It holds the record for having the highest point in Wales. It is also a regular haunt for many climbers. The ones who called for help on the morning of sixth of July this year were a bit odd, however; they had decided to go up the butte in pajamas, even after several people tried to talk them out of it. Thankfully, a Snowdonia mountain rescue team got to them on time.
These teams have to deal with many medical emergencies under very harsh conditions. One of the most common is hypothermia. This is a condition where the core body temperature drops below thirty five degrees centigrade, which is equivalent to ninety five degrees Fahrenheit. The result is shivering, mental confusion, unconsciousness and eventually death.
Hyperthermia is the opposite of hypothermia; in this case, the body absorbs or generates more heat than it can dissipate. This can happen as a result of adverse reactions to drugs, or because of consistent exposure to extremely high temperatures. This condition requires immediate medical attention to prevent disability and death.
Congelatio, or frostbite as its more commonly known, is a condition where body tissues and parts are damaged by excessive exposure to extremely low temperatures. This doesn't take place at once, but in phases. The first one affects only the surface of the skin, and there is minimal damage at this point; recovery is complete, though there may be some loss of sensitivity.
If the freezing goes on, the skin will freeze and harden, but deeper tissues will not be affected. Blisters will form in one or two days. These may turn black and harden, but are generally not as bad as they look. Such injuries will heal in a month, but the area will remain permanently insensitive to both heat and cold.
The third and fourth stages are the most damaging of all. Tissue deep in the body, such as nerves, tendons, muscles and blood vessels, is affected. This results in loss of feeling and function. The skin looks waxy, and becomes hard. Blood filled blisters form, which are purple in color, but eventually turn black. If the affected is infected, gangrene is the result, and it has to be removed. If there is no treatment, the part will fall off.
Altitude sickness is relatively common, particularly among new climbers. This is the result of decreased oxygen levels at relatively high elevations, usually above eight thousand feet, or about twenty five hundred feet. Anyone who has ever experienced an attack of flu or a hangover will probably identify with symptoms of this condition, as they are very similar. Those are some of the medical emergencies that Snowdonia mountain rescue teams have to deal with.
These teams have to deal with many medical emergencies under very harsh conditions. One of the most common is hypothermia. This is a condition where the core body temperature drops below thirty five degrees centigrade, which is equivalent to ninety five degrees Fahrenheit. The result is shivering, mental confusion, unconsciousness and eventually death.
Hyperthermia is the opposite of hypothermia; in this case, the body absorbs or generates more heat than it can dissipate. This can happen as a result of adverse reactions to drugs, or because of consistent exposure to extremely high temperatures. This condition requires immediate medical attention to prevent disability and death.
Congelatio, or frostbite as its more commonly known, is a condition where body tissues and parts are damaged by excessive exposure to extremely low temperatures. This doesn't take place at once, but in phases. The first one affects only the surface of the skin, and there is minimal damage at this point; recovery is complete, though there may be some loss of sensitivity.
If the freezing goes on, the skin will freeze and harden, but deeper tissues will not be affected. Blisters will form in one or two days. These may turn black and harden, but are generally not as bad as they look. Such injuries will heal in a month, but the area will remain permanently insensitive to both heat and cold.
The third and fourth stages are the most damaging of all. Tissue deep in the body, such as nerves, tendons, muscles and blood vessels, is affected. This results in loss of feeling and function. The skin looks waxy, and becomes hard. Blood filled blisters form, which are purple in color, but eventually turn black. If the affected is infected, gangrene is the result, and it has to be removed. If there is no treatment, the part will fall off.
Altitude sickness is relatively common, particularly among new climbers. This is the result of decreased oxygen levels at relatively high elevations, usually above eight thousand feet, or about twenty five hundred feet. Anyone who has ever experienced an attack of flu or a hangover will probably identify with symptoms of this condition, as they are very similar. Those are some of the medical emergencies that Snowdonia mountain rescue teams have to deal with.
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When searching for information about Snowdonia mountain rescue, details can be seen online about this North Wales service . Search and rescue details are available when you click on the links at http://snowdoniamountainrescue.posterous.com/ today.
