Taiwan Wilderness Medical Association (TWMA) deputy chairman Wang Shih-hao is an emergency-room physician who has put a lot of time into studying altitude sickness. Wang says that research done in Taiwan shows that children aged around 12 years old have about a 59 percent chance of suffering from altitude sickness, which is higher than the figure of 36 percent for adults. In other words, one out of every two children may suffer from it. The main reason why altitude sickness occurs is that people ascend too quickly, so Wang suggests that those who plan to climb high mountains should first visit high-altitude places that have quick and convenient transport access, such as Hehuanshan, to test their physical abilities. He says that climbers should avoid heading straight for the summit and should first rest overnight in an intermediate-altitude area.
Wang says that when a person’s body cannot adjust to a high-altitude environment and thin air within a short time, they may experience symptoms of altitude sickness, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, difficulty sleeping and weak limbs. In severe cases, people may suffer from symptoms of cerebral or pulmonary edema, such as breathlessness, rapid heart rate, unsteady gait and decreased consciousness. In such cases, they should quickly move to a lower altitude. In good weather they can ask the mountain rescue association for assistance, but in bad weather or at night they are advised to make their way to a nearby mountain hut and use a portable altitude chamber (PAC).
When taking children to climb tall mountains, peple should first get the children used to the bumpy surface of ordinary mountain trails so as to reduce their chances of falling over and suffering external injuries. If people are aiming to climb Yushan or Syueshan, they should preferably first go to Hehuanshan, whose convenient transport links make it easy to leave the area, to “test the waters” and find out whether they are fit enough to adjust to high-altitude conditions. If they can do one or two practice runs without any problems, they may proceed with a climb to the summit.
Photo copied by Hsieh Chieh-yu, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者謝介裕翻攝
(Liberty Times, translated by Julian CleGG)
長期研究高海拔醫學的台灣野外地區緊急救護協會副理事長、也是急診專科醫師的王士豪表示，過去國內研究發現，年約十二歲的兒童，發生高山症機率高達百分之五十九，高於成人的百分之三十六，相當於每兩人就有一人，主因多是高度上升太快，建議爬高山要先到交通便捷的合歡山等高海拔處，測試體能，並且避免一路攻頂，須在中海拔地區過夜休息、適應高度。
王士豪指出，人體無法在短時間適應高海拔低氧環境時，就會出現頭痛、頭暈、噁心、嘔吐、睡眠困難、四肢無力等高山症症狀，嚴重者會有呼吸困難、心跳加速、走路不穩、意識不清等腦水腫或肺水腫情況，需要快速下降高度，若天候良好可向救難隊求援，但天候不佳或夜晚，則建議到鄰近山屋使用「攜帶型加壓袋」。
民眾帶兒童攀爬高山，應該先習慣一般登山步道崎嶇不平的路況，以減少跌倒、外傷機會，若目標是玉山、雪山，最好先到交通便利、容易撤退的合歡山試水溫，了解體能是否能夠適應高海拔情況，待練習一、兩次都沒問題，再準備攻頂。
(自由時報記者林惠琴)
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