This chapter from Outdoor Emergency Care: A Patroller's Guide to Medical Care (6th edition) focuses on geriatric emergencies. It aims to equip Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) Technicians with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage medical situations involving older adults, a rapidly growing demographic participating in outdoor activities. The text highlights the physiological changes that occur with aging across various body systems, emphasizing how these alterations impact the presentation, assessment, and management of both medical illnesses and traumatic injuries in seniors. A significant theme is the complexity introduced by medication use (polypharmacy) in the elderly and the unique considerations for trauma in geriatric patients, such as falls, fractures, and brain injuries. Finally, the chapter stresses the importance of effective communication and adapting assessment and management techniques to the specific needs of this population, as exemplified by a detailed case study.

This chapter from Outdoor Emergency Care: A Patroller's Guide to Medical Care (6th edition) outlines a comprehensive training module for Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) Technicians focused on adaptive athletes. The chapter emphasizes understanding various impairment categories—physical, intellectual/cognitive, and sensory—along with their specific challenges and common conditions like autonomic dysreflexia, amputations, and Down syndrome. A core purpose is to equip OEC technicians with the knowledge and skills for assessing, managing, and transporting injured or ill adaptive athletes, highlighting the importance of effective communication strategies and special considerations for their unique medical equipment and needs during rescue and evacuation scenarios, particularly from ski lifts.

Adaptive athletes

Communication strategies

Patient assessment

Management and transport

Impairment categories

Key Topics

This chapter from Outdoor Emergency Care: A Patroller's Guide to Medical Care (6th edition) outlines essential knowledge for OEC Technicians on Behavioral Emergencies and Crisis Response. It details the resources available for instructors and students, including textbooks, online materials, and multimedia. The core of the chapter focuses on equipping Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) technicians with the knowledge and skills to define, identify, assess, and manage behavioral emergencies, emphasizing rescuer safety and appropriate intervention, including the use of restraints when necessary. The text also addresses the causes of behavioral emergencies, differentiating between mood/affective disorders and psychotic disorders, and concludes by discussing the importance of critical incident stress debriefing for responders.

This chapter from Outdoor Emergency Care: A Patroller's Guide to Medical Care (6th edition) outlines essential knowledge for OEC Technicians regarding special operations and ambulance operations. It details the resources available for instructors and students, followed by a comprehensive list of learning objectives, ranging from defining special operations and identifying hazard control zones to describing actions during an active shooter event and understanding avalanche rescue functions. Key terms such as HAZWOPER and Crew Resource Management are highlighted, emphasizing the specialized training and equipment required for these infrequent yet critical scenarios, ultimately ensuring patroller and patient safety in complex outdoor and emergency settings.