Outdoor Adventure Risks

Good morning! The topic for today's adventure risk is the west nile virus. The disease is spread by mosquitos. Mosquitos like to camp near stagnant pools of water. If it isn't obvious, when setting up your camp, DO NOT place it near a stagnant pool of water to avoid further contact. Dress in clothing that covers most of the skin, even if it's hot outside. This risk can be mitigated with repellent that contains DEET, similar to lyme disease. As always, do not apply DEET repellant directly to the skin. West nile virus cannot be treated with antibiotics because it is a virus. Seek treatment from a doctor to ease the symptoms from the west nile virus. Happy adventuring!

Today's outdoor risk is lyme disease. The disease vector for lyme disease is deer ticks. There is no vaccine for lyme disease. To avoid your exposure, wear insect repellent that contains DEET. Be sure to keep it off your skin (only put DEET on clothing). Wearing light colored clothing allows you to see ticks easier if you do come in contact with them. Another good idea for clothing choice is long pants that are tucked into your socks. Ticks hide in brush close to the ground, so protecting the lower limbs is of utmost importance. Remember to always check for ticks when you leave the woods and remove them promptly if you have one! Don't hide inside for fear of ticks. Go explore!

The topic for today's post is hypothermia. As the temperature decreases, outdoor adventures and experiential education experiences do not. Hypothermia results from the core body temperature dropping seven degrees below homeostasis and becoming a threat to your life. It is best to prevent it before it happens rather than acting post occurrence. Use the layering system to prevent hypothermia before you go out. Start with a base layer that is tight fitting and non-absorbent. The base layer is the closest to the skin. The next insulating layer should keep heat in and cover the base layer with outwear. The third layer, the protective shell should keep the elements out, such as wind and water. Follow these guidelines to prepare your body for colder and harsher elements. Be safe out there!

Hello! Today we are looking into water purification in outdoor adventure. There are four main ways to purify water in the outdoors; boiling, filters, UV cure, and halogen/chemical treatment. Each has it's own advantages and disadvantages, however, the goal is to kill bacteria in the water to avoid Giardia. Giardia is characterized by sulfur burps, explosive diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms. This ailment requires prescription antibiotics from a doctor. See the chart for further information on each method.