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.
Apart from dealing with nightgown clad men, these teams are trained to handle a number of medical emergencies they are likely to encounter in the course of their work. One of the most common is hypothermia, which is a condition where the body's internal temperature falls to less than ninety five degrees Fahrenheit, which works out to thirty five degrees centigrade.
Hyperthermia is the opposite of hypothermia; while the latter happens because of prolonged exposure to cold, the former is due to excessive heat. This can be as a result of staying too long in the sun, or the after effect of some diseases and drugs. Both conditions require medical attention; if this does not come soon enough, unconsciousness and death will be the result.
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.
Apart from dealing with nightgown clad men, these teams are trained to handle a number of medical emergencies they are likely to encounter in the course of their work. One of the most common is hypothermia, which is a condition where the body's internal temperature falls to less than ninety five degrees Fahrenheit, which works out to thirty five degrees centigrade.
Hyperthermia is the opposite of hypothermia; while the latter happens because of prolonged exposure to cold, the former is due to excessive heat. This can be as a result of staying too long in the sun, or the after effect of some diseases and drugs. Both conditions require medical attention; if this does not come soon enough, unconsciousness and death will be the result.
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.
About the Author:
When searching for information about mountain rescue in Snowdonia, 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.
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