Elevation

John Tobey Events wants to be sure that while your event is swoon-worthy, there is no actual swooning. Events at elevation take some extra planning.

If you are planning your dream wedding or company retreat at a destination resort in the mountains, be sure to prepare your guests. We highly recommend you educate your guests about events at elevation and high altitude travel.

While many people can visit up to 8,000 feet without experiencing any noticeable effects, anyone can experience altitude sickness, especially if your guests are coming from sea level. Altitude sickness does not discriminate – athletes are just as susceptible as the sedentary, and young and old alike can be affected, although the very young may not be able to communicate their symptoms, so do pay close attention to kids.

Genetics play a significant role in who is affected by altitude illness.

Symptoms of altitude sickness include
  • Headache – the cardinal symptom
  • Dizziness
  • Feeling chilled
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
How to avoid or treat mild altitude-induced symptoms
  • Visit your doctor prior to travel, especially if you have a history of AMS, pulmonary diseases or any chronic illness, including sleep apnea.
  • Get a prescription for altitude sickness prevention – acetazolamide is the most common drug prescribed. You start taking it 24 hours before arrival, so talk to your doctor in advance.
  • Acclimate slowly! If it works with your schedule, spend the night at an intermediate elevation before arriving at your high altitude destination
  • Drink more water. You will want to drink an additional liter to liter and a half of water daily.
  • Avoid alcohol and sleeping agents in the benzodiazepine family. Both suppress breathing and lower your blood oxygen. Skip the alcoholic beverages the first night at altitude altogether.
  • Don’t over-exert yourself on the first day or two. Schedule the big hike on day three.
  • Ibuprofen or acetaminophen usually help with headaches

While John Tobey Events wants to elevate your event to dizzying heights, we want to keep your from actually feeling dizzy. Most mild cases of altitude sickness will resolve within six to forty-eight hours, but do not ignore increasing or persistent symptoms. You must go to a lower elevation or start oxygen if you are getting very ill. Seek medical attention. In rare cases, altitude sickness can lead to cerebral edema or pulmonary edema.

For further reading, visit altitudemedicine.org. The Institute for Altitude Medicine at Telluride is recognized internationally for both their excellence in clinical care and altitude illness education.

Look to your special event planners to provide your sea level, beach living guests with additional high altitude concierge services so they can have the time of their life while at your high altitude party!