Wilderness Medicine Case Study 76

You are part of a search and rescue team looking for two lost climbers on Mount Washington. The search is entering its third day when, with the help of rescue dogs, the climbers are both located in a snow cave that was hidden from view by a fresh layer of snow from a storm the previous night. The climbers are both unresponsive with no pulse or respirations. They are huddled together and wearing parkas. One of the climbers, James Standing, has an angulated lower right leg; the other climber, Asa Cochran, appears to be uninjured. The average temperatures on the mountain ranged from a daytime high of 16º F to a nighttime low of -4º F. The day is clear with a light wind, and a helicopter is on standby at the Appalachian Mountain Club lodge on Route 2 at the base of the mountain. You are in communication with the lodge and Incident Command via satellite phone.

What is wrong with James and Asa and what should you do? Click here to find out.

Don't know where to begin or what to do? Take one of our wilderness medicine courses. Guides and expedition leaders should consider taking our Wilderness First Responder course.

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