List of wilderness medical emergencies

The following is a list of symptoms and conditions that signal or constitute a possible wilderness medical emergency.

Injury and illnesses

• Arthropod bites and stings
• Appendicitis (leading to peritonitis)
• Ballistic trauma (gunshot wound when hunting)
• Eye injuries (such as from branches)
• Flail chest associated with ice climbing and snowclimbing falls
• Hyperthermia (heat stroke or sunstroke)
• Malignant hyperthermia
• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
• Poisoning
• Food poisoning associated with warm weather expeditions
• Venomous animal bite
• Botanical from mushrooms or "wild greens""
• Severe burn (forest fire)
• Spreading wound infection
• Suspected spinal injury from falls, falling rock, ice
• Traumatic brain injury from falls, falling rock, ice

Infections

• Lyme disease
• Malaria
• Necrotizing fasciitis
• Rabies
• Salmonella

Neurologic

• Subdural hematoma, associated with rockfall, icefall, falls while climbing, glissade crashes with rocks, mountain bike crashes

Respiratory

• Altitude sickness
• Asphyxia
• Drowning
• Smoke inhalation (related to Forest fire)
• Pneumothorax
• Pulmonary edema associated with high altitude (HAPE)
• Respiratory Arrest associated with neurotoxic bites

Shock

• Anaphylaxis associated with stings
• Hypovolemic shock (due to hemorrhage) associated with climbing falls, kayak crashes, etc.
• Septic shock

References