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If someone needs immediate help with altitude sickness, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — After ascending to high altitude, a person has headache, nausea, dizziness, or trouble sleeping.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Stop going up. Rest and drink water. Go down if worse. Call help if confused or blue lips.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Headache plus nausea, fatigue, dizziness after ascent.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Worse signs: confusion, stumbling, tight chest, cough with pink froth.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Lower oxygen at altitude causes fluid buildup in brain or lungs.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Mild symptoms can become life-threatening HAPE or HACE.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stop all ascent. Have person rest sitting upright.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Note altitude and time since ascent.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hydrate with water. Avoid exertion.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If symptoms do not improve at rest — begin descent even at night if safe.
When and how to get professional help.
Confusion, ataxia, blue lips, or cough with frothy sputum is emergency — descend and call help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Recognize danger, stop ascent, descend if possible. Do not continue climb with symptoms.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call mountain rescue or 112 if confusion, severe breathlessness, or cannot descend.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say altitude sickness — current elevation and symptoms.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT ascend further with symptoms — "tough it out" kills.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT use sedatives or alcohol for sleep at altitude.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Fit young people cannot get serious altitude sickness
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Fitness does not protect against altitude illness. Rapid ascent is the main risk.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ignoring symptoms in strong hikers leading to cerebral or pulmonary edema.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Cold water rescue
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person was submerged or immersed in cold water and is cold, confused, or not breathing.
Decompression sickness
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — After scuba diving or rapid altitude change, a person has joint pain, rash, weakness, confusion, or breathing trouble.
Heatstroke
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person exposed to extreme heat has hot dry skin, confusion, seizure, or unconsciousness.
Hypothermia
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person exposed to cold is shivering, confused, clumsy, or has stopped shivering.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — HACE and HAPE need oxygen, descent, and hospital care.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Portable oxygen and dexamethasone are for trained expedition medics only.