High Altitude Sickness
Thousands of hunters flock to the high country each year from lower altitude states never suspecting they are in serious danger. High Altitude sickness is the result of travel to higher altitudes at a faster rate than the body can adapt. There are three types of Altitude Sickness:
1 Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) the most common occurs at as low as 4,000-6,000 feet with rapid ascents to those altitudes from lower lands. The onset of AMS is usually delayed beginning 6-12 hours after ascent, but can be as much as 24 after the ascent. Symptoms can include: headache, fatigue, appetite loss, nausea with vomiting sometimes occurring.
2 HACE or High-Altitude Cerebral Edema is a severe form of AMS and has the same symptoms but the lethargy is more exaggerated, along with possible confusion and ataxia (lack of coordination). According to the CDC website, people suspected to have HACE and who fail a tandem gait test must immediately descend. Death can occur from HACE 6-24 hours after the development of ataxia.
3 The third form of High Altitude Illness is HAPE or High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema. The occurrence of HAPE can come either with HACE or separately. An increased shortage of breath with exertion and subsequent shortness of breath at rest are initial symptoms. When the breathlessness doesn’t resolve shortly after rest, it is critical to descend as death can come even faster than with HACE.
Hunters should plan to have a great time in the high country, and know that death from High Altitude Sickness is usually preventable by paying attention to symptoms and descending to lower altitude. The CDC website mentions studies showing that people in groups are more likely to die of altitude sickness than single travelers, possibly due to not wanting to look weak in front of a group. Use sense and watch your hunting partners for altitude sickness. If your buddy seems to have symptoms, don’t let him talk you out of his getting treatment, or tell him to “cowboy –up.” It is better to get help and take a day or so longer to get to your hunt than to risk the health of a friend.
Rules for travelers to the high country should include:
1 Educate yourself on the early symptoms of High Altitude Sickness. Acknowledge the symptoms when present and don’t try to pretend it is not happening and try to “tough it out.”
2 Do not go any higher, especially to sleep, when any of the symptoms are present even if they seem slight.
3 When resting at your present altitude, if the symptoms become worse or do not improve, you must descend and seek medical attention.
The best way to avoid altitude sickness is to ascend to your destination gradually with extra rest at altitudes prior to your destination. Seek professional medical advice before traveling to high altitude states for proper procedures and possible medications.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
Hantavirus is a nasty, deadly disease caused by breathing dried materials infected with contaminated saliva, droppings, urine and nesting materials primarily from the Deer mouse, cotton and rice rats (Southeast) as well as the white-footed mouse (Northeast). It is not transmitted from one person to another and not known to be transmitted from farm animals or pets.
Symptoms start with deep muscle ache, fever, and severe shortness of breath and if you experience these problems soon after being in suspected infestation areas contact your physician immediately.
You may think of people contacting HPS while cleaning out barns and farm out-buildings but other areas of concern may be:
1 Hunting/fishing lodges
2 Cabins and outhouses
3 Boat houses and covered boats
4 Closets
5 Doghouses, bird houses and food storage areas
6 Firewood piles
7 RV storage areas
8 Garages
Recommendations for cleaning rodent –infested areas:
1. Open all windows and doors for ventilation at least an hour before cleaning.
2. Wear rubber gloves, eye-protection, and approved mask.
3. Don’t stir up dust by vacuuming or sweeping.
4. Thoroughly wet contaminated areas with a solution of 1 ½ c household bleach to each gallon of water.
5. Remove the wet, contaminated materials and put into trash bags sealed tight or bury.
6. Re-treat the area again with bleach solution and let dry before using the space.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is the most severe tick-borne illness in the United States. It is transmitted through saliva in the bite of a tick, usually the Rocky Mountain wood tick or the American dog tick. Brown dog ticks have also been known to infect humans in the United States.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is usually contracted from April through September and is found all over the U.S., not just the Rocky Mountain States.
Symptoms of R.M.S.F. usually show up after a 5-10 day incubation period and include: nausea, fever, vomiting, muscle pain, , lack of appetite and severe headache, all similar to flu symptoms. Soon after a rash, abdominal pain, joint pain and diarrhea can occur. The most important components in diagnosis are fever, rash and a tick bite. This can be a severe illness and patients are frequently hospitalized. It is treated with a course of antibiotics.
Ways to prevent exposure to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever include:
1 Wear light colored clothing so you can see the ticks.
2 Apply repellents to discourage the ticks from attaching. Repellents containing DEET are recommended.
3 Tuck pant legs into your socks so the ticks can’t crawl up your pants.
4 Check yourself and your partners when you get to where you are going.
If you do find a tick on your body, removal should be done carefully with tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently pull it out. Do not jerk, squeeze or puncture it or it can come apart and leave mouthparts containing the infected saliva imbedded. Avoid old remedies such as the application of hot matches, as this can stimulate the tick to release additional saliva increasing the chances of illness.
These illnesses are all preventable and treatable if care is taken as soon as they are suspected. The time to be a hero is not when you find yourself facing one of these nasty illnesses. The time to shine is in using your head to get yourself, your friends and family in and out of the outdoors safely. I have given basic information in this article, be sure to look up the Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov other reputable online disease websites or ask your physician or more information.
Every year sportsmen and women find themselves in a fight for their lives not from bear fights or mountain lion attacks but frequently from things they can’t even see. High Altitude Sickness, Hantavirus and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are among several illnesses caused by unseen attackers, killing or incapacitating many people each year. A small amount of information taken seriously can greatly improve your chances of not contracting these diseases.