1. [Nontraumatic medical emergencies in mountain rescues].
- Author
-
Sierra Quintana E, Martínez Caballero CM, Batista Pardo SA, Abella Barraca S, and de la Vieja Soriano M
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Altitude Sickness diagnosis, Altitude Sickness epidemiology, Altitude Sickness etiology, Child, Child, Preschool, Digestive System Diseases diagnosis, Digestive System Diseases epidemiology, Digestive System Diseases etiology, Female, Heart Diseases diagnosis, Heart Diseases epidemiology, Heart Diseases etiology, Humans, Hypothermia diagnosis, Hypothermia epidemiology, Hypothermia etiology, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Nervous System Diseases epidemiology, Nervous System Diseases etiology, Retrospective Studies, Spain epidemiology, Young Adult, Emergencies epidemiology, Emergency Medical Services, Mountaineering, Rescue Work
- Abstract
Objectives: To describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of patients with nontraumatic medical problems rescued by a Spanish mountain emergency response service (061 Aragon)., Material and Methods: Retrospective observational analysis of records of mountain rescues completed between July 2010 and December 2016., Results: A total of 164 patients with nontraumatic medical emergencies were rescued; 82.3% were males. Most patients were between the ages of 50 and 59 years. Environmentally related problems, most often hypothermia, accounted for 36.6% of the emergencies. Cardiac problems led to 20.7% and digestive problems to 12.8%. Eighty-two percent of the patients were hiking or engaged in general mountain activities (other than rock climbing, canyoning, hunting, or skiing)., Conclusion: Recent years have seen a rise in the number of patients requiring rescue from mountains for nontraumatic medical emergencies, particularly heart problems. The typical patient to expect would be a man between the ages of 50 and 59 years who is hiking in the summer.
- Published
- 2017