title: Medical Pathologies and Hut Guardians' Ability to Provide First Aid in Mountain Huts: A Prospective Observational Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the resources for medical condition management in mountain huts and the epidemiology of such events.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a 3-step study from April 2013 to August 2014 in French mountain huts. The first step consisted of collecting data regarding the first aid equipment available in mountain huts. The second step consisted of a qualitative evaluation of the mountain hut guardian's role in medical situations through semistructured interviews. Finally, a prospective observational study was conducted in the summer season to collect all medical events (MEs) that occurred during that period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 164 hut guardians, 141 (86%) had a basic life support diploma. An automatic external defibrillator was available in 41 (26%) huts, and 148 huts (98%) were equipped with a first aid kit. According to semistructured interviews, hut guardians played a valuable role in first aid assistance. Regarding the observational study, 306 people requested the hut guardian's help for medical reasons in 87 of the 126 huts included. A total of 501 MEs for approximately 56,000 hikers (0.85%) were reported, with 280 MEs (56%) involving medical pathologies and 221 (44%) MEs involving trauma-related injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MEs had low prevalence, but the hut guardian played a valuable role as a first aid responder.
authors: Département de médecine d'urgence, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Grenoble- Alpes, Grenoble, France (Drs Blancher, Saint Guilhem, Debaty, and Briot); Association Nationale des Médecins et Sauveteurs en Montagne, (ANMSM) French Mountain Rescue Association (Drs Blancher, Colonna d'Istria, and Briot); Grenoble Alpes Université, Grenoble, France (Drs Bosson, Bouzat, and Briot). Electronic address: MBlancher@chu-grenoble.fr.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Blancher
authors: Association Nationale des Médecins et Sauveteurs en Montagne, (ANMSM) French Mountain Rescue Association (Drs Blancher, Colonna d'Istria, and Briot); Grenoble Alpes Université, Grenoble, France (Drs Bosson, Bouzat, and Briot).
authors: Jérôme
authors: J
authors: Colonna d'Istria
authors: Département de médecine générale, Université Joseph Fourrier, Faculté de médecine, Grenoble, France (Drs Coste, Pierre, and Clausier); Grenoble Alpes Université, Grenoble, France (Drs Bosson, Bouzat, and Briot).
authors: Amandine
authors: A
authors: Coste
authors: Département de médecine d'urgence, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Grenoble- Alpes, Grenoble, France (Drs Blancher, Saint Guilhem, Debaty, and Briot); Grenoble Alpes Université, Grenoble, France (Drs Bosson, Bouzat, and Briot).
authors: Philippine
authors: P
authors: Saint Guilhem
authors: Département de médecine générale, Université Joseph Fourrier, Faculté de médecine, Grenoble, France (Drs Coste, Pierre, and Clausier); Grenoble Alpes Université, Grenoble, France (Drs Bosson, Bouzat, and Briot).
authors: Antoine
authors: A
authors: Pierre
authors: Département de médecine générale, Université Joseph Fourrier, Faculté de médecine, Grenoble, France (Drs Coste, Pierre, and Clausier); Grenoble Alpes Université, Grenoble, France (Drs Bosson, Bouzat, and Briot).
authors: Flora
authors: F
authors: Clausier
authors: Département de médecine d'urgence, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Grenoble- Alpes, Grenoble, France (Drs Blancher, Saint Guilhem, Debaty, and Briot); Grenoble Alpes Université, Grenoble, France (Drs Bosson, Bouzat, and Briot).
authors: Guillaume
authors: G
authors: Debaty
authors: Centre d'Investigation Clinique, Grenoble, France (Dr Bosson); Grenoble Alpes Université, Grenoble, France (Drs Bosson, Bouzat, and Briot).
authors: Jean Luc
authors: JL
authors: Bosson
authors: Département de médecine d'urgence, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Grenoble- Alpes, Grenoble, France (Drs Blancher, Saint Guilhem, Debaty, and Briot); Association Nationale des Médecins et Sauveteurs en Montagne, (ANMSM) French Mountain Rescue Association (Drs Blancher, Colonna d'Istria, and Briot); Grenoble Alpes Université, Grenoble, France (Drs Bosson, Bouzat, and Briot).
authors: Raphaël
authors: R
authors: Briot
authors: Pôle Anesthésie Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble, Grenoble, France (Dr Bouzat); Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences, Grenoble, France (Dr Bouzat).
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Bouzat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005392:First Aid / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005602:France; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009051:Mountaineering; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055813:Wilderness Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: first aid; hut guardian; mountain emergency medicine; mountain hut; wilderness medicine