doctors in trekking and expeditions

sourav79

I wanna know how much a doctor is needed or associated during a trekking or summer camp or expeditions or climbing.
Any one can share their experience of medical problems during trkking.
Let's start this thread.

AvidTrekker

When you say "Summer Camp" it means "children" so I would say that a doctor would be required. In India however, children are cheap. [sad but true] Most of the "summer camps" extensively cut corners which may result in death of some one unfortunate. All the summer camps do not employ doctors and even the biggest of them [5000 children per season] witnessed a child's death at Solang nala due to obvious AMS bcoz NO instructor bothered to listen to the child.

Parents foolishly contribute to this trend by saying that "so and so [competitor] is quoting 200 rupees less" thus foolishly sending their own children to their doom.

The Solang nala death case is pending in Court. I can name the Company, but this is an open forum. It is still doing the same thing, one or two deaths hardly makes a difference, I suppose.

There are many threads on this forum discussing AMS in detail and how to prevent mountain sickness. Just search and read.

I have taken children to high altitude treks and have first hand experience of whatever I have said. My children have never suffered beyond two days' altitude sickness, [after which they recovered and moved on...] so I should be in a position to state with some definite conviction....

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sourav79

thanks for ur reply.

karnail

Its almost impossible to ensure the presence of a doctor on the treks and absolutely impossible for the back-packers. You got to learn your body and what you get on gaining height, drinking stream water, fatigue and cold weather.
http://karnail.blogspot.com/

sourav79

@karnail
but for the large group there should be some arrangement at least in the base camp.