Abstract
Introduction
A 14er is a mountain peak that rises to an elevation that is 4267.2 m (14,000 ft) or greater above sea level. The state of Colorado has 58 hikeable peaks above 4267.2 m (14,000 ft), and accidents are common in pursuit of these summits.
Objective
This study aims to describe levels of healthcare and wilderness experience for 14er hikers.
Methods
We designed a survey to assess medical training among hikers. We collected data on demographics; history of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or wilderness medicine training; experience (number of 14ers hiked); classification as a health professional, first responder, or ancillary healthcare professional; completion of a wilderness medicine or first response course; and CPR training. Descriptive statistics were calculated with median and interquartile range (IQR) for age and number of 14ers completed and frequency and percentage for sex and profession. We used logistic regression to estimate the odds of having any CPR or wilderness medicine training with the number of 14ers hiked, adjusted for age and sex.
Results
Between 2018 and 2019, 726 responses were recorded, of which 52.3% (380/726) are female. They had a median age of 37.9 (IQR, 29.8–49.1) y and hiked a median of 11 (IQR, 4–25) 14ers. Few respondents (12.8%, 93/726) identified themselves as a healthcare professional, an ancillary healthcare professional (13.1%, 95/726), or a first responder (5.6%, 41/726). A majority (69.4%, 490/706) were CPR-certified. Nearly half of the respondents (44.4%, 315/709) said that they had taken a formal wilderness medicine or emergency response course. Adjusted for age and sex, more experienced hikers (number of 14ers hiked in increments of 10) were associated with having CPR or wilderness medicine training (adjusted odds ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.02–1.24).
Conclusions
Nearly 1 in 3 14er hikers do not have training in basic life-saving skills, and the majority have no formal wilderness medicine training.
Keywords: Colorado, 14ers, hiking, wilderness experience, healthcare experience