Wilderness Medical Society snowmass 2005 Page 10
The Mountain Travel Sobek Company has been organizing remote high-adventure trips,
many in developing countries, for many years. They provide a medical history and
physical examination form, the components of which are listed below:
Instructions to participant:
Please list on this Medical Certificate all abnormalities in
your health and medical history. Most medical problems do
not preclude participation in our trips. However,
environmental factors and remote destinations with no
medical facilities or means of rapid evacuation may create
a risk that is beyond your expectations or that we find
inadvisable. Most trips do not have designated trip doctors.
Accurate disclosure will allow us to advise you of
necessary preparations or alternatives and will allow your
trip leader to be knowledgeable in the event of a problem.
Comments: This introductory material sets the tone of defusing enthusiastic client's fears
that they may be precluded from a great adventure if they honestly fill out the medical
history. It informs of the importance of the material, indicates an alternative and more
appropriate trip may be suggested but also indicates an assumption of risk if the
participant rejects the alternative. This would be more clearly spelled out in subsequent
correspondence if management felt the risk was too high for the participant.
History section for participants:
This part should be completed by all trip members.
Do you have or have you been told by a doctor that you
had: (circle if yes)
·
epilepsy
·
diabetes
·
asthma or lung disease
·
heart disease: congestive failure, angina, prior heart
attack or bypass surgery
·
significant foot, leg or back problems
·
ulcers
·
high blood pressure
·
colitis or recurrent intestinal trouble
·
arthritis
·
recurring thrombosis in legs or lungs
If yes, please explain in detail.
