When on trekking – safety of the mountain

Health and safety at high altitude…

You’re only as safe as your guide’s ability to anticipate the onset of your succumbing to a critical altitude-related condition once the early warning symptoms start to manifest, and his decisiveness in implementing a rapid evacuation plan if necessary, or in ensuring that you descend from that point with an assistant guide to a lower elevation if acceptable. Our guides are all extremely attentive and astute. We are grateful never to have lost a climber to date. Being involved with the media you probably noticed a group in the news recently who had a death at only 4400 m despite carrying all sorts of fancy totally unnecessary equipment, which is deployed by certain companies that believe the fear-factor achieved in denigrating companies that don’t carry this unnecessary stuff achieves a marketing advantage for them.

Most people can go up to 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) with minimal effect.

As a point of reference, Arusha is at 4,500-5,000 feet [1,300-1,500 meters] and Moshi at 3,000-3,300 feet [900-1,000 meters]

High

8,000-12,000 feet
[2,438-3,658 meters]

Very High

12,000-18,000 feet
[3,658-5,487 meters]

Extremely High

18,000+ feet
[5,500+ meters]

What are the symptoms of Altitude Sickness or AMS?

The symptoms of Mild AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) are headache, dizziness, and fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, nausea, disturbed sleep and a general feeling of malaise. Symptoms usually start 12-24 hours after arrival at altitude and begin to decrease in severity about the third day.

What causes attitude Sickness or AMS happen?

The concentration of oxygen at sea level is about 21% and the barometric pressure averages 760 mmHg. As altitude increases, the concentration remains the same but the number of oxygen molecules per breath taken is reduced. At 12,000 feet (3,658 meters) the barometric pressure is only 483 mmHg, so there are roughly 40% fewer oxygen molecules per breath. In order to properly oxygenate the body, your breathing rate (even while at rest) has to increase.

Prevention of Altitude Illnesses: proper acclimatization and preventive medications

Diamox (Acetazolamide)

Acetazolamides acidify the blood to allow you to breathe faster so that you metabolize more oxygen, thereby minimizing the symptoms caused by poor oxygenation. This is especially helpful at night when respiratory drive is decreased. Since it takes a while for Diamox to have an effect, it is recommended to begin taking it 24 hours before you begin climbing to high altitude and continue for at least five days at higher altitude. The most sources recommend taking 125 mg twice a day (morning and night). Most tablets come in 250 mg dozes, so you may have to cut them in-half. Since Diamox is a sulphonamide drug, people who are allergic to sulpha drugs should not take Diamox. Diamox has also been known to cause severe allergic reactions to people with no previous history of Diamox or sulpha allergies, tingling are most common. My advice is you to take 125 ml a week before arrival just to check allergy if you are not sure about. And of course, consult with your physician prior to taking the drug. Based on my personal experience, it better to avoid taking medication as a prophylactic and instead save it for emergency use, when you reach the altitude where your body begins to fail to acclimate.

Dexamethasone (a steroid)

It is a prescription drug that decreases brain and other soft tissue swelling which frequently accompanies acute AMS. Dosage is typically 4 mg twice a day throughout the ascent. It tends to prevent most symptoms of altitude illness. It should be used with caution and only on the advice of a physician because of possible serious side effects. It may be combined with Diamox.- Anti-malaria tablets are ineffective when used in combination with high altitude tablets; however, based on my experience, there are few if any mosquitoes at high altitude. My advice is that if your tablets prescribed to be taken daily, you can stop taking them when you start the trek and resume taking them on the last day.

Cardio training program

Exercises and stay healthy before coming to Kilimanjaro. A cardio training program is highly recommended to condition your heart for the strain of a high-altitude trek. Many regiments are available and can be found for free on the internet. However, if pressed for time, training to run a 10K or a half-marathon may prove to be efficient conditioning methods.

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