Unless they put them through the right tests they will never know either?

ozsoapbox:
From what I understand you need a doctor to say you’re reasonably healthy before you can trek?

Fair enough, I’ve been looking at some info and it seems like some companies mention on their website that you need a medical clearance, and others don’t.

The company that Phillip Brunskill was trekking with requires medical clearances, fat lot of good that did.

from their website…(my emphasis)
http://www.kokodatreks.com/planning/index.cfm

GENERAL TREKKING QUESTIONS :

How fit do you need to be?

There were more than 50 evacuations from along the Kokoda Trail in 2008. Kokoda is not for those whose fitness is doubtful.

You will need to be physically fit and free of any medical ailments to attempt the trek. You will need a medical clearance from a Medical Doctor to certify that you have had a full medical check-up and that you are capable of undertaking an arduous trek in a remote mountainous tropical environment in a developing country.

Unfortunately some doctors don’t understand how difficult the trek is and will give you the benefit of doubt. On a recent trek we had a participant who was cleared by his doctor but only lasted 40 minutes on the first day and had to be evacuated.!

You should be aware that it is your responsibility to ensure you are fit enough for the challenge.

It just seems a little silly that the media make such a fuss of Kokoda trekking problems, yet people die or at least need to be evacuated while trekking or undertaking any sort of adventure activity all over the world, yet we don’t hear any crap in the media about “compulsory medical clearances” – and the big international adventure companies do not require that people have compulsory medical checks before taking on trips that are arguably more demanding than Kokoda.

And even if they all did require compulsory checks, this death and the companies policy show that the checks mean nothing if people do not take responsibility for their own health and fitness.

As far as I’m concerned, the trekking company did nothing wrong, they took the precautions through requiring compulsory medical checks and there is nothing they could’ve done to prevent this, unless they enforce some sort of fitness test that they supervise (such as a beep test requiring that you pass a certain level) – if people are properly prepared for the track they should be able to pass a test without excuses.

What medical certifications?

From what I understand you need a doctor to say you’re reasonably healthy before you can trek?

Unfortunately this doesn’t mean you’re remotely fit.

ozsoapbox:
Brunskill’ group continued on without him

While the group may have continued on without him, I reckon they would’ve had an assistant guide stay with him, so it’s not like he would’ve been left alone to walk back or be rescued (I hope). At least that’s the way it works in my experience.

ozsoapbox:
Clearly tour groups are just taking medical certifications at face value and accepting anyone who has money.

What medical certifications?

ozsoapbox:
From what I understand the fitness check is basically a self evaluation, which is kind of like asking someone what condom size they want.

They don’t make them big enough (to fit on the heads of people who are too proud to tell their mates or guides that they are feeling crook and can’t keep up the pace)

As far as I’m concerned that’s all there is to it, and the proud macho factor that makes people ‘not want to let the team down’ or admit a weakness would be increased on Kokoda given the places history.

People think that because soldiers could carry their guns and fight on the trail, surely they can handle just walking along it. They forget that the soldiers were young, fit and active, and they aren’t any of those.

ozsoapbox:
Getting companies with a vested financial interest in getting as many people on their tours as possible to verify self assessed fitness evaluations seems a bit dodgy to me.

In the end it comes down to personal responsibility. People lie, and no amount of verification can overcome that.

I suspect that these people also think they have above average fitness – which they may do, given the average fitness level is pretty shite

From what I understand the fitness check is basically a self evaluation, which is kind of like asking someone what condom size they want.

Getting companies with a vested financial interest in getting as many people on their tours as possible to verify self assessed fitness evaluations seems a bit dodgy to me.

I think a big part of the problem is the group mentality with people being too macho and not wanting to say they need a rest or can’t keep up with the group and need to drop back. Some people are too proud to say they can’t keep going, and some are embarrassed or feel that they are letting the ‘team’ down by slowing down, asking for help or turning back.

This is a really good point I didn’t consider. Brunskill’ group continued on without him and then another 60yo woman had to be airlifted out because she couldn’t make it.

Clearly tour groups are just taking medical certifications at face value and accepting anyone who has money. People then believe they are up to the challenge because a doctor says they are generally healthy and before you know it they are pushing up daisies.

…died of a suspected heart attack just one hour into the trek. Sure the guy had medical clearance but cmon one hour?!
…..
…The guy before him died in his sleep of a heart attack.

I tend to agree with most of what you’ve said. I did some trekking in the Himalayas a couple of years ago, and met a guy who had walked the Kokoda Trail earlier that year, he was middle aged and of fairly average fitness and said he had a harder time dealing with altitude sickness (between 4000 & 5600 metres asl) combined with lots of uphill walking in the Himalayas than with anything on the Kokoda Trail. I realise there’s a big difference in the temperatures, but I can’t see how the risks of dieing from heat stroke would be any greater than the risk of dieing from hypothermia.

If someone dies after only one hour on the trail, then I can’t see how it would have anything to do with the actual trail that they are walking on or the climate- but everything to do with them being unprepared for the physical exhertion, generally unfit and pushing themselves too hard in comparison to what they are capable of. I think the same could be said for the man who had a heart attack in his sleep – nothing to do with the Kokoda trail, everything to do with his health and fitness, people have heart attacks in their sleep at home.

I think a big part of the problem is the group mentality with people being too macho and not wanting to say they need a rest or can’t keep up with the group and need to drop back. Some people are too proud to say they can’t keep going, and some are embarrassed or feel that they are letting the ‘team’ down by slowing down, asking for help or turning back.

People do underestimate the stresses that their bodies will be under, but to compare it to the Tour de France is ridiculous.