I was tickled and humbled to be invited as the guest on a recent episode of the Critical Care Scenarios podcast. Catch it here: http://icuscenarios.com/episode-25-wilderness-medicine-with-ross-hofmeyr We talked about high altitude medicine, technical rescue, priorities, decision-making, suspension syndrome, altitude prevention, high altitude ultrasound and more! Great fun with excellent collaborators.
One of our expedition participants, Dr Stephan Thaele, produced this amazing video along the way by working a little on it each day on his phone as the expedition unfolded. What a great source of memories!
Oliver Page, one of our enthusiastic course participants made this short video of his experience on our WildMedix Canyoneering Medicine course in February this year. Check it out and give him some love!
Labour of love and quite a few years work: my mother Robynn and I have written a guide “by divers for divers” to the dive resorts of Mozambique. This was more of a challenge than anticipated, as the sociopolitical climate in Mozambique means that there is a continually shifting landscape when it comes to dive operators, and some significant regional differences. Although there are some very well established resorts and operators, many of the smaller, newer or more exclusive venues are unknown, and no-one could give an accurate estimate of the actual number.
The book has been thoroughly researched but is filled with actual impressions and practical reviews of the many resorts, and is worth acquiring simply for the hundreds of original photographs from a plethora of contributors.
Bailey, D. M., C. K. Willie, R. L. Hoiland, A. R. Bain, D. B. MacLeod, M. A. Santoro, D. K. DeMasi, A. Andrijanic, T. Mijacika, O. F. Barak, Z. Dujic and P. N. Ainslie (2016). “Surviving Without Oxygen: How Low Can the Human Brain Go?” High Alt Med Biol.
van der Lans, A. A. J. J., J. Hoeks, B. Brans, G. H. E. J. Vijgen, M. Visser, xEb, G. W. lle, M. J. Vosselman, J. Hansen, xF, J. A. rgensen, J. Wu, F. M. Mottaghy, P. Schrauwen and W. D. van Marken Lichtenbelt (2013). “Cold acclimation recruits human brown fat and increases nonshivering thermogenesis.” The Journal of Clinical Investigation 123(8): 3395-3403.
Having spent many years enjoying the wilderness across 6 continents (hold on Oceania, I’m coming), including wintering over in Antarctica and years of service in mountain rescue, and then gaining the perspective afforded to me by having my own serious wilderness accident, I am very mindful of how we balance the risks and rewards of wilderness adventures. Greg Hill captures the essence of some very simple but powerful advice for staying safe in this brief video. Watch and reflect!
Transcribed here in my words:
Greg Hill’s 5 Rules for Staying Safe in the Wilderness
Be afraid – be aware of the risks, and cognitive of the risks.
Be prepared – get educated, find mentors, be guided, get good equipment, take the courses, develop your own mountain sense.
Have a great team – find good partners.
Have a plan – prepare for eventualities, have an escape route
Be vigilant – maintain situational awareness, reassess plans fluidly.
Actually, that sounds like a good set of 5 rules for prehospital emergency medicine, anaesthesia, or any other high-stakes game!
As promised, open access to my two talks from the Mountain Medicine Workshop hosted at the MCSA in Cape Town, 2 May 2016. Please feel free to use for reference, or direct questions to me!