Expedition Medicine

Expedition Medicine – why?
Standard medical care is based around a functional Ambulance service and ready access to General Practitioners and Hospitals.
What if that is no longer the case either through remote foreign travel, disaster, crisis? And why bother if you are not a doctor or paramedic, you may think that its beyond your knowledge and skill
A. Medical Care after major disaster or prolonged catastrophe.
There is a sense when thinking about survival or disaster medicine practice that everything is overwhelming, that it is impossible for lay people to provide a high level of medical care and maintain a high level of population health. We do not believe this is the case at all. Consider the following:
1. Remote Medicine practice:
Below are the results of one author’s experience in the provision of health care in various remote and austere locations (some third world, some first world) to several thousand people over a cumulative 10 years.
The Top 20 presentations (representing > 95% of consultations):
1. Minor musculoskeletal injuries (ankle sprains most common)
2. Upper respiratory tract infections
3. Allergic reactions/Hay fever/Anaphylactic reactions/Rashes
4. Minor open wounds
5. Gastroenteritis/Vomiting/Diarrhoea
6. Sexual health/Contraceptive problems
7. Skin infections/Cellulites
8. Mental health problems
9. Dental problems
10. Abdominal pain (2 confirmed acute appendix + 1 gangrenous gall bladder; no cause found. Renal or biliary colic were most common)
11. Flu/Viral illness
12. Chest infections
13. Major musculoskeletal injuries (fractures/dislocations)
14. Asthma
15. Ear infections
16. Urinary tract infections
17. Chest pain
18. Syncope/Collapse/Faints
19. Early pregnancy problems
20. Burns
Top 12 prescribed drugs (representing >90% of medications prescribed):
1. Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)
2. Loratadine (and other assorted antihistamines)
3. Diclofenac (and other assorted anti-inflammatory)
4. Combined oral contraceptive
5. Flucloxacillin
6. Throat lozenges
7. Augmentin
8. Loperamide
9. Nystatin (and other antifungal)
10. Hydrocortisone cream
11. Ventolin inhalers
12. Morphine or other strong Analgesia
What is of note here is that the vast majority of problems dealt with are simple and straight forward – there is still potential for serious consequences but there is scope for a well-informed lay person with a some training and access to a reasonable collection of reference books to provide reasonable care. Equally the vast majority of medication prescribed are from a very narrow well-defined list – despite the fact 1000’s of drugs that are on the market – the list of core lifesaving or comfort preserving ones is relatively brief.
If you want to know more why not check out our expedition medicine courses which provides the necessary training and access to prescription medicines for remote travel.