Shall we give #medicalminutemondays a try? Here is an excerpt from our Adventure Medical Kits Wilderness & Travel Medicine 4th edition book in most of the Adventure Medical Kits first aid kits. Very appropriate for all the snowboarding/Skiing photos popping up on our feed: Snow Blindness Snow blindness is a sunburn to the eye that results in a corneal abrasion. It results from exposure to intense ultraviolet radiation at high altitude or while traveling in the snow. At higher elevations, more ultraviolet light is easily reflected off snow. Because signs and symptoms of snow blindness are delayed by about 4 to 6 hours from the time of exposure to the light, victims are unaware that the injury is occurring until it is too late to prevent it. Wearing adequate eye protection (100 percent UV-blocking sunglasses with side protectors) can prevent snow blindness. Signs and Symptoms • The victim will feel as if sand is in the eye. • The eye will usually appear bloodshot, and tearing and slight blurring of vision are often present. • Intense pain, made worse by blinking the eyes, may occur. • The victim is sensitive to light. • Close inspection of the cornea may show a slight irregularity on its surface. Treatment 1. Check the eyes carefully for foreign material, making sure to examine under the upper lid. 2. Apply cool compresses to relieve some of the irritation. 3. If available, apply antibiotic drops such as tobramycin (Tobrex) ophthalmic drops for 2 days every 2 to 3 hours while awake. 4. Administer pain medication to the victim. 5. Have the victim rest both eyes as much as possible. Most of the time, the injury heals by itself in a day or two. 6. To reduce pain, patch the eye with an eye patch or a bandage for 24 hours. If an eye patch or other bandage is not available, the eye can be taped closed or the victim can wear sunglasses. Do not patch an eye closed if any sign of infection is present. (Wilderness and Travel Medicine, A Comprehensive Guide, 4th Edition, Erik A. Weiss, MD) #besafe #adventuremedicalkits #amk #sol #surviveoutdoorslonger
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 23:40:16 +0000
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