Don't drink and hike

Sprained ankles most common injury on the trail, and yes, alcohol contributes to many hiking disasters.

By SUKI REED / For The Orange County Register

I cannot tell you the number of times I have been asked if there are mountain lions, bears or snakes on a hike. The answer is many times yes, but these critters are not seeking hiker-kebabs.

The most common injuries and fatalities in the wilderness are not caused by blood thirsty animals; they are actually caused by the hikers.

National studies published in the American Medical Journal, conducted in eight National Parks as well as the National Outdoor Leadership School, show the most common injury are: soft tissue damage of the lower extremity, aka the common sprained ankle.

As for fatalities, the most common in a 10-year period in Yosemite National Park resulted from falling.

Delving deeper, you will find many injuries and fatalities are caused by carelessness on the trail. In other words, the hiker attempted something risky such as moving onto unstable ground to explore a ravine.

A 13-year study on wilderness mortality discovered yet another non-animal-related cause of death - alcohol, a "probable causative" factor in 40 percent of traumatic deaths. So, if you want to sip yummy hot toddies, I recommend waiting until the end of the hike.

Dr. David Michalik, DO, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at UCI, speaks on "Hiker Safety and First Aid." at REI, as part of the Orange County Hikers & Backpackers Club educational series. Go to ochbc.org for time, date and address. His talk covers; the most common injuries, what to do if injured on the trail, and First Aid essentials for every hike.

I have synthesized here a small portion of Dr. David Michalik's research on the most common injuries and fatalities:

- 70 percent of nonfatal injuries were musculoskeletal/soft-tissue - majority ankle and knee,

8 National Parks (Montalvo et al., West J Med. 1998).

- 80 percent of all student/instructor injuries, sprains, soft tissue (ankle most common),

National Outdoor Leadership School (Gentile DA et al., Ann Emerge Med. 1992).

- 112 fatalities - falling 41 percent; struck by something (including motor vehicle) 21 percent; drowning 17 percent and cardiac arrest 10 percent,

10 Years Yosemite National Park (Hung EK et al., Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, Summer 2007.

- Alcohol "a probable" causative factor in 40 percent of traumatic deaths,

13-year Study Wilderness Mortality (Goodman et al, Ann Emerg Med. 2001).