Trekking safely on Mt. Kilimanjaro

While planning your trek to Kilimanjaro there are so many things you need to make certain are well organized.

I would like to give you some guidelines regarding your country on Kilimanjaro.

Altitude sickness is the biggest enemy on Kilimanjaro. Altitude sickness is a direct result of the reduced barometric pressure and concentration of oxygen in the air at high elevations. The lower pressure makes the air less dense so your body gets fewer oxygen molecules with each breath.

Altitude sickness has three levels:

Mild (acute mountain sickness) – this condition is common to travelers who ascend rapidly to an altitude above 7,000 feet.

Signs & symptoms: headache, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite and nausea. An primeval sign is swelling of the grappling and hands, periods of no breathing and frequent awakenings.

Moderate – (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) – this requires more serious monitoring to ensure it does not progress. This can happen within the first two to four days of ascent to high altitudes.

Signs & symptoms: nausea, vomiting, a fixed headache, and severe breathing problems even when resting. The final sign is accumulation of water in the lungs.

Severe altitude illness (High Altitude Cerebral Edema)

Signs & symptoms: Vomiting, loss of coordination, severe lassitude, seizures, loss of sensation on one side of the body, severe headache, hallucination, stupor, confusion and loss of balance.

I am so happy to share with you information on mountain sickness. As a mountain guide, I am very concerned with safety. Each sickness has its own treatment and precautions. For more specific information, see Safe Trekking.

The basics:

Make certain you’re drinking at least three to four liters of water each day just to stay dehydrated. Drinking plenty of water helps a lot to refrain mountain sickness.

The doable solution for mountain sickness at its worst point is to descend immediately to a lower altitude.

There are also several ways your body can lose heat:

Radiation – this is a direct loss of heat from a warm body to a cooler environment. Protection includes wearing a hat and scarf. Conduction – this is heat loss through direct physical contact between the body and a cooler surface. Protection includes insulation from the ground. Convection – this is heat loss by air movement circulating round the body and depends on the velocity of wind (wind chill factor.) Windproof clothing and shelter will help reduce heat loss. Evaporation – when sweat or water evaporates on your skin, it cools you. Put additional layers under your clothing to act as a barrier.

What to include in your individualized first aid kit:

High Altitude Sickness: Administer acetazolamide (Diamox) at a dose of 250mg twice a day. The dose should begin from 13,000 feet to the top. Insomnia: Administer Halcion at a dose of 15mg once a day. This medicine is not suggested above 15,000 feet. Headache: Tylenol and Tylenol with codeine. Blisters: It would be a good intent for you to bring your own supply of blister treatment. Intestine disorders: Compazine for severe nausea, vomiting. Imodium to decrease diarrhea and cramping. Tetracycline, Cypro or Bactrim antibiotics for initial treatment of diarrhea. Cuts and scrapes: Bandaids for the treatment of abrasions that sometimes occur. Infections: Antibiotic ointment for cuts and abrasions.

On following the steps above, plus the advice from a professional mountain guide, you’re trekking will be safe.