Wilderness Risk Management

OK, so just got back from a ‘wilderness risk management conference’, very grown up, and if this is what a grown up is supposed to be like I’m not sure I’m in the right job. No seriously it was very interesting, a bit heavy on the legal side, but that’s life.  As a Brit living in the US, I’m amazed at the litigious society I now live in. Just the other day I was teaching a wilderness first responder class down in North Carolina, one of the lead instructors had to skip class because she had court date. While out on business she’d taken a wrong turn and needed to make a u-turn, choosing a large driveway she went to turn and before she could say ‘pumpkin pie’ the owner popped out and prevented her from leaving ‘his’ property. Sounds a bit like kidnapping to me but the result was the cops showing up and a criminal damage law suite being filed. I’ll keep you posted. Back in Britain we may post a sign which says, ‘no turning’, that usually does the trick, or even go as far to put some large rocks near an edge but a law suit, come on..

So my point is, if people are suing for turning in drives, by God you better be prepared in the wilderness. One of the main medical subjects was the use of Epinephrine (Epi) in the wilderness and whether or not outdoor instructors should carry it. SOLO has long stood by the thought that leaders should absolutely  carry Epi, (an artificial form or adrenaline that treats the symptoms of anaphylactic shock caused by many things including bees), but only after proper training and understanding that Epi only relieves the symptoms and doesn’t treat the root cause, for that we use an anti-histamine such as benadryl ASAP. It was still interesting to hear how several big outdoor adventure providers do not carry Epi due to the possible legal ramifications that could arise from inappropriate use or the unlikely event that someone will die as a direct result of being administered the EPI and not the anaphylactic reaction itself. I mean come-on people, without help  a severe reaction to a bee sting, nuts or whatever may cause someone to die, sure carry Epi if they have a pre-existing condition but what if?? When I was down in Belize last year one thing we frequently came into contact with was poison wood. Just standing next to the stuff can start you wheezing, cut it down and your in trouble, burn it,  and well put it this way you won’t be on my Christmas card list anymore. Of course we train our staff and students in what to look out for but what if? Use the old adage, ‘be prepared’ I say, I’d never go overseas without at least three Epi-pens or the equivalent, and I’d recommend that trip leaders in the US carry at least two, BUT they should always know how to use them.  

Happy Christmas,

Jono

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Tags: , emt, first-aid, medicine, risk, wfa, wfr, wilderness

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