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Expedition medicine in the tropics: through heat and sleet

Expedition medicine in the tropics: through heat and sleet
Expedition medicine in the tropics: through heat and sleet
Expeditionary travel-for the purposes of scientific discovery, personal challenge, or survival-represents an essential human instinct. Risks come with the territory although not all the risks can be anticipated. This is part of the appeal of exploration. Risks can be minimised through proper planning and preparation. High risk appetite does not necessarily mean recklessness. For the expedition medic, behavioural modification and communication skills are every bit as important as clinical acumen. Extreme endurance events and unfamiliar surroundings provide both physical and mental challenges. These challenges are not uncommonly exploited by consumer reality television shows when novices are placed in such situations. Studies of human adaptation to extreme environments, such as at or near the summit of Everest, may provide new insights into human physiology that could translate into important medical interventions. Working in extreme environments-such as in tropical jungle heat or within Everest's 'death zone'-presents unique challenges but it also brings unique rewards and discovery. As long as humans have the urge to explore, whatever perils lie ahead boredom will not be one of them.
0035-9203
1081-1084
Allen, Samuel H.
5e0cf861-48b3-467c-a18f-d52f2760d8db
Moore, James
6be6c1fc-ac8e-4dd1-b366-d31b882e7bb1
Grocott, Michael P.W.
1e87b741-513e-4a22-be13-0f7bb344e8c2
Allen, Samuel H.
5e0cf861-48b3-467c-a18f-d52f2760d8db
Moore, James
6be6c1fc-ac8e-4dd1-b366-d31b882e7bb1
Grocott, Michael P.W.
1e87b741-513e-4a22-be13-0f7bb344e8c2

Allen, Samuel H., Moore, James and Grocott, Michael P.W. (2009) Expedition medicine in the tropics: through heat and sleet. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 103 (11), 1081-1084. (doi:10.1016/j.trstmh.2009.07.001). (PMID:19740504)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Expeditionary travel-for the purposes of scientific discovery, personal challenge, or survival-represents an essential human instinct. Risks come with the territory although not all the risks can be anticipated. This is part of the appeal of exploration. Risks can be minimised through proper planning and preparation. High risk appetite does not necessarily mean recklessness. For the expedition medic, behavioural modification and communication skills are every bit as important as clinical acumen. Extreme endurance events and unfamiliar surroundings provide both physical and mental challenges. These challenges are not uncommonly exploited by consumer reality television shows when novices are placed in such situations. Studies of human adaptation to extreme environments, such as at or near the summit of Everest, may provide new insights into human physiology that could translate into important medical interventions. Working in extreme environments-such as in tropical jungle heat or within Everest's 'death zone'-presents unique challenges but it also brings unique rewards and discovery. As long as humans have the urge to explore, whatever perils lie ahead boredom will not be one of them.

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More information

Published date: November 2009
Organisations: Human Development & Health

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 348921
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/348921
ISSN: 0035-9203
PURE UUID: 3a2415ca-6aa3-44ab-8132-a6e98c93a239
ORCID for Michael P.W. Grocott: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9484-7581

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Date deposited: 22 Feb 2013 11:16
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:33

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Contributors

Author: Samuel H. Allen
Author: James Moore

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