The Top 10 Hiking Illnesses and Injuries

February 21, 2020

graphic of three steps to treat a sprained knee

Backpacker magazine consults NOLS Wilderness Medicine Curriculum Director Tod Schimpelfenig on how to prevent and treat the 10 most common hiking injuries and illnesses. Based on years of data collected on NOLS courses, the top 10 medical incidents that occur in the backcountry range from blisters to abdominal pain and allergic reactions.

“In the backcountry, anything can go wrong at any time. Unfortunately, ‘anything’ is hard to prepare for. We dug into the numbers from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) database of medical incidents to figure out what you really need to worry about out there. Here’s how to save your trip—and maybe even your life.”

The top 10 hiking injuries and illnesses identified in the NOLS database include sprains and strains; abdominal pain; allergic reactions; nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; toothaches and chipped teeth; frostnip and frostbite; flesh wounds; blisters; cuts and scrapes; burns; flu-like illnesses; genito-urinary issues; and broken or dislocated bones.

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Written By

Brooke Ortel

Brooke is a runner and writer who enjoys finding adventure in the everyday. True to her island roots, she loves sunshine, that salty ocean smell, and the sound of waves against the shore.