses. The leaders and medical providers of these trips must therefore be prepared to anticipate and manage medical problems that may arise. The aim of this study is to provide the medical comminity with a better understanding of the specific injuries and illnesses that occur on wilderness expeditions.  

Methods:
A retrospective descriptive study was done examining the medical incidents that occurred on wilderness-based courses during the 3-year period from September 1, 2002, through August 31, 2005. Participants and staff of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) served as the study population. 

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