Advice and recommendations

Travel at high altitude
This is an easy to understand leaflet for people going to high altitudes. It gives advice on how to avoid serious altitude illness and other health problems. The leaflet is prepared by Medex with support from the UIAA. Learn more...

Guidelines for mountaineering for people with neurological disorders
This Powerpoint presentation gives an overview of which precautions people with neurological disorders such as migraines, epilepsy, MS and Parkinson's disease need to take when going to the mountains. Learn more...


Children at high altitude
For most children, traveling to high altitudes does not lead to any medical problems. Some children do however get serious altitude illness. This paper describes how common altitude illness is, how it can be prevented, how to recognise the symptoms and how to treat children who becomes ill.  It is directed at medical personnel who need to advice parents who are taking their children to high mountains.

Learn more ...

High altitude cerebral and pulmonary edema
High altitude cerebral edema and pulmonary edema are two life threatening forms of altitude illness. This scientific paper describes the clinical picture of these complications and discusses the risk factors, prevention and treatment.
Learn more...  

Guidelines for women going to altitude
This document gives advice to women about their risk of altitude illness, the effect of altitude on the menstrual cycle and the use of birth control pills. It also gives advice to pregnant women about the effects high altitudes can have on their health and gives recommendations on how to prevent complications. 
Learn more ...

Recommendations for First aid kit for a mountain hut
If someone gets sick or injured at a mountain hut, the nearest hospital or doctor’s office might be far away. Therefore mountain huts need to keep a well-stocked First aid kit. This document explains what medicines and other supplies the first aid kit should contain and which conditions the different medicines are used for.
Learn more ...

Recommendations for First aid kit for mountaineers
The content of first aid kits should depend on the user’s knowledge of first aid. This document gives recommendations on which items the first aid kit for a mountaineer should contain. It also explains what additional supplies a mountain guide with more first aid training and a mountaineering doctor should keep in their first aid kits.
Learn more ...

Official standards of the UIAA medical commission

The UIAA Medical Commission has developed a series of standards for different medical issues related to mountains.

Vol 1 – Emergency treatment of acute mountain sickness and high altitude pulmonary edema
A summarised overview of the treatment of different forms of mountain illness. Also contains a model contract which can be used to declare the rights and obligations of the doctor, the expedition organisers and other participants on expeditions.
Learn more ...

Vol 2 – The transfer of blood-to-blood infections in climbing competitions
This document explains which hygienic measures should be taken by organisers and participants in climbing competitions to avoid blood transition of infections. It also gives recommendations to health/first aid personnel, and to climbers who are infected with HIV/Hepatitis.
Learn more ...

 Vol 3 –  Hiking sticks in mountaineering
Hiking sticks have in the last years become popular among many who walk in the mountains.
This document explains the right technique for using telescopic stick and outlines the advantages and disadvantages of hiking with sticks. It also explains the correct walking techniques which make the use of sticks unnecessary for healthy hikers.
Learn more ...

Vol 4 – The ten health rules for mountaineers
These rules give useful health and safety advice to those who are not used to being out in the mountains, but would like to take up hiking.
Learn more ...

Vol 5 – Nutrition in mountaineering
This document give hikers information on what, how much and how often to eat while being active in the mountains. It explains the importance of drinking and eating enough and describes which nutrients your body needs to function well.
Learn more ...

Vol 7 – people with pre-existing conditions going into the mountains
This document gives advice to people with medical conditions who want to go to the mountains. It describes the affects altitude can have on conditions such as asthma, heart problems and migraine. It also takes into consideration other risk factors connected to mountain holidays, such as strenuous exercise, lack of nearby medical facilities and change of culture and lifestyle.
Learn more ...

Vol 8 – Portable hyperbaric chambers
A portable hyperbaric chamber is a small inflatable chamber made of fabrics, which can fit one person. When it is inflated, pressure is created inside the chamber which simulates a descent of 1500-2500 altitude meters. It is used to stabilise patients with serious altitude illness, so that their condition improves and they can descend to lower altitudes to recover. This paper gives advice on the use of such chambers.
Learn more ...