A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO 
                                        WILDERNESS & TRAVEL MEDICINE
                                              ERIC A. WEISS, M.D., F.A.C.E.P.
                                           The Choice of Outdoor Professionals Worldwide
                                                                                                                  DEDICATION
         © Copyright 1992, 1997, 2005  by Adventure Medical Kits.                            This book is dedicated to Amy and Danny Weiss — my 
         All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in                   two favorite indoor and outdoor companions.
         any manner without the express written consent of the publisher,                    This book is also dedicated to my mother and father for 
         except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.                   their steadfast support and unconditional love. They have 
                                                                                          unselfishly devoted their lives to the health and happiness of 
         Published by Adventure Medical Kits                                              their children.
         P.O. Box 43309, Oakland, CA 94624                                                   Finally, I’d like to dedicate this edition to the memory of 
         Printed in the United States of America                                          Oscar V. Lopp. As the Director of the Sierra Club’s Mountain 
         First Edition November, 1992                                                     Medical Institute, Oscar introduced more people to wilder-
         Second Edition July, 1997                                                        ness medicine than any other human. He had an extraordi-
         Third Edition July, 2005                                                         nary level of energy, a contagious sense of humor, and an 
         Illustrations: Rod Nickell, Danny Sun, Butch Collier,                            indomitable spirit.
         and Patricia A. Jacobs
         Book Design and Layout: Dan Armstrong and Russ Fry 
         Primary Editor: Nis Kildegaard
         Cover Photo: Lannie Johnson 
         Thomserku Peak in the Himalaya, Nepal
                Library of Congress Catalog-in-Publication Data
       Weiss, Eric
       A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine 
       by Eric A. Weiss – 3rd Edition 
       ISBN 0-9659768-1-5 
       1. Wilderness First-Aid 2. Travel Medicine 
       3. Backpacking First-Aid 4.Wilderness Survival 
                                                                                                                                              
                      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS                                                                       PREFACE
        I’d like to thank and acknowledge my close friends and                         This book goes far beyond traditional first aid and em-
      colleagues in wilderness medicine, Howard Donner, M.D.,                       braces a new philosophy in wilderness medicine education. 
      Lanny Johnson, FNP/PA, Paul Auerbach, M.D., Peter Hack-                       It brings to fruition a juxtaposition of more than 10 years of 
      ett, M.D., Gene Allred, M.D., Robert Norris, M.D., Findlay                    research, clinical experience, and teaching into a powerful 
      Russell, M.D., Joe Serra, M.D., Henry Herrman, D.D.S., Jim                    guide for those who travel far from modern civilization. 
      Bagian, M.D., Tim Erickson, M.D., and Gary Kibbee for                         Revolutionary advances in emergency medicine knowledge, 
      their companionship, inspiration, and guidance.                               techniques, and equipment, as well as a new standard of first-
                                                                                    aid practice, permeate the text and provide the foundation for 
      Eric A. Weiss, M.D., F.A.C.E.P.                                               lay people to provide vital emergency care in remote settings.
                                                                                       This book is also unique in that it specifically addresses 
                                                                                    the components included in most Adventure Medical Kits 
                                                                                    when discussing the treatment of medical emergencies, and it 
                                                                                    introduces a myriad of improvised techniques that empower 
                                                                                    the reader to provide meaningful emergency care, even when 
                                                                                    first-aid materials are not readily available.
                                                                                       The information in these pages is intended to help you 
                                                                                    manage medical emergencies in remote environments when 
                                                                                    professional medical care or rescue is not readily available. It 
                                                                                    is not a substitute for taking a comprehensive first-aid or wil-
                                                                                    derness medicine course, or for seeking prompt medical care 
                                                                                    in the event of an illness or accident. Whenever someone be-
                                                                                    comes ill or injured, obtaining professional medical attention 
                                                                                    should take priority after administering appropriate first aid.     
                                                                                    The reader should use this book for guidance in difficult and 
                                                                                    remote situations only and should not attempt to perform any 
                                                                                    procedure that he is not comfortable with or trained to render, 
                                                                                    unless the victim will die without that intervention. Legally, a 
                                                                                    rescuer is always liable for his own actions and should never 
                                                                                    take any unnecessary risks or perform any medical procedure 
                                                                                    unless it is absolutely necessary.
                                                                                       Consult your physician concerning any medication that 
                                                                                    you carry and inquire about potential complications or side 
                                                                                    effects. Make sure you are not allergic to any drugs that you 
                                                                                    intend to use. Sharing medications with others is potentially 
                                                                                    dangerous and is not recommended.
                                                                                       Remember, the value of any first-aid book or medical kit 
                                                                                    is both enhanced and limited by the ability of the owner to 
                                                                                    use the information and contents effectively and creatively.   
                                                         
   Taking a course in Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First 
   Responder or Emergency Medical Technician, and practicing 
   your skills before you leave home, will better prepare you to 
   manage an emergency when it occurs.
    The author and publisher disclaim any liability for injuries, 
   disability or death that may result from the use of the infor-
   mation in this book, correct or otherwise, or the products in 
   any Adventure Medical kit.
    May all of your journeys be safe, healthy, and filled with 
   adventure!