Health
Health || Acute Mountain || Evacuation of Casulties
Ladakh
is a high altitude cold desert with a low level of atmospheric oxygen.
Tourists reaching Leh from the plains of India by air are required to
allow time for acclimatization before engaging in any physical activities.
While the S.NM. Hospital at Leh is fully equipped and staffed with a team
of specialists to take care of any eventuality, the rarefied atmosphere
of the area may cause high altitude ailments necessitating evacuation
of visitors unable to get acclimatized
ACUTE
MOUNTAIN SICKNESS
Anyone
travelling to altitudes above 10,000 feets (2,700 M) is liable to suffer
from acute mountain sickness ( AMS) unless properly acclimatized. The
most common symptoms ofacute mountain sickness are headache, disturbed
sleep, loss of appetite, nauses, coughing , irregular breathing, breathlessness,
lassitude and lack of concentration. If you are reaching Leh by air ,
it is important to take complete rest for the first 24 hours after arrival.
Any kind of physical exertion is to be avoided. Somking and drinking should
also be avoided until you are fully acclimatized. The symptoms of acute
mountain sickness generally develp during the first 36 hours , and not
immediately upon arrival. Your body should get used to the lower oxygen
level of Ladakh after 2 or 3 days in you have taken complete rest for
the first 24 hours and as much rest as possible during the next 12 hours.
High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO) and High Altitude Cerebral Oedema
(HACO) are very serious forms of acute mountain sickness. They are life
threatening and warrant immediate medical attention. In such cases, it
is advisable to contact the nearest Hospital or Medical Dispensary situated
in Major village.
EVACUATION OF CASULTIES
J&
K Tourism initiates and coordinates evacuation of casualties by IAF helicopters
in case of accidents or sickness while trekking, mountaineering or river
rafting in the remote parts of the state. The Evacuation is subject to
payment of the operational cost of the aircraft. A written guarantee indicating
the source of payment and address for the source of payment and address
for billing, etc. is required to be furnished to the authorized officer
of the State government while requesting for evacuation. The type of helicopter
normally used for the purpose costs around Rs. 25,000 per flying hour.
Evacuation from anywhere in the Zanskar mountains or the Changthang area
may take 3 to 4 flying hours from take off to landing back at the air
base. Besides the high operational cost , such missions also involve great
risk and call for a high degree of skill on the part of the pilots. It
is, therefore essential that request for aerial rescue is made under compelling
circumstances, only as a life saving measure. Also helicopters cannot
be requisitioned for lifting bodies of deceased persons from accident
sites. Permission for removal of the deceased is rarely granted and the
procedure to obtain such permission is very tedious. Evacuation of bonafide
casualties with guaranteed payment upon billing can be initiated through
the nearest administrative or Tourist Office.
State
Express