Backpacking in the Southwest Canyons

You are on a multi-day backpacking trip in the southwestern canyons with a friend and her partner. You haven't seen your friend Janey for a number of years, and this is the first time you spent any time with her partner, Jon. The temperatures on the trip have been in the mid 70s until today when they unexpectedly climbed to over 90º F by noon. You are in a fairly open part of the canyon and exposed to the direct sun. Everyone is sweating heavily and looking forward to reaching camp and water. By mid-afternoon Jon is noticeably tired and feeling nauseated. You are almost out of water, but camp is within a half mile. You stop, pull out a SOAP note and complete a full patient assessment. During your SAMPLE history, Jon tells you he just started taking lithium for a mild bipolar disorder; the last time he urinated was before lunch. The remainder of his history is unremarkable; however, both his pulse and respiratory rates are a little higher than normal.

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

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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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