The Sunglasses Myth

Tod Schimelpfenig over at NOLS has been investigating the notion that cheap sunglasses can keep your pupils dilated and cause sunburn of the retina. Experts questioned by Tod agree this is a myth. Simply stated, not enough radiation is going to reach the retina to cause a burn, even with intensely reflected light from snow, and even with really inexpensive sunglasses. But there's more at risk than your retina! If your cheap sunglasses have low UV protection you most likely will increase your risk of injury to the cornea--the risk of snowblindness. And, over time, the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and even eye cancer. Cheap sunglasses, however, can have high UV protection, which is, of course, what you want--and need. Bottom line: Your sunglasses need to provide protection as complete as possible from all ultraviolet light, and they need to wrap around to keep UV light from creeping in from the side. You don't have to pay a lot of money for protection, but you do have to pay a lot of attention to what you're purchasing.

Fight or Flight: Lion Attacks

Mountain lions, according to a recent article in Scientific American (www.ScientificAmerican.com), may be less likely to attack if you run away. This, of course, is contrary to popular expert opinion. The article reports a study done by Richard Coss, an expert on predator-prey relations, that involved 185 lion attacks between 1890 and 2000. Coss said 43% of people who stood still facing a lion were injured compared to 17% who were injured while fleeing. The study does admit, however, that those who fled had a slightly higher chance of being killed, although he reports that only 18 people actually ran. Half of those who ran escaped without injury. Coss did not study encounters with mountain lions or near-attacks from lions.

I'm confused. First, he does not define "attack" and "near-attack." Were the 185 people pounced on? Or did they just "feel" attacked? Second, he says the people stood still. That's not what you're supposed to do. You're supposed to shout and scream, show your teeth, stand tall, and, finally, counter-attack with sticks and stones (to less than claw range) if the lion charges.

Bottom line: Almost all experts remain convinced that cats chase things, and usually catch them. So, I won't run. And I won't just stand there. Besides, I'm really slow.

Big Bite Protection

Although snow threatens to fall on Lander today, there are places where the sun shines warmly and bears are starting to wake up. They wake up hungry. And even though humans remain way down on the list of choice items to break a bear's fast, numerous questions related to staying safe in bear country have flowed onto my screen in the past week. Here are several:

If food has spilled on a sleeping bag, could the smell attract a bear? Answer: Yep. Don't eat in or near your bag, wash it when food has spilled on it, and don't even sleep near the clothes you cooked and dined in.

Can you outrun a bear by running downhill? Answer: Nope. They are more clumsy and slower going downhill than up, but they are still a lot faster than a human, even a really scared human.

Does the odor of DEET attract bears? Answer: Nobody knows for sure. No bear has ever been seen showing interest in DEET products. DEET does not smell like food, so the chances of it drawing a bear to you are slim.

Will bear spray repel snakes? No snake repellent has ever been licensed as a product, but people report bear spray drives snakes, even venomous snakes, away. If you feel threatened, shoot for the snake's face. For more info: www.peacemakerpepperspray.com.

A Pain in the Tooth

My wife Kat had been complaining of pain in her mouth for about two weeks while I, the questionably considerate husband, kept repeating absurdities that all resembled "Hey, suck it up." Then, several mornings ago, she woke me to display a red right cheek obviously swollen from about an inch below her eye to the line of her jaw. She stated emphatically--and convincingly--that the pain was now intense. The dentist could see her the next day. She swallowed the strongest painkillers we had on hand, which helped a little, and applied cold packs to the cheek, which helped a bit more. She rinsed her mouth with warm, salty water. She kept complaining. Inspection revealed no discoloration of the gum near the pain site, even though I now suspected I would see it. The dentist diagnosed an abscessed tooth, prescribed an antibiotic, did a root canal to remove the diseased nerves and pulp, and filled the empty space. If this had occurred way back in the wilderness, there isn't really anything else you can do. However, the infection in an abscessed tooth can migrate and become, in the worst-case scenario, a threat to life. You need to recognize one, and evacuate the patient ASAP. (Early assessment could also, possibly, improve marital relations.)

No Gas Shortage

Reading recently that the average human passes gas about 14 times every day caused me some thought. Mostly I asked myself: how did they figure that out?--and I decided I like my current job just fine. The report stated that this gas normally does not smell bad. Ah, at least the researchers have that going for them. Wilderness flatulence is rarely a problem, other than socially, but it has greatly disturbed a few high altitude climbers. At higher elevations, gas expands more quickly, causing, sometimes, a great deal of pain, a problem dubbed High Altitude Flatus Expulsions (HAFE). If gas proves a problem, here are a few tips: eat smaller meals, take it easy on fats, and leave the bubbly drinks behind. (I have seen more than one party on Denali lugging a sled full of Coke and beer.) And when you're packing your food bag, cut down on foods containing beans, eggs, meat, and cauliflower, sources not only of gas but of smelly gas. You might also like to know that exercise helps keep your bowels moving smoothly and with less gas. Consider, finally, packing an anti-gas product such as Beano (www.beanogas.com). Save on gas!

UV Light Disinfection

A busy schedule, much of it keeping me away from computers the past month, has caused a marked decrease in my postings. Hello to all who have checked back in--and thank you for your patience.

With the increasing use of ultraviolet light devices to disinfect water an increasing number of questions about the devices have hit my screen during my absence. If you follow the manufacturer's directions, you're pretty much assured safe drinking water (see www.steripen.com). But what about the water on the outside of the bottle? It's not safe. Only the water inside the bottle is disinfected, and that does not include the water trapped in the threads of a standard water bottle. If you wipe the threads dry with a clean cloth, however, you will remove most--maybe all--of the pathogens trapped there. In other words, a thorough drying of the threads and it is highly unlikely you'll get a waterborne illness. On the other hand, the safest bet of all is to use a container other than your water bottle to scoop up the water you'll be disinfecting. A cup you'll be washing later will work fine.

Tooth Talk

Someone asked recently if it's really possible to replace a tooth that has been knocked out of a mouth--or is the idea just wishful thinking. Fact is you can probably get the tooth back in the empty socket if you don't dally. Hold the tooth by the crown (the white part) and gently rinse it clean. Do not scrub it clean. The tooth's owner should rinse his or her mouth clean with water, as if rinsing the mouth after a tooth brushing, spitting out, of course, the rinse water. Be sure to orient the tooth correctly, and press it gently but firmly into the socket. It should settle in with a soft and satisfying little "click." This does not necessarily mean the tooth will survive--but it does have the best chance in the socket. If you can't get the tooth back in the socket, save it, preferably in milk (yes, that story is true), but water will do. However, an hour or more away from a dentist and the tooth is unlikely to be successfully replaced.