Rescue of the cave in Thailand: the health check of the waiting for freedom



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The 12 boys, aged 11 to 16, and their football coach were assessed overnight and appeared to have suffered only minor injuries such as rashes, according to Thai Navy sailors. A doctor and a nurse are among those who take care of the boys and their trainer.

The Wild Boar football team was exploring the network of caves on June 23 when heavy seasonal rains flooded the entrance, trapping them inside. Their sudden disappearance triggered a desperate search and rescue effort of nine days.

Hundreds of volunteers and specialized international research teams battled heavy rains to locate the missing group, as Thailand is in the middle of the monsoon season. The search became tense as time went on and worries grew as to whether the group would be found alive.

Attempts to pump water from the cave or find another opening have failed, putting the boys and their trainer in an emotional wait.

The Lasting Psychological Impacts

When the rescuers found the missing people in the black cavern, the boys expressed that they were hungry and did not have I do not know not what day it was.

They asked the rescuer, "Are we going today?" According to Capel, Sandy Capaldi, psychologist and assistant director of the University of Pennsylvania's Treatment and Anxiety Study Center, is trapped in a confined space for days and can lead to fear , confusion, anxiety and feelings of helplessness. Perelman School of Medicine

These immediate psychological impacts may also be different in children compared to adults.

"While an adult may be inclined to try to think the situation more rationally – telling himself that the rescue will surely come because others will pick them up – children may be unable to do so and can therefore experience more negative feelings, "said Capaldi.

"The long-term psychological impacts of traumatic events like this one in adolescents are often very similar to those of adults," she added.

Thinking that you have been rescued, you may learn that waiting days, weeks or months before being released can also have a psychological impact, according to experts.

Psychological repercussions may also continue after a person has been saved, for example in the form of nightmares, sleep disturbances, being too vigilant or on guard or concentrating [19659002"Forsomethesereactionsdisappearovertimewhileothersmayremainandleadtopost-traumaticstressdisorder"saidCapaldi

"Although not everyone who experiences a traumatic event develops PTSD, children and adolescents who develop PTSD are at increased risk for other mood disorders, anxiety , food and substance consumption ". However, "the link between the development of PTSD and these other disorders is unclear."

Hazardous Physical Impacts on Health

Being trapped in a cave or elsewhere in the nature acute physical health at risk of injury; diseases; lack of water or food; germs that cause certain bacterial or fungal infections; Dr. Paul Auerbach, an expert in desert medicine and professor of emergency medicine at Stanford University, said, "The temperature directly affects the body's ability to function hypothermia, when the central temperature of a person is too cold, or hyperthermia, when the body temperature of a person is too high, can be harmful, "says Auerbach

. "They will probably be dehydrated and suffer from acute malnutrition, which will combine to make them weak, and they will need a lot of help for safety. ", Said Auerbach.

" They have lost muscle mass and may have abnormalities in body chemistry, so the medical evaluation and treatment will definitely include rehydration, intravenously or orally some may have had infectious diarrhea ".]" Because their gastrointestinal system will have slowed considerably for lack of food, they will have to ingest readily digestible foods, which will require intravenous glucose replenishment. In addition, when you are trapped in a cave, darkness can even leave a trace on your health.

"Constant total darkness would cause disorientation of the body." day and could disrupt circadian rhythms that promote restful sleep. "" This could also add to emotional distress. "

As for the team The authorities have announced plans to provide the group with four months of food and to teach boys how to go scuba diving. Four months have been interpreted as a potential sign that authorities plan to wait until the end of the rainy season in October to begin the rescue operation.

Still, heavy rains should continue in the coming days.

Diving is considered one of the least commendable escape methods, experts stressing that any attempt to cross narrow passages will be difficult, especially if children do not know how to swim or are physically weak . to be trapped in the cave for days.

"It's going to be a complicated rescue," said Auerbach. "It's manageable, but they need to be sure that these kids are physically capable and emotionally capable of doing it."

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