still spreading the hysteria..... dang: was Re: [at-l] Re:health care/insurance

[thornel@attglobal.net (W F Thorneloe)]

Perhaps there is truth in that. Yet, perhaps I do learn. I think the idea 
of going less than well prepared into a blizzard condition alone is not a 
great idea for me. I think the idea was rather stupid. I think that I have 
learned from that experience. I don't quite find myself less of a man from 
recoiling from placing myself in a situation that I perceive as 
irresponsibly risky and could have led to poor outcomes affecting my 
family, friends and patients. Perhaps this type of experience is fun to 
others, and the sort of adventure they would seek. I am embarrassed that I 
put myself in such a situation. I would have been mortified if I had put 
myself in an even worse situation that would have placed rescuers at risk - 
although grateful for their best efforts. Frankly, while I am willing to 
"seek challenge," I'm not quite so cavalier as to "seek end of life and 
limb." I am proud that I was able to deal effectively with the situation, 
but not that I put myself into the situation.

Now if you are interested in the frequency of burns in the back country, 
I'm not sure that these are reported and categorized specifically. Frankly, 
I am not a bean counter. These accidents occur frequently enough to be a 
major concern among attendees at the recent Wilderness Medicine Conference 
in Tremont and in their journals and other literature. Among the cases 
discussed included the scenario  of a tired hiker cooking in tent, looking 
forward to a hot drink, and finding herself burnt and without shelter, 
clothing or other gear - with severely injured skin to add to her prior woes.

BTW, you might reread the thread regarding comments on synthetic fibers 
adhering to skin, not just silnylon. The usual accident scene like this 
involves a burn victim sitting among ashes and burnt feathers, and smoking 
fabric on their wounds. That might be similar to reviewing the Gatorade 
thread when I began my mentioning that there is good reason for moderate 
use of electrolyte sports drinks, only that water was the most important 
rehydration fluid needed. I really don't know where the comment about 
"elite athletes" came from, but I would include you in that admired group 
with your hiking, racing and other advocations. Anyway, I declared you the 
winner of that little tiff. Gatorade is the most important powder that 
money can buy!

OrangeBug



At 02:33 PM 3/22/2001 -0800, Sloetoe wrote:
>But rather than *learn*, you feel forced to expound. You just returned
>from a "hard" Smokys trip (which reports you did *not* post to the bpl),
>but rather than say "This is how I will handle things next time." or "This
>is how I will emulate in the future those who might enjoy such situations"
>you've posted that you basically hated that part and would not voluntarily
>return to those conditions. This is a spirit of adventure I don't fathom:
>"Seek challenge, and then recoil from it."