Medical considerations for wilderness and adventure travelers

Wilderness and adventure travel has attracted a growing number of participants. Many adventure travelers are inadequately prepared for their trip and are naive about the associated risks. Physicians are frequently asked to provide medical clearance and to complete medical release forms to travelers. To provide better advice, the physician should be familiar with the rigors and difficulty of these activities and must consider the potential environment hazards and remoteness of the intended area of travel. This article provides information on trip rating scales, environmental hazards, altitude illness, hypothermia, heat illness, and adventure travel medical kits.